The Scott B. Gudes Public Service Graduate Scholarship is awarded only to graduate students pursuing NOAA Fisheries related disciplines whose research has a strong potential to contribute to sportfishing and the advancement of marine resource conservation. Candidates must also display evidence of exemplary public service.
NOAA LMRCSC-II Doctoral Fellow and University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science student Chryston Best-Otubu was awarded the scholarship for the 2024-25 academic year. His research and community outreach made him a perfect candidate.
Chryston is majoring in Marine Science, constructing food web models of Biscayne Bay to discover how the ecosystem has changed due to environmental degradation. He said the Gudes scholarship gave him unique access to other marine biologists, recreational charter crews and clients, and representatives of Florida SeaGrant, NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Biscayne National Park, and others.
“With people from different backgrounds all working towards environmental conservation, there can be more unique ideas and potential approaches to identify the key issues necessary to promote fishery replenishment and proper fisheries management,” Chryston said.
He started the University of Miami Fishing Club in 2022 to teach people how to fish in a way that incorporates the importance of marine resource protection. Club members are educated on local ecology, best practices for catch-and-release, and size and bag limits related to declining fish populations.
Through the club, Chryston also organizes beach clean-ups, talks to local schoolchildren about conservation efforts, and meets weekly with Reward Fleet, a recreational fishing fleet whose members offer him insight into how fishing in South Florida has changed over time.
“Getting the views of the crew, who spend most of the year (300+ days) making a career out of sportfishing and recreational charters, is essential to understand the potential drivers of fishery biomass. These captains/mates see trends most of us cannot see with our own eyes and have a deep understanding of the waters,” he said.
