As faculty at the Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences program at UF since 1997, and Director of the Nature Coast Biological Station since 2015, Mike has always had a passion for conducting and facilitating research that can directly improve management of aquatic systems. He has made significant advancements in quantitative fisheries science; developing field-based models that have practical application for decision making. His work has been instrumental in setting harvest policies and diagnosing potential overfishing for largemouth bass, black crappie, and spotted seatrout fisheries in Florida and throughout the southeast. Mike’s seamless transition to developing age-structured fisheries models for marine species has involved collaborations with FWRI scientists and helped to inform harvest management decisions by FWC and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Council.

Mike and his colleagues also studied the impacts of habitat, angling, and latitude on largemouth bass reproduction and recruitment in Florida. His research on iconic sport fish eventually expanded to address how changes in habitat quality and habitat management can influence fish populations and fish communities. Results of his research have been used by water management districts in setting minimum flow and level criteria for lake and river systems in Florida, as well as to inform water level and habitat management decisions in Florida lakes. Mike’s research program has also elucidated management options for both invasive fishes (lionfish) and plants (hydrilla) in Florida. His work on hydrilla identified both habitat problems with hypoxia that occurs at high coverages, as well as benefits of moderate coverage to sportfish and fish communities.

Mike has developed a research and teaching program at UF that has received national and international attention. He has chaired over 45 graduate students (13 PhD and 32 MS) and served as a faculty advisor for hundreds of other graduate students. Mike and his students have given over 250 presentations at regional, national, and international conferences. His students have received 34 awards while under his direction; many of which were Roger Rottman Memorial Scholarships or Best Student Paper Awards from the Florida Chapter AFS. At last count, Mike has authored and coauthored nearly 200 peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals and proceedings, and he has contributed chapters to or edited five fisheries books. Most of his publications have been highly cited works, due to their relevance to management across the US and beyond. His international studies resulted in 8 papers that addressed management of Murray cod fisheries in Australia and three papers that addressed management of the giant cichlid in Guatemala. Mike has also been a scholarly editor for three different journals and has refereed papers for about 20 different journals.

Mike has been actively involved at all levels of AFS since 1989 and became an AFS Fellow in 2020. He served as President of the Auburn University Student Chapter (1990-91), President of the Student Subsection of the Educational Section (1991-92), President of Florida Chapter (2004), and President of Southern Division (2013). He has also served on numerous AFS committees, including the Program co-chair of the 2017 AFS meeting in Tama, Nominating, Skinner Award, Publication Awards, and Time and Place Committees. Mike has also been a member of the Education Section and Fish Management Section since the early 1990s.

Mike has the ability and willingness to communicate complex issues at all levels, from the everyday angler to the highly technical scientist. This ability and his friendly, down-to-earth personality have allowed him to form strong partnerships and garner great respect from many within and outside the aquatic sciences profession.

Although Mike’s management-directed research has been highly influential, his greatest impact is in the graduate students that have gone on to work in natural resource management and research, with many obtaining leadership positions in agencies across the U.S. In each of their individual capacities and roles, they are continuing his legacy of impacting natural resource management and conservation in positive, forward-thinking ways. This is truly a testament to Mike’s invaluable contribution to the field of aquatic system management – yesterday, today, and into the future.