Southeast Fisheries Science Center - Protected Resources Division

"The Protected Resources Division develops, coordinates, and monitors: - Marine Mammals - Sea Turtles - Early Life History Dynamics - Reef Fish: Fisheries Assessment, Monitoring, and Ecology (FAME) Unit - Coral: Benthic Ecosystems Assessment Research (BEAR) Unit - Ecosystem Investigations Unit We also manage: Research and assessment programs for marine mammal, sea turtles, and other threatended and engangered marine species as necessary to meet agency responsibilities under the - Marine Mammal Protection Act - Endangered Species Act - Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Management and Conservation Act [pdf] - IACUC Work includes the monitoring and coordination of data collection from stranded protected species throughout the region and analysis of the implications of strandings for management and conservation of the affected species. Biodiversity research programs especially as related to marine community assemblages and management, the rebuilding of over utilized and depleted fisheries resources, protection of representative and critical habitats, and the objective of maintaining marine diversity through various management procedures including, but not limited to, reserves and sanctuaries. A fundamental premise of Biodiversity Investigation is the recognition that ecosystem based management includes people and that and marine reserves and diverse marine communities provide extractive and non-extracive benefits that benefit people. Ultimately the protection of ecosystem structure, function, and integrity requires a strong scientific foundation and a holistic, ecosystem-based approach to marine resource management. "

NMFS

SEFSC