Science Serving Florida’s Coast “Performance Counts” Annual Progress Report for 2003 April 2004 Technical Paper 135 This technical paper was supported by the National Sea Grant College Program of the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, under Grant No. NA16RG-2195. For additional copies or information: Florida Sea Grant College Program University of Florida PO Box 110400 Gainesville, FL 32611-0400 352.392.5870 www.flseagrant.org Rich Novak “In Memoria” Rich Novak, Charlotte County’s Florida Sea Grant marine extension agent, died unexpectedly on January 21, 2004, while working on a research vessel out of Morehead City, North Carolina. Novak, 56, joined Florida Sea Grant in 1997, after working as a Sea Grant agent in North Carolina. His outreach programs in Charlotte County focused on the development of artificial reef habitat, and increasing survival of catch-and-release marine fish. He was an avid sport fisherman, hunter, and diver, and organized frequent underwater clean-up dives in the Charlotte County area. Rich was an integral part of the team of Florida Sea Grant faculty and made major contributions to Florida Sea Grant’s and Charlotte County’s fisheries and fisheries habitat programs. He died just as this implementation plan was being completed. To share his involvement, and as a professional tribute, we have left his planned activities listed in this document. While others will come behind Rich, and assist in completing the work he had planned, his influence and impact on the work of all of us and those who benefit from the work, will not be forgotten. Novak held a bachelor’s degree in parks and recreational administration from Western Illinois University, and a master’s in forest and range management from Washington State University. He had completed doctoral work in continuing and adult vocational education at the University of Wisconsin. He was a native of Illinois. Rich Novak will be missed by the entire Florida Sea Grant College Program family. He was a loved and appreciated colleague, and he was a friend. Gustavo Antonini “In Memoria” Gustavo (Gus) Antonini, Florida Sea Grant professor emeritus, University of Florida, died February 7, 2004, in a hit-and-run bicycle accident near High Springs, Florida, while participating in a 190 mile bike trip to Georgia. Antonini was the creator and motivator in Florida Sea Grant’s nationally recognized Urban Boating and Waterways Management Program. In 2003, the program was named the top outreach effort among the nation’s 30 Sea Grant programs by Sea Grant Extension leaders across the nation. In 2000, the program earned a Sustainable Florida leadership award representing a best management practice for sustainable development in Florida. Antonini had recently retired after 30 years with the University but remained active in Sea Grant’s waterways management program. He helped form a multi-disciplinary team of geographers, biologists, legal experts, planners and Sea Grant extension faculty that had been working since 1986 to improve recreational boaters’ access while reducing the detrimental impacts of boating on the marine environment. Antonini earned an undergraduate degree in geography and geology from Columbia University in 1961; a master’s degree in geography and coastal geomorphology from Columbia in 1962; and a doctorate in geography with an emphasis in Latin America from Columbia in 1968. He was the author of numerous boating publications, including two in a series of historical perspectives of boating and waterway development in the southwest Florida area, “A Historical Geography of Southwest Florida Waterways,” Volume I and Volume II. He was working on the third installment in the series at the time of his death. He had envisioned writing more. In addition to being an expert boater, Antonini had in recent years become a passionate cyclist. He had completed the Camino de Santiago, a cross-country ride in Spain, during the summer of 2002, and chronicled his trip through photos and journal entries. Gus Antonini will be missed by the entire Florida Sea Grant College Program family. He was a loved and appreciated colleague, and he was a friend. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction 2. Program Accomplishments and Benefits 3. Program Funding From All Sources 4. Institutions Involved 5. Projects Funded 6. Publications 7. Students 8. Program Awards 9. Outreach Activities 10. Self Evaluation 11. Advisory Process 1.0 INTRODUCTION The Florida Sea Grant College Program is committed to enhancing the practical use and conservation of coastal and marine resources for a sustainable economy and environment in a state whose coastline stretches for over 1,300 miles. 