About Us
How We Got Started
Everyone at BWRI, including those that we collaborate with, are passionate about doing the right thing. We are scientists, researchers, biologists, managers, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, neighbors and ALL want to leave this earth better than we found it.
Some may call this tree huggers, but we call this being responsible humans. We do care about the environment, the animals in the environment and want to make a positive impact on this world.
It is with this philosophy and mentality that we launched the Blue World Research Institute. If you share this mentality, please speak up and let your voice be heard!
Our Mission
BWRI is dedicated to addressing the global impact of entanglements on marine species through Research, Response/Rescue, Technology and Education.
We also promote the development, improvement, and use of technologies that support marine conservation and education. Our overarching goal is to improve public knowledge and awareness of these endangered and imperiled marine species, their aquatic environments and mitigate the ways that human activities affect them. We are an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based on the east coast of central Florida, but our work takes us all over the world.
Team
Our Staff
JAMISON SMITH
Executive Director and Chief Scientist
Blue World Research Institute (BWRI) was founded in 2018 by Jamison Smith. Mr. Smith serves as the Executive Director, Chief Scientist and lead trainer for BWRI.
Jamison has been working on the marine mammal entanglement issue since 1996 and established the large whale response program for the state of Florida before transitioning to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to develop and lead the Atlantic Large Whale Disentanglement Network in the beginning of 2005.
Jamison coordinated the Atlantic large whale entanglement response program from 2005 to 2015 and the national large whale entanglement response program from 2015 to the end of 2017. During this time he was responsible for developing standardized criteria for training and establishing responder safety protocols. He was an active member of the International Whaling Commission’s (IWC) large whale entanglement response group and represented the U.S. response program. He was also identified as an expert advisor to the IWC’s Global Whale Entanglement Response Network and was tasked with developing the international large whale entanglement response guidelines, based largely on the response protocols developed by the U.S. response network under his tutelage.
Mr. Smith was also a lead trainer that conducted simulation based training all over the U.S., as well as internationally, and is recognized as a global expert in large whale entanglement response and entanglement mitigation.