Two Winners Earn 2016 Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award

Lynda V. Mapes has been an environmental reporter with the Seattle Times since 1997.	Paul Dest has served since 2001 as the director of the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve in southern Maine.

Winners of the Dr. Nancy Foster Award must demonstrate exceptional achievement and dedication to habitat conservation in the coastal and marine environment. This year, the American Fisheries Society partnered with NOAA Fisheries in the judging process. Read about the 2016 winners.

More about Dr. Nancy Foster

A marine biologist from Electra, Texas, Dr. Nancy Foster dedicated 23 years of outstanding service to NOAA, leaving a remarkable imprint on the agency. After earning a masters in marine biology from Texas Christian University and a doctorate in marine biology from George Washington University, Dr. Foster began her tenure at NOAA in 1977. In 1986 she joined NOAA Fisheries and under her direction, NOAA created the Office of Habitat Conservation, the NOAA Restoration Center, and the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office. Dr. Foster served as acting assistant administrator and then deputy assistant administrator of NOAA Fisheries before leaving to become assistant administrator of the NOAA Ocean Service in 1997.

Dr. Foster died in June 2000 after a year-long battle with cancer. Throughout her life she carved the path as a pioneer and visionary in understanding marine ecosystems and their conservation and as a mentor to many who followed her into a career with NOAA.