Evolution

Conceived in 2007 as a means of tracking coastal fish and sea turtles in east-central Florida, the FACT Network has expanded rapidly in geographic scope and membership, and now includes state and federal wildlife agencies, universities, not-for-profit and private marine research organizations operating throughout east Florida, Georgia, the Bahamas and Caribbean.

FACT partners have acoustic receivers deployed along a continuum of habitats including tidal rivers, estuaries, ocean inlets, the surf zone, as well as offshore coral reefs and wrecks. And the number of tagged animals continues to grow with >5000 individuals from 83 species released to date.

The image to the right depicts the growth of the FACT Network from 2007 through 2017. Yellow dots represent FACT Network tracking stations (receivers).

Watch us grow!

FACT Network Growth

The number of active acoustic receivers in the FACT Network by year.The current year will continue to grow throughout the year as FACT members contribute data to our Node.

Steering Committee

FACT Executive Director

Joy Young

FWCC/FWRI

FACT Steering Committee

The purpose of the FACT Network Steering Committee is to create a strategic plan, make sure activities align with the the strategic plan, resolve conflicts, provide guidance on funding and research opportunities for FACT members, and streamline FACT Network management tasks.

Beth Bowers

Chair

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

Bob Ellis

Vice Chair

FWCC/FWRI

Sarah Webb

South Florida Water Management District

Krystan Wilkinson

Chicago Zoological Society

Mitch Rider

Student Representative

University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science

FACT Steering Committee Charter

The purpose of the FACT Network Steering Committee is to create a strategic plan for the FACT Network, make sure activities align with the objectives in the strategic plan, resolve conflicts, provide guidance on funding and research opportunities for FACT members, and streamline FACT Network management tasks.
Charter

FACT Helpers

Dani Morely

Data Wrangler

FWCC/FWRI

Bonnie Ahr

Communications Specialist

Kennedy Space Center

Brent McKenna

Student Representative

Florida Atlantic University