CMAST’s Paul Rudershausen Recognized for Excellence by NOAA

(JAN 23, 2015) Paul Rudershausen, a doctoral candidate working with Jeff Buckel and Joe Hightower in the Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology program, received the 2014 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Walter B. Jones Sr. Memorial Award for Coastal and Ocean Resource Management.

The award recognizes excellence in graduate study that contributes materially to the development of new or improved approaches to coastal or ocean management. Rudershausen is examining the effects of anthropogenic activities on biota within salt marsh tidal creeks using novel tagging technology. He is conducting research on the movement and survival rates of a small saltwater fish, the mummichog, in a salt marsh creek using a unique antenna array situated in the water column. Using this technology, he is demonstrating the validity of a continuously operating system that may be useful for tracking fish in environments that are not conducive to active fish-sampling gear.

The Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) of 1972 created a unique and voluntary partnership of federal and state governments to provide a balance between land and water uses and resource conservation along America’s 95,000 miles of coastlines, including the Great Lakes. In 1990, as part of the reauthorization of the CZMA, the late Congressman Walter B. Jones provided NOAA with the authority to honor the people and organizations of America for their dedication and outstanding contributions in helping the nation maintain healthy coastal and ocean resources and balance the needs of these resources with human use.

At that time, Congressman Jones identified three award categories as particularly important—excellence in local government, excellence in marine and coastal graduate study, and coastal steward of the year. NOAA later added additional categories to recognize the broad spectrum of contributions made by this country’s many motivated, caring individuals and organizations.