The Florida Sea Grant Advisory Council
The Florida Sea Grant Advisory Council is comprised of leaders from the private sector, non-governmental organizations, local governments, and state and federal agencies who are actively engaged in issues related to the sustainable management of Florida’s coastal and marine economies and natural resources.
They serve a term of four years, concurrent with the timeline of the four-year strategic plan, and they generously provide their time, knowledge, experiences and ideas to help Florida Sea Grant maintain excellence and relevance in its research, extension and education at state, regional and national levels. We sincerely thank the council members for their willingness to help the program.
Council Membership 2009-2013
- Bob Aylesworth, Owner, Aylesworth’s Fish and Bait, Inc.
- Billy Causey, Southeast Regional Director for the National Marine Sanctuary Program
- Ted Forsgren, Executive Director, Coastal Conservation Association, Florida
- Judy Gray, Deputy Director, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, NOAA
- Bill Herzig, Senior Vice President of Purchasing for Darden Restaurants
- Elliot Kampert, Director of Growth Management, Okaloosa County
- Chuck Listowski, Executive Director, West Coast Inland Navigation District
- Gary Lytton, Director, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
- Gil McRae, Director, FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
- Ben Nelson, State Meteorologist, Florida Division of Emergency Management
- Michael Poff, Vice President, Coastal Engineering Consultants Inc.
- Jerry Sansom, Executive Director, Organized Fishermen of Florida
- Dan Solano, Owner, Cedar Key Aquaculture Farms Inc.
- John Sprague, Director of Government Affairs, Marine Industries of Florida
- Jody Thomas, Director, Nature Conservancy of South Florida
Every Florida Sea Grant Marine Extension Agent also has an advisory committee comprised of local and regional citizens who advise them on their extension and education programs.