NSU’s Guy Harvey Research Institute Receives $200,000 from Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation

Foundation of Renowned Marine Wildlife Artist and Conservationist Guy Harvey provides support for groundbreaking research on world’s marine fishes and their ecosystems

HOLLYWOOD Fla. — Guy Harvey, the renowned marine wildlife artist, scientist, and conservationist recently donated $200,000 to the Guy Harvey Research Institute (GHRI) at Nova Southeastern University on Sept. 27 to conduct research on large marine fishes such as sharks and marlins.

From Left to Right: Steve Stock, President of Guy Harvey, Inc. and the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation; Richard E. Dodge, Ph.D.; dean of Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) Oceanographic Center and executive director of NSU’s National Coral Reef Institute; Ronald G. Assaf, chair of NSU’s Board of Trustees; Marine Wildlife Artist and Conservationist Guy Harvey, Ph.D.; NSU President George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D.; and Mahmood Shivji, Ph.D., NSU Oceanographic Center professor and director of the Guy Harvey Research Institute (GHRI) at NSU. Guy Harvey makes a $200,000 check presentation to the GHRI at NSU on Sept. 27 on behalf of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation during the grand opening of NSU’s Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Ecosystems Research.

Given on behalf of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, the funding will be used to support ongoing research projects at the GHRI, which is housed at NSU’s Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Ecosystems Research at John U. Lloyd Beach State Park.

GHRI Director Mahmood Shivji, Ph.D., who is also a professor at NSU’s Oceanographic Center, and his GHRI graduate students and collaborators use a combination of DNA and field-based research methods to obtain a holistic understanding of open-ocean and coral reef fishes and how they use their ecosystems.

“The generous continued financial support from Dr. Guy Harvey and his foundation has been absolutely pivotal at keeping GHRI at the forefront of making important discoveries about sharks and billfishes to help their conservation globally,” Shivji said. “Some of this new funding will be used to dig deeper into understanding the migration patterns of short-fin mako sharks, a species whose populations are believed to be declining due to heavy fishing.”

Dr. Guy Harvey said: “We hope our contribution boosts the important research done at the Guy Harvey Research Institute and NSU’s new Center of Excellence for Coral

Reef Ecosystems Research. The work at NSU is for the betterment of our marine and coastal environments, so that we can better conserve our ocean’s resources for future generations to enjoy.”

“Without the continued generosity of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation in general and Guy Harvey specifically, we would not be a scientific leader of marine science,” said NSU President George Hanbury, Ph.D.

The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF), created by Dr. Guy Harvey, funds inspired scientific research and innovative educational programs to encourage conservation and best management practices for sustainable marine environments. The Guy Harvey Research Institute has received generous support from GHOF over the years.

Growing up in Jamaica, Dr. Guy Harvey spent many hours fishing and diving with his father along the Island’s south coast. He was fascinated with the creatures of the sea and began drawing pictures of the many different fish he observed. Harvey’s artwork can be found in art exhibits, stores, galleries, restaurants and at fishing tournaments.

He makes appearances at store openings as well as public appearances for a variety of environmental causes.

Harvey is a unique blend of artist, scientist, diver, angler, conservationist and explorer, fiercely devoted to his family and his love of the sea.

###

About Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation: The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation funds inspired scientific research and innovative educational programs to encourage conservation and best management practices for sustainable marine environments. The GHOF will help ensure that future generations will enjoy and benefit from a naturally balanced ocean ecosystem where fish and other marine wildlife flourish. Numerous organizations and causes have benefited from GHOF support, including the Guy Harvey Research Institute at the Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center, Bimini Biological Field Station; University of Florida: Florida Museum of Natural History, etc. www.guyharveyoceanfoundation.org

About Guy Harvey: Guy Harvey is a marine wildlife artist and conservationist who earned a Ph.D. in Fisheries Biology. His depictions of marine life, especially of sportfish such as marlin, are very popular with sport fishermen and have been reproduced in prints, posters, t-shirts, jewelry, clothing, and other consumer items. Harvey is also a very vocal and active advocate for marine conservation, having established the Guy Harvey Research Institute at Nova Southeastern University of Fort Lauderdale, Florida as well as the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, an organization that funds marine conservation research and educational initiatives.
www.guyharvey.com

About the Guy Harvey Research Institute at NSU: Established in 1999, the Guy Harvey Research Institute (GHRI) at NSU is a collaboration between the renowned marine artist, scientist and explorer, Dr. Guy Harvey, and Nova Southeastern University’s Oceanographic Center. The mission of the GHRI is to provide the scientific information necessary to understand, conserve, and effectively manage the world’s marine fishes and their ecosystems. The GHRI is one of only a handful of private organizations dedicated exclusively to the science-based conservation of marine fish populations and biodiversity. The research, education and outreach activities of the GHRI are supported by the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, AFTCO Inc., extramural research grants, philanthropic donations by private businesses and individuals, and NSU. http://www.nova.edu/ocean/ghri/index.html

About Nova Southeastern University: Situated on 300 beautiful acres in Davie, Florida, Nova Southeastern University is a dynamic fully accredited research institution dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs at all levels.  NSU is the eighth largest not-for-profit independent institution nationally with more than 28,000 students. NSU awards associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, doctoral and first-professional degrees in a wide range of fields. Classified as a research university with “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, NSU is one of only 37 universities nationwide to also be awarded Carnegie’s Community Engagement Classification.  www.nova.edu

Media Contact:
Ken Ma, MBA, NSU Office of Public Affairs
954-262-5408 (office), 954-621-7961 (cell), ken.ma@nova.edu