Report of the Florida Bay Science Oversight Panel: Perspectives from the 2003 Florida Bay Science Conference

Hobbie, John; Boicourt, William; Dennison, William; Houde, Edward; McCutcheon, Steven; Paerl, Hans

The Florida Bay Science Oversight Panel (FBSOP) is an independent peer-review group charged with providing regular, broad, technical, and management review of the Interagency Florida Bay Science Program (hereafter called the Florida Bay Program). This panel was first convened August 17, 1993, at the request of George T. Frampton, Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks of the U.S. Department of Interior. The panel reviews agency plans, Program Management Committee (PMC) strategies for program development, scientific quality of research, modeling and monitoring, and research results (Armentano et al. 1994; Armentano et al. 1996). The FBSOP consists of six senior scientists with significant experience in estuarine research and major estuarine restoration programs; they have no involvement in Florida Bay Program projects. Since the 2001 review and report, Kenneth Heck has resigned from the FBSOP, William Dennison has joined the panel, and Hans Paerl has rejoined the panel after a one-year hiatus. Following the initial August 17, 1993, evaluation, the PMC has requested reviews that have taken place October 17-18, 1995; December 10-12, 1996; May 12-14, 1998; November 1-5, 1999, and April 24-26, 2001. Starting in 1995, the FBSOP has participated in the Florida Bay Science Conferences by formally leading question and answer sessions and by providing written reports to the PMC that present critical reviews and recommendations for advancing and coordinating the program. The five previous reports are Boesch et al. 1993, 1995, 1997, and 1998 and Hobbie et al. 2000, and 2002.