Mission Statement:

The overall mission of the Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce is support and conduct of scholarly research in the marine sciences, including collection, documentation and preservation of south Florida's marine biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as education, training, and public service. Specific research emphases are:

To analyze the systematics and biogeography of major groups of marine organisms in the Floridian coastal zone, focusing on issues of biodiversity

To determine the evolutionary patterns, ecological significance and physiological mechanisms of life histories of marine organisms and

To investigate the complex interactions of marine organisms and the community structure of the diverse and productive habitats of south Florida.

The insights gained by this research are widely disseminated through publications and public presentations, thus contributing to the broader mission of the Smithsonian Institution for the increase and diffusion of knowledge. At the same time, the results of the research enable policy makers to make wise environmental decisions in guiding conservation and sustainable management of marine resources, as well as providing the basis for innovative applications in medicine, aquaculture and the effective balance of growth and conservation.