Programs

  • Program 1 [2021]

    SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD Conducted scientific research on 16 sustainable seafood projects, feeding a hungry world and restoring depleted fish populations. Aquaculture is a practical solution to renewing regional fish stocks, producing domestic supplies of sustainable seafood, and reducing the need for fresh water to produce terrestrial animal protein as a food source.Marine finfish production at HSWRI resumed following a several month pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Research on white seabass, California halibut and California yellowtail likewise restarted, including several finfish nutrition projects. The Institutes Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture research expanded this year, with experiments currently running at both the Carlsbad white seabass hatchery and the Institutes Mission Bay headquarters. Permitting activities for the proposed development of a commercial-scale finfish aquaculture facility to be located in Federal waters off the coast of southern California continued this year. An Environmental Impact Statement is being prepared for the farm, which would be established and operated by Pacific Ocean AquaFarms, a collaboration between HSWRIs for-profit subsidiary (Pacific Ocean Fresh) and Pacific6, an investment and development firm based in Long Beach, California.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2020 – Jun 30, 2021
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $2.9M

  • Program 2 [2021]

    OCEAN HEALTH Conducted scientific research on 11 projects on ocean health, promoting a healthier planet where humans and marine life thrive together. To advance ocean health we study ways to prevent disease transmission, promote ecosystem health and resilience, and provide rapid first response to marine life strandings. Despite the pandemic, HSWRI continued to provide 24/7 first response to stranded whales and dolphins in Florida. HSWRI is responsible for stranding response and coordination for 222 km of the north and central east coast of Florida (about 40% of Floridas east coast), as well as response within about 1800 square kilometers of estuarine waters. This portion of Florida is one of the most active areas for strandings in the southeastern U.S., receiving both live and dead cetaceans including large whales, mass strandings and unusual species such as beaked whales and melon-headed whales. HSWRIs response area covers three coastal counties, including the federal lands within and surrounding Kennedy Space Center. HSWRI responds to more strandings than any other organization in Florida. On the west coast of the U.S., HSWRI scientists continued to evaluate the prevalence of exposure to several disease-causing organisms in seals and sea lions in southern California. Although most data collection at the Channel Islands has paused due to the pandemic, HSWRI is collaborating with members of the California marine mammal stranding network to test samples collected from stranded pinnipeds. Pathogen surveillance in 2020 expanded to include testing for exposure to coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 virus).
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2020 – Jun 30, 2021
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $252.1K

  • Program 3 [2021]

    WILDLIFE POPULATIONS Conducted scientific research on 8 projects on wildlife population ecology, examining the interconnectedness of marine life and habitats. Our research focuses on wild marine animal populations, seeking to predict and prevent impacts from human disturbance, habitat loss and pollution, and climate change. Limited fieldwork resumed this year, but the Wildlife Populations program continues to be severely constrained by the coronavirus pandemic due to restrictions on international travel and limited access to field sites. California Channel Islands. Several short trips by a single HSWRI scientist to conduct basic surveys of breeding seals and sea lions were allowed by the U.S. Navy (San Nicolas Island) and the U.S. National Park Service (San Miguel Island). Indian River Lagoon, Florida. Vessel surveys and photo-identification studies of bottlenose dolphins resumed this year, though not to pre-pandemic levels. A limited number of interns and volunteers were allowed to resume participating in dolphin research.Mexico. Whale shark research resumed with one brief field expedition in the Gulf of California in October 2020. Satellite-linked radio transmitters were attached to 13 whale sharks off La Paz, Mexico. Antarctica. All fieldwork on penguins and pinnipeds at South Georgia and several sites along the Antarctic Peninsula was canceled again this year, including upcoming expeditions to the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic in the fall of 2021 and winter of 2021-22. This comprises a loss of three consecutive field seasons, interrupting a long-term study of Antarctic penguin and seal population biology and behavior that began in 2014.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2020 – Jun 30, 2021
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $150.7K