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Communications
     Communications activity keeps the public informed about current research activities and has as its goal to develop and implement diverse and wide-ranging information that effectively communicates relevant information to millions of Floridians and tourists. Better informed citizens make better decisions that ultimately affect the use and conservation of Florida’s fragile coastal resources.

Extension
     About one-third of Florida Sea Grant’s core funding is devoted to Sea Grant Extension activities. On-campus faculty provide leadership in planning statewide programs that are designed in part by advisory committees and public input. Off-campus faculty located strategically around Florida conduct planned educational programs through brochures, courses, workshops, lectures and meetings and through stimulating new research to meet identified needs. Research faculty generate new knowledge which finds outlets through the Extension Program. Research faculty are also often asked to participate directly in Extension programs. Principal projects are listed below along with the ending date and project contact.
     Cooperative Extension program leaders in Florida identify Statewide Goal and Focus Areas in collaboration with faculty, appropriate department chairs and extension administration. Statewide programs are identified where several county programs are focusing on the same problem or issue, or when a statewide issue is identified with a need for county-level attention. Once a program has the designated Focus Area status, a team is established for it. Teams consist of extension faculty and specialists within the primary program area or supporting disciplines.
     Statewide Goal and Focus Areas intensify academic and research support through the expertise of faculty and specialists, and provide a broader base for collaborative efforts than would be possible otherwise. Sea Grant faculty participate on Statewide Goal teams that correlate directly with the Sea Grant strategic plan and annual plans of work. Overall objectives of the four current Teams in the Sea Grant category are provided below, together with a list of members and e-mail contact numbers. For further descriptions, including situations statements, target customers, impact and evaluation for these programs, see web site http://extadmin.ifas.ufl.edu/goals.shtml.

Marine Biotechnology
     Marine biotechnology in Florida represents an opportunity for both university scientists and biotechnology-based companies to have an impact on the growth and duration of this field. Using natural products from the sea to create pharmaceutical compounds of commercial importance is just one example.

Sustainable Fisheries
     Florida leads the nation in terms of the economic value from all uses of its marine fish and shellfish. However, Florida’s fisheries are affected by multiple use conflicts, global trade, overfishing and coastline development which contributes to habitat loss.

Marine Aquaculture
     Worldwide, aquaculture provides almost 30 percent of the fish and shellfish consumed by people. In Florida, aquaculture provides only a small amount of the state’s total. The largest segment of the industry is freshwater tropical fish for the hobby aquarium trade. Growth potential exists for the food and hobby marine aquaculture industry.

Seafood Quality and Safety
     Florida has 5,000 processing plants and retail seafood firms. They range from the nation’s largest firms to many small independent firms. All are attempting to respond to seafood safety issues, increasing demand, shifts in seafood supply, increasing international trade and competition, new regulatory inspection mandates and environmental concerns.

Boating and Waterways
     Managing coastal development is a critical challenge facing Florida water-dependent enterprises. Traditionally, small businesses engaged in tourism and the marine trade are at risk and need to increase productivity and efficiency by adopting new technologies, adapting to regulatory changes, and maintaining access to coastal waters.

Ecosystem Health
     Florida estuaries, where fresh water from the land meets saltwater from the sea, are characterized by enormous ecological, social and economic diversity. Florida Sea Grant’s role is to complement existing state and federal agency programs, and create greater faculty interest in management-oriented research. In this area, Florida Sea Grant will build upon its academic strengths and emphasize long-term research, testing of hypotheses, innovative analysis of datasets, multi-disciplinary approaches and training of students.

Coastal Processes and Storms    
     The Florida coastline is at risk from a variety of natural hazards, most notably the winds, waves and floods generated by tropical storms. Risks to life and property from these recurring hazards will increase with the anticipated growth of coastal populations over the next several decade. There needs to be a dedicated effort to reduce the economic and social costs of natural hazards. All stakeholders share an interest in pursuing loss (or cost) control which is a proven risk management technique.


For a printed version of this information order the Florida Sea Grant Program Directory 2006-2008 (SGEF-165). Visit our publications list for ordering information. SGEF-159 (.pdf)