THE DR. NANCY FOSTER
HABITAT CONSERVATION AWARD

History

The Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award was established by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Marine Fisheries Service's Office of Habitat Conservation in May 1997.

At the end of May 1997, Dr. Nancy Foster left the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) to become the Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management (NOS). Throughout her professional career with NOAA she has been instrumental in protecting, conserving and restoring threatened and at risk habitats of the living marine resources of the United States.

Under her direction, the NOAA Restoration Center was created to guide all of NOAA's efforts. These responsibilities involved actions in the areas of the Damage Assessment and Restoration Program, the Coastal Wetland Planning Protection and Restoration Act, the Army Corps of Engineers Memorandum of Agreement and many others. She also established the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Program Office with responsibilities for coordinating NOAA participation in this national model for ecosystem management. Dr. Foster also created the NOAA Fisheries Office of Habitat Conservation as a national program office equal in organizational stature as that of both the Office of Protected Resources and the Office of Sustainable Fisheries. Since the creation of this Office, the completion of the National Habitat Plan and the enactment of the of the essential fish habitat provision of the Magnuson Stevens Act has occurred. The Office of Habitat Conservation and its continuing important work to save marine habitats will be Dr. Foster's legacy to future generations.

The first award was given to Dr. Foster in 1997 for her outstanding contributions and organizational efforts to conserve and restore marine habitats of the United States, and to mark her departure from NOAA Fisheries to become the NOAA Assistant Administrator of the National Ocean Service. During her tour in NOAA Fisheries, Dr. Foster had directed agency programs on protected resources and habitat and had risen to Deputy Assistant Administrator of NOAA Fisheries, and had always maintained a clear focus on NOAA's primary constituents living marine resources and their habitats.

The second award was given in 1998 posthumously to Nathaniel Bingham for his years of dedication to Pacific coast resources. His career as a fisherman and then as an activist with the Pacific Coast Federation of Fisheries Association earned Nat trust and respect from coast to coast, from within the fishing industry to all levels of government. Nat was a true habitat hero, and will always be remembered as the knowledgeable soul who when asked to explain the root of all threats to living marine resources, responded "It's the habitat, stupid!"

The award was not presented between 1999 and 2001. Beginning in 2002, the award was coordinated with the American Fisheries Society's Estuaries Section and presented at the AFS annual conference.

The third award was presented in 2002 to Worrall Reed "Nick" Carter, III of Maryland. Mr. Carter was recognized for more than 35 years of service to habitat conservation in the Chesapeake watershed. Through various positions with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, now continuing as a volunteer, Mr. Carter sought to advance habitat protection and restoration interests throughout the Bay. His abundant energies were focused on individual projects that imperiled important habitats, advancing scientific theory that offered promise of improved fishery management, correcting obsolete practices that deserved closer scrutiny, and nurturing curious minds of all ages who shared his interest in environmental issues. For his efforts, Mr. Carter was recognized at his retirement as the "Admiral of the Chesapeake" by former Maryland Governor Parris Glendening.

In 2003, the fourth award was presented to Dr. Lawrence P. Rozas, an Ecologist with the NOAA Fisheries' Southeast Fisheries Science Center in Lafayette, Louisiana. Dr. Rozas was recognized for his sustained contributions on coastal habitat restoration research to peer-reviewed journals, his specific contributions related to improved understanding of habitats deemed essential to commercial and recreational species, and his innovative solutions to research problems and management challenges. His work reflects decades of strong scientific contributions by the Southeast Fishery Science Center in Galveston, where Dr. Rozas worked prior to relocating to Lafayette.

The 2004 award was presented to Carlos Fetterolf for decades of service to our nation's habitat, especially in the Great Lakes. Mr. Fetterolf served as Executive Director of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission for 18 years, and pursued a balanced approach to regional resources that included a full appreciation of the habitat. Mr. Fetterolf also served on the National Sea Grant Review Panel that forged a partnership with the American Fisheries Society that eventually led to the internship program, symposia, and publication on essential fish habitat.

At the American Fishery Society's 2005 annual conference in Anchorage, Alaska, NOAA and the AFS Estuaries Section presented the 2005 award to Peter Clark of TampaBay Watch, Inc. Mr. Clark was honored for more than 20 years of successful efforts to address habitat loss and environmental conservation issues through public-private partnerships. His efforts have placed Tampa Bay at the forefront of national efforts to conserve estuarine drainages.

The 2006 award was presented to Dr. Elliott A. Norse, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Marine Conservation Biology Institute in Bellerue, Washington. Dr. Norse was honored for decades of dedication to research, public policy, and education related to marine conservation issues. Among Dr. Norse's accomplishments are several books on conservation biology, a leading voice on marine habitat issues, visionary leadership on ocean programs, and an infections energy

The eighth Nancy Foster Award was presented in 2007 to Dr. Usha Varanasi, Director of the NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Varanasi was recongnized for decades of work on research, management, laboratory direction, mentoring, and overall leadership. In the spirit of her friend "Nancy Fostor", Dr. Varanasi has dedicated much of her career to habitat issues. Her contributions, as an individual and with her colleagues at the Science Center in Seattle are recognized worldwide.

NOAA Fisheries Office of Habitat Conservation and the American Fisheries Society's Estuaries Section are soliciting nominations for the 2008 Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award. The NOAA Fisheries/AFS award will continue to recognize and honor outstanding people in the habitat conservation field.

Nomination Process

Nominations are due June 20, 2008, and must follow the following rules for eligibility and submission:

Eligibility

1. Nominees must have at least ten (10) years of continuous contributions to the habitat conservation fields, including any work to protect, manage, study, or otherwise advance habitat issues associated with marine, estuarine, or riverine waters or the species supported by those ecosystems.

2. Private citizens or public servants may be nominated for their work, their volunteer efforts, another type of support, or any combination of contributions to the habitat conservation field.

How to Apply

1. Each nomination must be typed on a separate sheet of paper using the format provided below.

2. If appropriate, submit four (4) copies of each example of work, including publications, photographs, videotapes, or other such materials.

3. Letters of support are welcome, and should be submitted with the nomination package.

Although every attempt will be made to return personal materials, neither NOAA Fisheries nor the AFS Estuaries Section can guarantee that items submitted with nomination packages will be returned to the nominators.

Nomination Form

The NOAA Fisheries /AFS Estuaries Section Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award

Name of Nominee:
Name of Nominee's Organization:
Nominee's Address:
Nominee's Telephone Number:
Nominee's Email Address:

Name of Nominator:
Nominator's Address:
Nominator's Telephone Number:
Nominator's Email Address:

Signature of Nominator:

Supporting Documentation (please provide a detailed description of the activities, accomplishments, and other achievements that document the nominee's efforts, with a focus on innovation, resourcefulness, and commitment to habitat conservation; a separate yet concise response to each of the judging criteria is highly recommended:

1. Length of sustained contributions to the field of habitat conservation.

2. Personal success and contributions in advancing habitat conservation.

3. Innovative approaches, techniques, and accomplishments that motivated others to advance the field of habitat conservation.

4. Ability to balance habitat conservation with responsible use and stewardship.

Where to Submit Completed Nominations

Submit each nomination in a separate package, including letters of support and four (4) copies of any work examples, publications, press coverage, etc.

Send to:

Thomas E. Bigford
NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service
Office of Habitat Conservation, F/HC2
1315 East West Highway, Room 14100
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Questions? Email:thomas.bigford@noaa.gov or Call (301)-713-4300 x131.