NOGI

:: Paul Humann - Sports and Education - 2009

Paul’s work established visual identification criteria for many marine animals. To assure scientific accuracy long hours of observation, documentation, cataloguing and corresponding with dozens of taxonomic marine scientists were essential steps in a long process. In many instances picture/voucher specimen collection was required to make positive identifications. As a result, many of his pictures were the first ever published of living species in their natural habitat. The specimens from this work now reside in the Smithsonian’s National History Museum collections. His photos and collaboration with scientists formed the basis for Paul to write his award winning series of popular marine life identification books, published in conjunction with his business partner Ned DeLoach. These books made it possible for underwater naturalists around the world to make valid visual non-impact biodiversity assessments of reef ecosystems.

Paul’s photo/voucher specimen collections also included some rare finds. One specimen turned out to be an ahermatypic stony coral unknown to science. In fact it was classified in a Genus previously unknown to exist in Tropical West Atlantic waters. Commonly named Ornate Cup Coral, the species was scientifically described by Smithsonian scientist Dr. Stephen Cairns in Paul’s honor, Coenocyathus humanni.

Paul and Ned’s concern for the welfare of the marine environment led them to co-found the Reef Environmental Education Foundation in 1990. REEF is an organization of active sport scuba divers that conduct underwater surveys to provide a continual flow of data monitoring marine wildlife populations -- much the same as Audubon bird watchers. They worked with marine scientists from NOAA, the University of Miami and The Nature Conservancy in developing the program and protocols to assure both the accuracy and usefulness of the data. This included the development of marine life visual identification courses which are used today not only to teach REEF volunteers, but include all participants in the sport of snorkeling and diving. For their work with REEF in 2006 Paul & Ned received the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force’s Outstanding Public Awareness and Education Award.

Today, marine wildlife scientists, marine ecologists, fisheries managers, and marine park managers throughout the West Tropical Atlantic, Alaska to Galapagos and the Hawai’ian Islands use data provided by REEF. Currently REEF is working to expand its programs into the Tropical West and Central Pacific. REEF has programs studying grouper spawning aggregations to save their endangered populations. Due to the current budget constraints of governments and scientific/educational institutions this valuable data would unavailable were it not for the efforts of REEF. REEF is also the lead environmental organization with its Exotic Species Program to hopefully control the potentially disastrous consequences of the invasion of lionfish into the waters of the Tropical West Atlantic. Paul continues his volunteer work for REEF as Chairman of the Board of Trustees and acting Executive Director. He also continues to write and publish marine life identification books.

In 2006 Paul was one of DEMA’s Outreach Award recipients and in 2007 was inducted into the International Diving Hall of Fame.