James Bohnsack
Voices from the Science Centers
Voices from the Science Centers is an oral history initiative dedicated to documenting the institutional knowledge of fisheries scientists and administrators in the labs of NOAA’s Fisheries Science Centers.
James Bohnsack was born on September 3, 1947 in Flint, Michigan. He began working at the Southeast Fisheries Science Center in 1984 as a research fishery biologist. At the time of this interview in 2016, he was the Division Chief at the Southeast Fisheries Science Center, a position he has held since 2004.
Interview contains discussion of: Southeast Fishery Science Center, reef fish, artificial reefs, marine reserves, conducting census in the field, underwater observation, effects of Magnuson Stevens Act, aesthetic fisheries, ecosystem based fishery management, diving, technology changes, spawning aggregates, island biogeographic theory, Everglades, administrative responsibilities at Fisheries Science Centers, effect of technology on fisheries science, challenges facing Fisheries Science Centers, differences between Fisheries Science Centers, adapted management, coral reefs, bureaucratic challenges in scientific research
James Bohnsack’s interview is a detailed description of the work he has done at the Southeast Fisheries Science center, particularly with regards to his work on coral reefs, reef fish, and other fisheries work in South Florida. He also describes the benefits and challenges as a scientist working with fishermen, and working for the federal government.
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