GAINESVILLE, FL — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) RESTORE Science Program has awarded the University of Florida $3.5M to research long-term trends in the targeting, distribution, and growth of select fish species and changes within fish communities along Florida’s west coast.
UF/IFAS (Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences) School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences (SFFGS) Professor of Marine Fisheries Ecology Debra Murie, Ph.D., serves as lead investigator for the research study, “Fisheries on the Move.”
This research will examine historical, contemporary, and future trends in the targeting, distribution, growth and maturity, and assemblages of important recreational and commercial fish species in relation to changing ocean conditions.
The research embraces co-production, bringing together scientists with fisheries managers, fisheries agencies, and recreational and commercial fishers throughout the study, and will ultimately lead to adaptive, future management of fisheries important to coastal communities.
Murie and her team, made up of SFFGS researchers Assistant Professor of Quantitative Fisheries Science Zachary Siders, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Fisheries and Aquaculture Governance Edward Camp, Ph.D., Assistant Extension Scientist Angela Collins, Ph.D., and Research Assistant Professor Robert Lamb, Ph.D., will collaborate with Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) Conservation Social Scientist Chelsey Crandall, Ph.D., FWRI Research Scientist Ted Switzer, Ph.D., NOAA Research Scientist Ryan Nichols, NOAA Fisheries Plan Coordinator Dan Luers, and Gulf Council Deputy Executive Director John Froeschke, Ph.D.
“The team is excited to be working alongside recreational and commercial fishers and fisheries resource managers to prioritize fish species to use in the study that are important to coastal communities in Florida,” Murie said.
The NOAA RESTORE Science Program announced on Dec. 15, 2025 the awarding of $17.2M from the program’s 2025 funding competition.
According to the awards announcement issued by NOAA Restore, UF is one of 15 institutions, “With project teams including representatives from universities, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector,” awarded project funding.
“Dr. Murie brings decades of expertise in Florida fisheries research and has assembled a talented and energetic team with the depth and breadth needed to make this project truly impactful,” said Professor and Associate Director of SFFGS’ Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program Shirley Baker, Ph.D.
Read the full list of recipients and project details here.
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The NOAA RESTORE Science Program is managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition, the RESTORE Act directs that the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission be consulted as the program is executed. The Program is housed in the National Ocean Service, National Center for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) with a Gulf-based program director to keep the program grounded in the region.
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