Cal State Fullerton Marine Biologist
Nominated to Federal Advisory Committee
Updated: April 24, 2003 :: No. 214
Steven N. Murray, a veteran Cal State Fullerton
marine biologist whose research interests include human impacts
on coastal marine ecosystems, has been nominated to the newly created
National Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee.
Commerce Secretary Donald Evans notified Murray of
his nomination. The professor of biological science is one of two
Californians awaiting confirmation of their appointments to the
30-member committee. More than 350 nominations were considered.
The committee reports to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and provides advice and recommendations
to the secretaries of commerce and the interior on marine protected
areas.
“It is a real honor to be considered for this very important
and timely advisory committee,” said Murray. “Our coastal
ocean ecosystems are changing due to natural ocean cycles and to
increasing pressure from human activities. Marine protected areas
are important management tools with the potential to protect ecosystem
structure and functioning.”
The committee is composed of scientists, members of
the academic community, commercial and recreational fishermen, resource
users and managers and environmentalists. Members, who serve for
two- or three-year terms, will receive official notification following
background checks. Their first meeting is planned for June in Washington,
D.C.
“The appointment is quite an honor for Murray,
the Department of Biological Sciences and Cal State Fullerton to
have him considered so highly from all potential candidates in California,”
said Gene Jones, chair and professor of biological sciences. “His
selection to this very significant committee shows his high standing
among his peers.”
Commerce Secretary Evans noted the importance of the
committee’s role: “We look forward to strong leadership
from these individuals in helping us determine how best to continue
our efforts to balance conservation needs with commercial and recreational
interests as we move forward to protect the marine environment for
present and future generations.”
The committee is supported by the NOAA National Marine
Protected Areas Center, which is charged with providing federal,
state, territorial, tribal and local governments with the information,
technologies, training and strategies to coordinate federal activities
related to marine-protected areas.
A Cal State Fullerton faculty member since 1971, Murray
has long been interested in the ecology of rocky shore plants and
animals and how the activities of humans have affected these organisms.
To support his studies, he has obtained three instructional and
15 research grants worth more than $1.62 million since 1994.
“Our coastal ocean
ecosystems are
changing due to natural ocean cycles and increasing pressure
from human activities. Marine protected areas are important
management tools with the potential to protect ecosystem structure
and functioning.
|
Murray’s research has been supported by the
University of Southern California Sea Grant and by Minerals Management
Service. His recent studies deal with examining long-term changes
in marine shore populations and communities, including how best
to detect these changes using scientific sampling procedures.
“These projects have had strong applications,
and our findings have been useful to Orange County, the Marine Institute
at Dana Point, state parks and the city of Newport Beach,”
said Murray. “Our results have contributed to efforts to improve
coastal management, and particularly how to look at rocky intertidal
marine-protected areas and how best to manage them.”
Another Murray project involves Caulerpa taxifolia,
an invasive, green feather-like seaweed native to Australia, also
known as killer algae. This plant was introduced into the Mediterranean
Sea a few years ago. It spread rapidly and created major changes
in Mediterranean marine communities.
This plant and other species of Caulerpa have become
favorites of salt-water aquarium enthusiasts. Caulerpa taxifolia
eventually found its way into waters near San Diego and in Huntington
Harbour, where local residents presumably emptied it into the sea
from their aquariums. Murray and his students have determined how
many species of Caulerpa besides C. taxifolia are being sold locally
and are investigating which of these, if introduced, might be capable
of establishing populations in Southern California waters.
Two years ago, Murray’s research was used to
support a bill in the legislature that banned the sale of several
species of Caulerpa, including the killer algae, in California.
“I am pleased to offer my expertise as a coastal
marine scientist to assist the federal government in its efforts
to improve the management of our coastal seas,” said Murray.
“I am hopeful this advisory panel will be able to make an
unbiased and scientifically sound assessment of the role that marine
protected areas can play in such a process.”
Media Contacts: |
Steven N. Murray at 657-278-7291 or smurray@fullerton.edu
Dave Reid, Public Affairs, at 657-278-4855 or dreid@fullerton.edu |
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