**NOAA NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM**

**STRATEGIC PLAN 2009--2013: MEETING THE CHALLENGE**

**INTRODUCTION**

America's coasts are invaluable economic, cultural and environmental
resources that are at risk in this first decade of the 21^st^ century.
Increased rates of climate-related environmental changes have made
coastal communities vulnerable in ways never before imagined.
Overfishing and habitat degradation have contributed to declines in many
U.S. fisheries. Heightened concerns about human health and safety are
bringing greater attention to port security, coastal infrastructure
deterioration, and seafood safety. As hundreds of thousands more
Americans move to the coast every year, it is increasingly important
that we find adequate ways to balance human social and economic
activities. America must use its coastal land, water, energy, and other
natural resources in ways that preserve the health and productivity of
coastal ecosystems and optimize benefits to U.S. citizens.

According to the U. S. Commission on Ocean Policy report, the U. S.
coastal zone contributed \$4.5 trillion to the U. S. economy in 2005.
The challenges we face on our coasts have significant implications for
the Nation as a whole, as well as for the people who live and work in
coastal communities. Leaders at all levels---national, state, and
local---must work with citizens, private sector businesses, and other
organizations to utilize our intelligence, ingenuity, and financial
resources to turn a time of potential crisis into a time of opportunity.
As individuals and as a Nation we must take immediate steps to educate
ourselves about the magnitude of the threats we face and respond to
these in bold and creative ways.

The world around us is changing. Globalization of technology, people,
finance, products, and decision-making means factors beyond our national
borders are affecting the vitality of U.S. coastal communities and
economies. Businesses are functioning in an increasingly competitive
global economy and many policy decisions are taking place at an
international level. The need for collaborative problem-solving at the
state, regional, national, and international levels has never been
greater.

Severe challenges present the greatest opportunities for change, and Sea
Grant is prepared to respond. One of the demonstrated strengths of
individual Sea Grant programs is the ability to move rapidly to mobilize
universities and other partners to address challenges across the country
and around the world. Likewise, one of the strengths of the Sea Grant
network is the ability, through the organization's coordinated state and
regional structures, to implement the national goals of the National
Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at local, state, and
regional levels.

At this time of great risk and opportunity, the Sea Grant network and
its individual programs will address the goals set forth in this plan
with innovation and creativity, reflecting the particular needs of their
own states and communities, as well as the Nation as a whole.

**SEA GRANT VISION AND MISSION**

*The National Sea Grant College Program envisions a future where people
live along our coasts in harmony with the natural resources that
attracted and sustain them. This is a vision of coastal America where we
use our natural resources in ways that capture the economic and
recreational benefits they offer, while preserving their quality and
abundance for future generations.*

This vision reinforces the vision articulated in NOAA's 2006-2011
Strategic Plan: ". . . an informed society that uses a comprehensive
understanding of the role of the oceans, coasts, and atmosphere in the
global ecosystem to make the best social and economic decisions."

*Sea Grant's mission is to provide integrated research, extension and
education activities that increase citizens' understanding and
responsible use of the Nation's ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes
resources and support the informed personal, policy and management
decisions that are integral to realizing this vision.*

Sea Grant advances NOAA's mission ". . . to understand and predict
changes in Earth's environment and conserve and manage coastal and
marine resources to meet our Nation's economic, social, and
environmental needs."

**ESSENCE OF SEA GRANT**

Sea Grant was created almost 42 years ago to unite the academic power of
the Nation's universities with a wide range of public and private sector
partners. Through these partnerships, Sea Grant provides integrated
research, outreach, and education programs aimed at creating tangible
benefits for ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes environments and
communities. Located within NOAA, Sea Grant brings together government,
universities, and citizens living and working in America's coastal and
Great Lakes states to use their resources to respond to problems and
opportunities in these complex and dynamic environments.

Sea Grant is a national network comprised of the National Sea Grant
Office, 32 university-based state programs, the National Sea Grant
Review Panel, a National Law Center, a National Sea Grant Library, and
hundreds of participating institutions. This network enables NOAA and
the Nation to harness the best science, technology, and human expertise
to balance human and environmental needs in coastal communities. Sea
Grant's alliance with major research universities provides access to
more than 3,000 scientists, outreach specialists, educators, and
students. Sea Grant's university-based programs are fundamental to the
development of the future scientists and managers needed to conduct
research and to guide the responsible use and conservation of our
Nation's coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes resources. With its strong
research capabilities, local knowledge, and on-the-ground workforce, Sea
Grant offers NOAA and this country an unmatched ability to identify and
capitalize on opportunities, and, to generate practical solutions to
real problems in real places.

