Page 72 - May-June-July Life In Naples Magazine

ROOKERY BAY

SUPPORT

FOR SHARK RESEARCH

AT ROOKERY

BAY RESERVE

DR. GUY HARVEY, LEFT, CHECKS OUT A JUVENILE POLKA-DOT BATFISH CAUGHT IN THE TRAWL NET,WITH STEVE STOCK, PRESIDENT
OF THE GUY HARVEY OCEAN FOUNDATION.

ROOKERY BAY RESERVE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS RELEASING A BONNETHEAD SHARK

by Renee Wilson
R ookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve has received $10,000 from the
Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation to support a graduate student to complement
existing shark research underway by reserve staff and volunteers.
Fisheries and shark nursery assessment programs have been underway at the reserve

for nearly 15 years. The results from this long-term study help scientists understand how

sharks and other fish respond to changes in quality, quantity and timing of freshwater

delivery to the estuary.

“We are very excited to offer this opportunity to a student wishing to advance our

collective knowledge of shark populations in the estuaries within Rookery Bay Reserve,”

said Gary Lytton, the reserve’s director. “Over time, the reserve has worked with several

programs, including NOAA’s Graduate Research Fellowship program, to develop our

fellowship program and conduct several key research projects.” “We are very
According to Lytton, graduate student research is an excellent opportunity to establish
excited to offer this
and enhance collaborative partnerships with university professors, state and federal opportunity to a
agencies, independent research institutions and non-profit organizations.

“We are thrilled to continue our support of the Rookery Bay Reserve with this

donation,” says Guy Harvey. “Getting students out on the water is key to fostering future student wishing to
stewards of our marine resources.” advance our collective

Supporting graduate research directly helps the reserve meet its mission in several ways.

Most directly, the students’ contribution to the body of scientific knowledge produced knowledge of shark
within the reserve can aid in resource management decisions. Additionally, the program populations in the
encourages the education of future scientists; this program will result in submission of
estuaries within
peer-reviewed scientific publications, conference presentations, public outreach events
and inter-agency collaboration. ”Rookery Bay Reserve.
–Gary Lytton
Rookery Bay Reserve, managed by the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection’s Florida Coastal Office in cooperation with NOAA, encompasses 110,000

acres of coastal lands and waters between Naples and Everglades National Park. Rookery Rookery Bay Reserve Director

Bay Reserve serves as an outdoor classroom and laboratory. For more information visit

www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal or www.rookerybay.org

72 Life in Naples | May • June • July 2015