Biological Oceanography
Steve Murawski

Population Dynamics/Marine Ecosystem Analysis
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
C-IMAGE Website
The Population and Marine Ecosystems Dynamics Lab Website
C-SCAMP Project Website
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, Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Oil Spill
Impacts
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 regulation.
Such assessments can help inform investments to rebuild the Gulf of Mexico from effects
of the oil spill, loss of juvenile nursery areas, nutrient enrichment, overfishing
and other factors.
Dr. Murawski currently serves as Director of the Center for Integrated Analysis and
Modeling of Gulf Ecosystems (C-IMAGE), which is funded by a grant from the Gulf of
Mexico Research Initiative. Additionally, he is applying advanced technology solutions
to the next generation of marine ecosystem surveys through a joint program with the
Center for Ocean Technology to develop towed video systems for fish and habitat assessments.
In addition to his science activities, Dr. Murawski is a USA Delegate and formerly
a vice-president of the International Council for the Exploration of the SEA (ICES),
a 20-nation organization dedicated to increasing understanding of ocean ecosystems
in the convention area, which includes the United States, Canada and 18 European countries.
He is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences’ Ocean Studies Board, and
USA Committee for the International Institute for Advanced Systems Analysis. In 2013,
Dr. Murawski was also appointed a committee member for the Decadal Survey of Ocean
Sciences 2015. This survey, managed by the National Academies, will set the science
priorities for the next decade in the context of the current state of Knowledge, ongoing
research activities, and resource availability.