Sea Grant is required to match every \$2 of federal funding with \$1 of
non-federal funds; many state programs far exceed this match. By
leveraging additional money, Sea Grant expands the reach and
effectiveness of NOAA and other partners in planning for and managing
the future of America's ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources. The
match required for federal funding also ensures that this country
receives the maximum benefit from each dollar invested in Sea Grant.

**SEA GRANT CORE VALUES**

A strong set of core values has been the foundation of Sea Grant's work
from its inception. Sea Grant was founded on a belief in the critical
importance of strong partnerships. The organization's partnerships with
leading research universities, with other NOAA programs, and with a wide
range of public and private partners at the federal, state, and local
levels, have proven to be a highly effective way to solve problems and
create opportunities. In addition, Sea Grant's integration of research,
extension, and education activities is at the heart of its mission. As a
pioneer in what is referred to as "translational research: from
discovery to application," Sea Grant ensures that unbiased,
science-based information is accessible to all.

The diverse capabilities of Sea Grant's state programs enable the
organization to be creative and responsive in generating policy-relevant
research and in disseminating scientific and technological discoveries
to a wide array of audiences. Because it is science-based,
non-regulatory, and has an established presence in local communities,
Sea Grant is a trusted broker, working to increase coastal, ocean, and
Great Lakes literacy among decision-makers and the public as a whole.
Sea Grant's commitment to these core values is vital to achieving the
goals set forth in this plan.

**SEA GRANT IN NOAA**

The goals and strategies outlined in this plan incorporate many NOAA
priorities: promoting the health of coastal ecosystems; increasing the
accessibility and application of quality research to support wise
decision-making; increasing the number of fish stocks managed at
sustainable levels; and, expanding literacy about coastal ecosystems.

The urgent need for practical solutions to coastal problems requires
coordination, cooperation, partnerships, and effective investment. Sea
Grant provides NOAA with access to Sea Grant\'s university-based
capabilities in order to achieve shared goals. The National Marine
Fisheries Service-Sea Grant Joint Graduate Fellowship, with its programs
in population dynamics and marine resource economics, is just one
example of the importance and effectiveness of this partnership.  Sea
Grant also works closely with National Ocean Service coastal programs to
set national priorities for coastal management and to ensure closer
coordination of coastal activities.  Numerous partnerships exist between
Sea Grant and the National Weather Service on subjects such as climate
change, ocean, and coastal observing, and rip currents.

NOAA's Coastal Services Center, the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource
Management, the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, and Sea
Grant, are working to integrate their efforts more effectively. The
purpose of collaborative planning among these programs is to ensure that
NOAA's coastal programs are focused on national priorities, and that
their work is coordinated, outcome-oriented, and built around each
program's strengths. Additional NOAA programs will be brought into this
effort to create a more inclusive coastal enterprise. Two of the focus
areas of this plan, sustainable coastal development and hazard
resilience in coastal communities, are designed to advance these
integration efforts.

**PLANNING PROCESS AND STRATEGIC APPROACH**

This five-year strategic plan establishes direction for the Sea Grant
network to address critical national needs in coastal, ocean, and Great
Lakes environments. The plan capitalizes on Sea Grant's unique
capacities and strengths, allows for flexibility and creativity on the
part of state Sea Grant programs, and supports many of the priorities in
NOAA's strategic plan.

The collective Sea Grant network brought its wealth of experience to the
task of creating this plan. The planning process began with a review of
the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy Report and the U.S. Ocean Action
Plan, the NOAA Strategic Plan, the Ocean Research Priorities Plan and
Implementation Strategy, the NOAA 5-Year Research Plan, Sea Grant state
strategic plans, and other recent coastal/ocean plans and reports that
set national, state, and regional priorities. To elicit input and
guidance, a national stakeholder's workshop was convened in Washington,
DC in July 2007, with representatives from NOAA programs, other federal
agencies, and non-profit organizations that focus on coastal, ocean, and
Great Lakes issues. In addition, to obtain the benefit of a wide range
of stakeholder viewpoints, state Sea Grant programs were asked to share
the outcomes of recent stakeholder meetings, surveys, and regional
research agendas and initiatives, and to poll their advisory committees.
The Sea Grant network convened for Sea Grant Week in San Diego, CA in
October 2007 to identify priority goals and strategies for this
strategic plan.

