Mark Walenta

Marine Stewardship and Monitoring Specialist

Mark.Walenta@noaa.gov

Mark Walenta joined the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in April 2026 as a Marine Stewardship and Monitoring Specialist to support the large-scale restoration efforts of Mission: Iconic Reefs. He earned his Master of Professional Science in Tropical Marine Ecosystem Management from the University of Miami, a transition inspired by his previous career as a scuba instructor across various dive sites in the Caribbean.

Since beginning his scientific diving career in 2021, Mark has focused on critical reef health and restoration projects. While at UM, he worked under the National Park Service at Buck Island Reef National Monument, studying the complex interactions between stony coral tissue loss disease and black band disease. He also designed and executed a pilot sponge nursery project for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection at the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, aimed at bioremediation and habitat enhancement.

In his current role, Mark is dedicated to integrating novel technologies into field-based monitoring to better record and analyze reef progress within the sanctuary. He is passionate about advancing the efficacy of restoration science and is excited to contribute to the long-term protection and recovery of Florida’s Coral Reef.