Carlo Canasa is an IT Support Specialist for NOAA's Office of Habitat Conservation in the Operations, Management and Information Division. Carlos has been with NOAA for 5 years, and currently works in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Describe a project related to habitat that you’re currently working on or that you enjoyed.

I have not worked directly on any habitat-related projects, but last year I was involved in supporting the facilitation of the Habitat Focus Area national workshop held in Cambridge, MD. I enjoyed learning a lot about the work being done to develop the current Habitat Focus Areas across the country—not to mention the Choptank River right in our backyard! The National Coordination Team and respective HFA teams have done an amazing job in facilitating the development of all the sites. The future looks bright as NOAA continues to designate more areas.

What habitat work has been especially successful or inspiring to you?

The work being done on large-scale oyster restoration by the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office (NCBO), a division within the Office of Habitat Conservation, has been inspiring to me. A few years ago, the Operations, Management and Information team took a trip to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s facility in Shady Side, Maryland. I found the process to be quite interesting as well as learned how oyster restoration in Maryland’s Choptank River system could positively impact the area. I would also like to highlight NCBO’s important work needed to operate and maintain the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System.

Describe a time when you were surprised by fish and/or habitat. 

Did you know that the Philippines has over 7,000 islands? This has always been fascinating to me. Covering a vast portion of South East Asia’s Coral Triangle, I read in an article that its central region, from Luzon to Mindanao, has more marine species per unit area than any other place on the planet. 

What person has expanded your understanding or connection to habitat? 

I cannot credit my understanding of habitat to one single person. Rather, the Office of Habitat Conservation’s leadership and the various teams across our office have helped expand my knowledge of the importance of habitat conservation. Any time I have been given the opportunity to provide my technical expertise for hosting a workshop, webinar, or meeting related to existing/future habitat projects, the more I have learned.