Three cross-cutting goals and four specific focus areas emerged from the
strategic planning process. These goals and focus areas reflect
America's most urgent needs in the coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes
arenas, NOAA priorities, and Sea Grant's strengths and core values. This
strategic plan provides a national guide for the work of the state Sea
Grant programs. The state programs will also develop their own strategic
plans that contribute to the realization of national goals, while
reflecting the specific needs and priorities of their states and
regions. In addition, all parts of the Sea Grant network will work
together to create a national implementation plan to accompany this
document, establishing measurable objectives that will be used to
evaluate progress in achieving the national strategic goals.

**CROSS-CUTTING GOALS**

Managing coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes resources in ways that balance
human needs with environmental health requires progress in three
fundamental areas:

-   We need better information about how coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes
    ecosystems function and how human activities affect coastal, ocean,
    and Great Lakes habitats and living resources;

-   We need citizens who understand the complexities of coastal
    environments and the interactions between human use and the health
    of coastal ecosystems;

-   We need management and decision-making processes that are based on
    sound information, involve everyone who benefits from the beauty and
    bounty of America's coastal resources, and include mechanisms to
    evaluate trade-offs between human and environmental needs.

To facilitate progress in these areas and to help the Nation understand,
manage, and use its coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes resources wisely,
Sea Grant has identified three cross-cutting goals central to all that
Sea Grant does. The three goals reflect the value of Sea Grant's
integrated approach to research, extension, and education. They provide
the foundation of Sea Grant's work and are integral to the success of
this five-year plan.

**Goal: Sound scientific information to advance understanding of the
nature and value of our coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes resources; to
identify new ways to conserve and use these resources; and to support
evaluation of the environmental impacts and socio-economic trade-offs
involved in coastal decision-making.**

Short-term economics often influence coastal decision-makers to make
their decisions without understanding the long-term social,
environmental, and economic consequences of their decisions. Ecosystem
functioning and values, emerging economic opportunities, and the social
and economic costs and benefits of various human activities need to be
translated into factors understood by the general public in order for
sustainable uses of coastal environments to become a reality. Sea Grant
has a long history of generating cutting-edge research and supporting
technological innovations related to informed conservation and use of
coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes resources.

**Strategies**

-   Support research to generate the scientific, technical, and legal
    information needed to increase understanding of coastal, ocean, and
    Great Lakes processes; support the development of new businesses,
    products, tools, and technologies; and answer the most pressing
    questions related to coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes resource
    conservation, use, and management at the state and regional levels.

-   Play a leadership role within and outside of the Sea Grant network
    in increasing the amount of socio-economic research available to
    help decision-makers evaluate socio-economic trade-offs and assess
    risks to the future health and productivity of coastal, ocean, and
    Great Lakes resources.

-   Integrate, translate, and disseminate research findings and
    technological discoveries to the citizens, industries, and leaders
    who need them to capitalize on opportunities and make wise
    management decisions.

**Goal: An informed public that understands the value and vulnerability
of coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes resources, and demands informed
science-based decisions about the conservation, use, and management of
these resources, and a well-trained workforce that will make this a
reality.**

The 2004 U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy Report emphasized that
restoring and sustaining our coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes
environments requires an informed citizenry that understands the value
and vulnerability of these resources. We also need scientists, planners,
developers, engineers, and people involved in all water-related
enterprises who understand the interactions between human activities and
ecosystem health. NOAA has made ocean and aquatic literacy a strategic
priority. Sea Grant has been a leader in K-12, undergraduate, graduate,
professional, and technical education in coastal, ocean, and Great
Lakes-related areas for decades. Sea Grant is committed to playing a
leadership role in partnership with the NOAA Office of Education and
others to advance coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes literacy. This can be
done by capitalizing on Sea Grant's strong university partnerships, and
by using its education and extension capacities to develop educational
programs for schools, professional education, and workforce training.

**Strategies**

-   Advance coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes literacy through formal and
    informal learning opportunities in our schools, museums, aquariums,
    and other educational forums, such as the on-line, digital
    collections of the Aquatic Commons and the National Sea Grant
    Library.

-   Use Sea Grant's strong university partnerships to create new
    research and education opportunities in marine and aquatic science
    for undergraduate and graduate students and to develop information
    products and training opportunities that will help build the
    workforce capacity for coastal-related jobs and professions.

