NOAA and the American Fisheries Society are thrilled to honor Dr. Anne Shaffer with the 2020 Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award. Throughout her career, Dr. Shaffer has been a champion of nearshore marine science and conservation. She has also demonstrated a passion for mentorship and public outreach.
Dr. Shaffer is the Executive Director and Lead Scientist of the Coastal Watershed Institute in Port Angeles, Washington. The Institute works to protect and restore marine and terrestrial ecosystems through scientific research and local community, place-based partnerships.
Early in her career, Dr. Shaffer worked in marine science at the University of Washington. She evaluated the effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on nearshore marine ecosystems. For two decades, she served as a habitat biologist at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. In this position, she focused on regulating activities in marine waters along the north coast of Washington. She was also integral to the Elwha Ecosystem Restoration Project.
Through various online platforms, Dr. Shaffer regularly communicates about the importance of nearshore marine habitats. She has also been a dedicated mentor to hundreds of students, many of which have gone on to professional or academic careers in natural resource management.
About the Award
Winners of the Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award must demonstrate exceptional achievement and dedication to habitat conservation in the coastal and marine environment. Dr. Shaffer joins 24 previous winners of this prestigious award.
Dr. Nancy Foster won the first award in 1997 for creating NOAA’s Office of Habitat Conservation, Restoration Center, and Chesapeake Bay Office. In her 23 years at NOAA, she created a legacy as a pioneer and visionary in understanding coastal and marine ecosystems and their conservation. NOAA’s habitat conservation work spans some of the largest and most valuable ecosystems on Earth and supports the nation’s fisheries, protected species, and coastal communities.
