Dave Burrage, an extension professor of marine resources with Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant and Mississippi State University's Coastal Research and Extension Center, started working for Sea Grant in 1981 as a graduate assistant in Rhode Island Sea Grant's administrative office.
He joined the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Advisory Service in 1983 and has been working with seafood producers and marine fishers ever since.
Here's a short Q&A with Dave about how he views Sea Grant's work.
Q: When have you felt Sea Grant make a difference in the lives of your constituents?
A: I have programming feedback from constituents indicating that we have saved them money or enabled them to earn more money. We also have been credited for saving lives due to our marine safety training.
Q: What are the Sea Grant’s College Program’s greatest strengths?
A: Having personnel in coastal regions to provide a face for university-based science to user groups. Needs-driven programming identified by clientele base.
Q: What is the most important role you think Sea Grant will play in the future?
A: In an era characterized by on-line and social media information transfer, Sea Grant will continue to provide a human element to training and serve as an “honest broker” interface between scientists, managers and stakeholders.