-   Collaborate within NOAA and with other partners to build public
    awareness about critical ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes issues,
    using the integrated research, extension, education, and
    communication capacities of the entire Sea Grant network.

**Goal: Decision-making processes that involve the full-range of coastal
interests, that integrate efforts of public and private partners at the
federal, regional, state, and local levels, and provide mechanisms for
establishing common understandings and generating outcomes that balance
multiple interests.**

The continued migration of people to our coastal areas increases the
complexity of coastal decision-making and creates greater potential
conflict among users at a time when coastal decision-making remains
fragmented and narrowly focused. Sea Grant's long-standing relationships
with a wide variety of stakeholders in coastal communities and its
reputation as a source of unbiased information enable the organization
to play a leadership role in promoting effective information sharing,
consensus building, and integration of efforts in the coastal arena. Sea
Grant can enhance its effectiveness by working closely with other NOAA
coastal programs through regional research alliances and by employing
international, national, and regional ocean observation systems.

> **Strategies**

-   Use Sea Grant's research, extension, and education capabilities to
    encourage and support the creation of public decision-making
    processes that minimize overlap, maximize effectiveness, and provide
    an integrated response to coastal problems and opportunities.

-   Build consensus on complex issues such as coastal land use, energy
    development, public access, invasive species control, and climate
    change impacts by supporting cutting-edge research, building broader
    understanding among various constituency groups, and convening
    diverse groups of stakeholders to work together to find common
    solutions.

-   Strengthen partnerships to promote national, regional, and
    issue-related collaboration among federal and state programs and
    other partners in order to support more effective and integrated
    coastal decision-making.

These three cross-cutting goals have been a foundation of Sea Grant's
work since it was established, and they are fundamental to success in
the focus areas outlined in this plan. The more specific goals and
strategies outlined in the focus areas build on these cross-cutting
goals, generating the knowledge and creative solutions needed to address
challenges and opportunities related to healthy coastal ecosystems,
sustainable coastal development, a safe and sustainable seafood supply,
and hazard resilience in coastal communities.

**FOCUS AREAS**

Over the next five years, Sea Grant will concentrate effort in four
areas: healthy coastal ecosystems; sustainable coastal development; a
safe and sustainable seafood supply; and hazard resilience in coastal
communities. These four interrelated focus areas emerged from the
strategic planning process as areas of critical importance to the health
and vitality of the Nation's coastal resources and communities. They
respond to issues of major importance to NOAA, are consistent with the
work of the NOAA coastal program integration effort, and are topical
areas in which Sea Grant has made substantial contributions in the past
and is positioned to make significant contributions in the future.

In each of the four focus areas, Sea Grant has identified goals to
pursue and strategies designed to take advantage of its strengths in
integrated research, outreach, and education, and its established
presence in coastal communities. Understanding relationships and
synergies across focus areas is vital to achieving the focus area goals.
Sea Grant is one of many partners working to address these complex and
interrelated issues. Understanding how activities in one area can
support and complement other activities, and using partnerships to
accomplish shared goals, are strategies inherent to Sea Grant, and will
be central to achieving the goals outlined in this plan.

**HEALTHY COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS**

Healthy coastal ecosystems are the foundation for life along the coast.
However, increasingly rapid coastal development, global overfishing, and
other human activities are leading to water quality degradation, decline
of fisheries, wetlands loss, proliferation of invasive species, and a
host of other challenges that need to be understood in order to restore
and maintain these ecosystems. Ecosystem functioning does not respect
traditional political boundaries, and responsible management of
ecosystems requires new kinds of thinking and actions. Sea Grant is a
leader in regional approaches to understanding and maintaining healthy
ecosystems, with planning efforts underway across the country to
identify information gaps, set research priorities, and coordinate
information and technology transfer to those who need it. Sea Grant has
fostered efforts to address widespread problems such as invasive species
that are found in geographically-dispersed areas, and has hired staff,
shared among several state programs, to tackle these problems. Sea
Grant's regional consortia, nationwide networks, and international
contacts are particularly well-suited to helping the Nation address
ecosystem health at the appropriate local, state, regional, national and
global levels.

