Laura Jay Grove is a research fishery biologist at the National Marine Fisheries Service’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) in Miami. Jay received her B.S. in marine biology from the University of New Hampshire, M.S. in marine science from the University of New England and Ph.D. in fisheries from Auburn University. She joined NOAA in 2016 and is presently the Coral Reef Conservation Program’s National Coral Reef Monitoring Program’s (NCRMP) SEFSC lead. In this role, she is the lead fish data scientist ensuring high quality data collection and analysis. Jay is also NCRMP’s Florida sampling coordinator. Every other year she coordinates with multiple federal (NPS, FKNMS, EPA), state (FWC, FDEP), local (MDC, Broward), and academic institutions (NSU, UM, etc.) to survey fishes and corals throughout Florida (Dry Tortugas, Florida Keys and Southeast Florida). This large survey effort provides domain-wide reef fish and coral population status and trends that are used to inform regional resource management. She is a principle investigator on multiple other research projects including fish method calibration and mesophotic reef studies in the U.S. Caribbean, and extending habitat mapping and reef surveys, and telemetry studies in Florida. Jay is a NOAA divemaster and field trainer with over 24 years of dive experience that allow her to continue learn through underwater observations. She has a background in marine science education and enjoys sharing science with all audiences whenever possible.

Scope and Content Note
This interview, conducted by Zachary Mason on August 26, 2020, focuses on Jay Grove's career, experiences, and contributions to marine biology and NOAA's coral reef monitoring efforts. Grove begins by discussing her early life in Norwalk, Connecticut, and her early interest in marine biology, which was inspired by frequent visits to the Maritime Center Aquarium. She outlines her educational journey, detailing her undergraduate studies at the University of New Hampshire, where she gained valuable experience in marine biology and scuba diving. The interview then delves into Grove's varied career path. She talks about her work experiences, including time spent in veterinary hospitals and marine science education in San Diego. She describes her decision to pursue a master's degree in marine science at the University of New England, where she focused on fish physiology and elasmobranchs. She further elaborates on her pursuit of a Ph.D. at Auburn University, where she studied red snapper using telemetry and contributed to advancements in fish tracking technology. Grove discusses her transition to NOAA, where she was initially hired to conduct stationary point count surveys for the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). She describes her progression to becoming the lead fish scientist for the Southeast Fisheries Science Center, where she coordinates and analyzes data for reef fish health in the Atlantic basin. She highlights her role in producing status reports on coral reefs and reef fish, including developing metrics for assessing reef fish communities. The interview provides a detailed explanation of the stationary point count method and its application in assessing reef fish populations. Grove also discusses her work on telemetry studies, focusing on fish movement, mortality, and the impact of artificial reefs. Additionally, she talks about her involvement in the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative technical advisory committee, emphasizing the importance of water quality and habitat restoration. Throughout the interview, Grove provides insights into the challenges and importance of marine conservation, fisheries management, and the interconnectedness of reef ecosystems. She underscores the significance of effective science communication and public engagement in marine conservation efforts.