Center for Maritime & Underwater Resource Management

What's new?
The Center for Maritime & Underwater Resource Management (CMURM) (pronounced: sea-merm) was organized in 1994 as an applied research and outreach unit of the Department of Park, Recreation and Tourism Resources at Michigan State University.
The Center was reorganized in 2000 as a private, non-profit corporation under the laws of the State of Michigan and as a Section 501(c)(3) charitable, scientific, and educational organization under the Internal Revenue Code to better serve the needs of those involved in research, management, and development of maritime heritage and other coastal and underwater resources.
CMURM's corporate mission is to assist and enable businesses, communities, and governments in making the often-difficult decisions necessary to wisely use and preserve their precious maritime heritage as well as sustain coastal tourism and other economic benefits.
CMURM provides services in applied archaeological and social research, scientific studies in management and development, and technology transfer to clients in industry, academia, and government. It encourages and facilitates the use of private-public partnerships in research, management, and development. A listing of current and former clients and project partners is provided here.
This diversity of clients has given CMURM a unique understanding of the challenges and opportunities in (1) research, education, management, and development of maritime and underwater resources, and (2) facilitation of public-private partnerships for the wise use and preservation of this heritage.

Specialties

CMURM directors and associates specialize in the following realms of scientific research, education, and service projects. Our projects and written products focus on the delivery of data and information critical to organizations in making informed decisions on the management, stewardship, and development of the maritime and coastal heritage.
  • Historic Shipwrecks
  • Other Underwater Cultural Resources
  • Maritime and Coastal Heritage
  • Coastal Recreation and Tourism
  • Recreational Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
  • Marine Parks and Protected Areas
  • Scientific Diving
  • Underwater and Maritime Archaeology
  • Conservation of Cultural Materials from Marine/Freshwater Environments
  • Cultural Land and Seascapes
CMURM’s current geographical areas of specialization are the Great Lakes Region of the United States, Caribbean Basin, and the North Atlantic.