**Goal:** **Sound scientific information to support ecosystem-based
approaches to managing the coastal environment.**

To realize the full potential of ecosystem-based management approaches,
we need research that will lead to better understanding of present day
conditions, basic ecosystem processes, the impacts of coastal and upland
land uses on the health of coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes environments,
and the importance of healthy ecosystems to healthy fisheries. We also
need to know more about how to transform our new knowledge and
understandings into sound management principles and practices. Sea Grant
will continue to build the scientific foundation needed by supporting
research that provides accurate information related to ecosystem health
and by accelerating the transfer of this information to coastal
residents, resource managers, businesses and industries.

**Strategies**

-   Conduct research on ecosystem processes, the relationships between
    coastal stressors---water quality degradation, contaminants, harmful
    algal blooms, invasive species, and wetlands loss---and long-term
    human and ecosystem health, and communicate this information to
    public and private planners, decision-makers and managers.

-   Contribute to the development of baseline data, standards, and
    indicators to support ecosystem-based approaches to land use, water,
    fisheries, and other resource management, working with programs such
    as NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, ocean
    observing programs, and others.

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-   Develop methodologies that can be used to evaluate ecosystem-based
    management approaches to assess their effectiveness once they are in
    place, and to guide future management efforts, working with the
    National Marine Fisheries Service and other federal, state and local
    partners.

**Goal:** **Widespread use of ecosystem-based approaches to managing
land, water and living resources in coastal areas.**

Achieving widespread use of ecosystem-based management approaches will
require extensive efforts to communicate the effects of ecosystem
degradation on natural resources, local economies, and human health to a
wide range of audiences in ways that motivate them to respond. Sea
Grant's strong research and extension capabilities provide scientific
information and technical assistance on ecosystem-based management
approaches. At the same time, the organization's outreach and education
capabilities engage citizens in stewardship activities that promote
healthy ecosystems. All these programs can result in regional and other
collaborative approaches to address problems that extend beyond
traditional geographic or governmental boundaries.

**Strategies**

-   Work with partners within and outside of NOAA to develop data,
    models, and training activities that support ecosystem-based
    planning and management approaches, and share these with a wide
    variety of constituencies.

-   Support the development of regional coastal observation systems and
    other collaborative efforts that advance our capability to predict
    the effects of human activities and environmental changes on coastal
    resources in order to take steps to mitigate their effects.

-   Provide life-long learning programs for people of all ages that
    enhance understanding of coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes
    environments and promote stewardship of healthy ecosystems.

**Goal:** **Restored function and productivity of degraded ecosystems.**

Past activities and events have led to deterioration of nursery areas
for wild fish populations, loss of wetlands, closure of beaches and
shellfish beds, and proliferation of invasive species. Sea Grant will
help reverse these trends by identifying and assessing impaired
ecosystems, and supporting the development of new policies,
technologies, and processes that promote restoration of ocean, coastal,
and Great Lakes ecosystems in ways that balance the needs of the natural
systems with the needs of the humans who inhabit them. Sea Grant will
use its nationwide network of extension, education and communication
specialists to provide the technical assistance needed, and to share new
information and technologies with local, state, regional, national, and
international partners.

**Strategies**

-   Support research to improve the effectiveness of ecosystem
    restoration and identify promising new restoration approaches and
    technologies.

-   Invest in the development and dissemination of new information,
    policies, technologies and methods to address water quality
    degradation, prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic
    non-native species, and minimize the negative impacts of these on
    coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes food webs.

-   Provide technical support for citizens and businesses that need help
    with specific mitigation/restoration problems, giving them access to
    the latest information and techniques.

**SUSTAINABLE COASTAL DEVELOPMENT**

Coastal communities in America provide vital economic, social, and
recreational opportunities for millions of Americans, but decades of
population migration have transformed our coastal landscapes and
intensified demand on finite coastal resources. The increase in
population has resulted in new housing developments and recreation
facilities, a new generation of energy development activities, port
expansions, and other business activities. These changes are placing
tremendous pressure on coastal lands, water supplies, and traditional
ways of life. To accommodate more people and activity, and to balance
growing demands on coastal resources, we must develop new policies,
institutional capacities, and management approaches to guide the
preservation and use of coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes resources. Sea
Grant will engage a diverse and growing coastal population in applying
the best available scientific knowledge, and use its extension and
education capabilities to support the development of healthy coastal
communities that are economically and socially inclusive, are supported
by diverse and vibrant economies, and function within the carrying
capacity of their ecosystems.

