Dr. Cato has organized or participated in about 100 workshops and conferences, on subjects ranging from fisheries limited entry to the potential impact of a post-embargo Cuba on Florida marine industries. He has published 25 monographs, seven journal articles, 76 articles in proceedings and magazines, eight book chapters, 33 reviewed publications and has given 96 papers and presentations. He worked on special assignment with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome, Italy. Research at FAO focused on the economic benefits of improving seafood safety, and the costs of improving shrimp processing plants in Bangladesh to minimum sanitary standards in order to meet international trade standards. He has given seminars in Italy, Cuba, Russia, England and Costa Rica, and is currently involved in Nicaragua with a shrimp culture economics program.

Dr. Cato led the Florida Sea Grant College Program to receive the highest possible rating of “Excellent” in early 2000, by a federal program assessment team as part of the quadrennial review process of Sea Grant programs. A total of 250 faculty and over 300 students from 30 academic disciplines in colleges and universities across Florida have conducted Florida Sea Grant projects and programs. One international group, eight state agencies, eight regional organizations, 37 county governments, eight cities and 56 private sector groups have provided funding to Florida Sea Grant, in addition to its federal and state funds. Florida Sea Grant programs currently focus on marine biotechnology, sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, seafood safety, sustainable water-dependent businesses, water quality, coastal ecosystems and habitats, coastal storms, producing a highly trained workforce and creating scientifically literate and environmentally informed citizens.  Dr. Cato chaired the Scientific and Statistical Committee of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council for eight years and served on the same committee of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. He was appointed by the Florida Governor to chair a statewide Blue Ribbon Marina Committee to review and recommend submerged land leasing and marina policies and was appointed by the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce to serve on a task force to recommend legislative revisions to the Magnuson Fishery Management and Conservation Act. He received the National Distinguished Extension Program award from the American Agricultural Economics Association; he has been president of the Sea Grant Association; and he has served on the Executive Committee of the Board on Oceans and Atmosphere of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges.

jcato@mail.ifas.ufl.edu  www.flseagrant.org  www.ufl.edu