23 January 2004
United States
A popular area scientist has died while doing research in the Atlantic Ocean off North Carolina. Rich Novak, 56, Charlotte County’s Florida Sea Grant marine extension agent, collapsed Wednesday aboard a research vessel out of Morehead City, N.C.
“He was doing a long-term study of bluefin tuna, looking at migratory patterns,†said Mike Spranger, assistant director for Florida Sea Grant Extension. “He’d been working with a number of top-flight researchers from North Carolina for a number of years.â€
“In the early ’90s, Rich was the individual who organized the bluefin tuna conference. He worked on a bluefin tuna economic impact study and tested circle hooks for bluefin tuna.â€
Novak’s areas of expertise included artificial reefs, marine and estuarine habitat enhancement and coastal and marine recreation.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in parks and recreational administration at Western Illinois University and a master’s in forest and range management at Washington State University.
After working for North Carolina Sea Grant for 14 years, Novak became the Charlotte County extension agent in 1997.
“We were fortunate to steal him away from North Carolina six years ago,†Spranger said. “I’ve already spoken to several people who said he will be hard to replace.â€