2003 represents the 33rd year for Sea Grant in Florida. The program operates through a statewide, research, education and extension partnership of state and federal agencies, businesses and citizens. All eleven public universities, three private universities, and two private non-profit research laboratories constitute this virtual college without walls. The University of Florida serves as the host campus. Florida Sea Grant is one of 31 Sea Grant programs nationwide that together form the National Sea Grant College Program as authorized by federal legislation. It is the only university-based, statewide coastal research, education, extension/outreach and communications program in Florida. This annual progress report for 2003 is the sixth annual progress report submitted by Florida Sea Grant under the program evaluation procedures adopted during 1998 by the National Sea Grant College Program. This report covers the year 2003, but some historical data are included to provide baseline information for subsequent annual progress reports. Florida Sea Grant had 11 different NOAA grants in effect during 2003. This annual report covers work completed and ongoing under all 11 grants. Florida Sea Grant awards from NOAA activities during calendar year 2003. Number Keyword Identifier Start Date Current End Date NA76RG-0120 Omnibus Research, Extension, 02/01/97 09/30/03 Communications, Management NA16RG-1398 30th Meeting of Aquaculture 09/01/01 08/31/03 NA16RG-1720 Aquatic Nuisance 10/01/01 09/30/03 NA16RG-2195 Omnibus Research, Extension, 02/01/02 01/31/06 Communications, Management NA16RG-2198 Oyster Decontamination 03/01/02 02/28/04 NA16RG-2258 Coastal Storms Project #8 03/01/02 11/30/04 NA16OC-2649 Coastal Data Server System 09/01/02 08/31/04 NA17RG-2992 South Florida Marine Ecosystem 09/01/02 01/31/05 Outreach E/T-9 NA16RG-2225 Knauss Fellow E/ST-27 02/01/02 01/31/03 NA03OAR-4170035 Knauss Fellow E/ST-28 02/01/03 01/31/04 NA17FD-2367 Gulf of Mexico 04/01/03 11/30/04 1.1 Every Florida Sea Grant activity and accomplishment reported on in this progress report satisfied three simple but tough criteria: 1) it was based on a strong rationale; 2) it demonstrated scientific or educational merit; and 3) it produced results that are clearly useful and applicable in industry, management or science. A number of core values allow Florida Sea Grant to deliver results based on these criteria: 1) Excellence; Research was funded on a competitive basis, with scientific merit as the most important criterion. Extension programs were based on reviewed faculty plans of work. Communications efforts use the latest technology to achieve maximum output, visibility and citizen receipt of our science-based information; 2) Participation; High value was placed on the involvement of a large number of participating institutions in research, education and extension programs. Graduate student involvement was high and a diverse male and female faculty was involved, from assistant to full professors; 3) Accountability; Both external and internal processes were used to measure a wide range of achievements. These included tracking the scientific publication output of faculty and students, understanding the contribution to society of scientific discovery, measuring the way citizens receiving educational programs changed their behavior, and determining the economic impact or level of new business activity resulting from a research project; 4) Connection with Users; A strong advisory process was used to define research priorities, to plan extension programs, and to measure the impact of programs. It was also used to build public and private support for Florida Sea Grant; 5) Partnerships; Faculty, students, and citizens all benefited from functioning in a partnership mode. Scientific results and education projects reached greater success levels and were implemented when partners, from agencies to businesses, provided financial support to an activity. The 2003 annual progress report in the context of Florida Sea Grant’s four-year cycle strategic plan, implementation plan and annual work plan. Year 2002 2003 2004 2005 Four-Year Strategic Plan Two-Year Implementation Plan Two-Year Implementation Plan Annual Work Annual Work Annual Work Annual Work Plan Plan Plan Plan Annual Progress Annual Progress Annual Progress Annual Year Report of Report of Report of Report of Prior Year (2001) Prior Year (2002) Prior Year (2003)1 Prior (2004) A summary of 2003 Florida Sea Grant accomplishments and highlights follows, with details for 2003 in the remaining ten sections of this progress report. 1 Representation of this document on the timeline. 1.2 Summary of Highlights for 2003 1.0 Introduction A total of 11 NOAA grants were active during 2003. This covered 59 individual projects. 2.0 Accomplishments and Benefits Florida Sea Grant documents its accomplishments and benefits each year for research projects ending during that year and for extension and communication results achieved during the year. The following are examples for each of FSGs 10 goal areas. The complete list of accomplishments and benefits is in Section 2.0. Goal 1: Marine Biotechnology At least four genes have been identified that may be regulated in pancreatic cancer cells treated with lasonolide. This may have important implications for cancer treatment and will help understand the genetic basis for the production of marine natural products.