Biological Oceanography
Steve Murawski
Research Professor and St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership Peter R. Betzer Endowed
Chair
Ph.D., University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 1984
Office Phone: 727.553.3367
Email: smurawski@usf.edu
CV: View CV
Research: Population dynamics of exploited marine species; impacts of fishing and
other anthropogenic stresses on marine ecosystems; ecosystem modeling and analysis
Specialties: Fisheries Biology, Marine Ecology, Pollution Impacts, Ocean Mapping and
Undersea Technologies
Dr. Murawski is a fisheries biologist and marine ecologist involved in understanding
the impacts of human activities on the sustainability of ocean ecosystems. He has
developed approaches for understanding the impacts of fishing on marine fish complexes
exploited in mixed-species aggregations. Additionally, his work on impacts of marine
protected areas and other management options has formed the scientific basis for resource
management regulation both nationally and globally. Such assessments can help inform
management regulations to rebuild animal populations from the effects of overexploitation,
oil spills and other chemical contaminants, loss of juvenile nursery areas, nutrient
enrichment, climate change and other stressors.
Dr. Murawski currently serves as Director and Principal Investigator for the Center
for Ocean Mapping and Innovative Technologies (COMIT), a cooperative agreement between
the NOAA Office of Coast Survey and USF to develop technologies to map undersea ocean
and coastal regions. He was also Director of the Center for Integrated Analysis and
Modeling of Gulf Ecosystems (C-IMAGE), which was funded by grants from the Gulf of
Mexico Research Initiative to study effects of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
His research interests are varied and center around the theme of acquiring actionable
science that can influence public policy and help achieve sustainable marine ecosystems.
Dr. Murawski formerly served Chief Scientist of the National Marine Fisheries Service and has a long record of achievement in providing scientific information necessary for sustainable use of living marine resources. He is the recipient of the Department of Commerce Gold Medal, the Senior Executive Service Meritorious Rank Award, and is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, among many other awards.