**Goal: Healthy coastal economies that include working waterfronts, an
abundance of recreation and tourism opportunities, and coastal access
for all citizens.**

Marine resources and coastal amenities sustain local and national
economies through fisheries and aquaculture, seafood processing, trade,
energy production, tourism, and recreation enterprises. Urban ports and
waterways continue to accommodate expanding international trade, staging
areas for off-shore industries, growth in tourism and recreational
boating, and changes in fishing fleets. At the same time, changing
development patterns along the coast are threatening to displace
traditional water-dependent industries and cut off water and beach
access for coastal residents. Vacant industrial buildings and obsolete
infrastructure facilities can be recaptured for new marine enterprises,
public access, and planned mixed-use developments that bring enjoyment
to residents and visitors alike. Sea Grant's long-standing relationships
with coastal communities and industries make it ideally suited to
provide information, tools, and techniques to support working
waterfronts, responsible energy development, the development of
accessible recreation and tourism activities, and adoption of
sustainable development practices.

> **Strategies**

-   Support research and outreach activities that provide local
    communities with information and techniques to help them enhance
    their waterfront-related economic activities such as commercial and
    recreational fishing, aquaculture, tourism, and energy and port
    development, without diminishing the long-term health of the natural
    coastal environment.

-   Support local, regional, and national efforts to preserve and
    increase public access to the Nation's beaches and waterfronts
    through assessment of access needs, analysis of legal issues, and
    technical assistance.

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-   Use Sea Grant extension and education capabilities to engage coastal
    communities in planning processes that support the efforts of
    community leaders to identify and pursue sustainable economic
    development policies and programs.

**Goal: Coastal communities that make efficient use of land, energy and
water resources and protect the resources needed to sustain coastal
ecosystems and quality of life.**

The biggest challenge facing many coastal cities and towns today is how
to manage growth in ways that do not diminish the health of the
ecosystems these communities depend on. One way this is reflected
nationally and internationally is in the high-level of concern about
climate change and its associated effects. To respond to the challenges
of growth at a local and regional level, communities are looking for
ways to use land and water, generate energy, and dispose of waste that
will preserve environmental health and economic vitality. Determining
the amount of the land, water, and other natural resources needed to
sustain healthy communities is an essential first step in establishing
sustainable policies and growth practices. Only when the dimensions of
this environmental footprint are identified can coastal communities
understand what their carrying capacity is and what will be needed for
generations to come. Sea Grant and its university partners are in a
unique position to conduct research and develop models and forecasts
that will help communities with this process.

> **Strategies**

-   Strengthen Sea Grant's research activities and extension capacity to
    help coastal communities determine the sustainable carrying capacity
    of their land, water, and other resources through resource
    assessments, scenario building, modeling, and other techniques.

-   Support innovative research on land-use practices and building
    designs that promote energy and water conservation, coastal-ocean
    related renewable energy technologies, and the creation of other
    tools to help communities grow in sustainable ways.

-   Work with NOAA's Climate Program Office, coastal programs, and other
    partners to help communities evaluate their ecological footprints
    and grow in environmentally sustainable ways.

**Goal: Coastal citizens, community leaders, and industries that
recognize the complex inter-relationships between social, economic and
environmental values in coastal areas and work together to balance
multiple uses and optimize environmental sustainability.**

According to NOAA's "Population Trends Along the Coastal United States:
1980-2008," coastal counties constitute only 17 percent of the land area
of the U.S. (not including Alaska) but account for 53% of the population
and are among the most rapidly growing areas in the country. The
pressures on our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes resources continue to
grow. Citizens and decision-makers have an urgent need for tools that
will help them evaluate the implications of land-use changes, coastal
development pressures, and increased resource use in approaching the
policy and management decisions they face. Regional cooperation and
coordinated land-use and watershed planning are essential. Sea Grant's
well-established role as a trusted broker among a wide range of
interests makes it a key player in providing sound information for
decision-makers, convening stakeholders to seek common ground, and
facilitating the development and implementation of new coastal policies,
plans, management approaches, and consensus-building strategies.

> **Strategies**

-   Work with NOAA's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management and
    Coastal Services Center, EPA's Offices of Smart Growth, and other
    federal, state and local partners to disseminate assessment tools,
    model plans and ordinances, best management practices, alternative
    development approaches, and other techniques that will enable the
    citizens of our coastal zones to develop their coastal economies in
    environmentally-sound ways.

-   Build local capacity to evaluate cost-benefit trade-offs in the
    coastal zone through a greater emphasis on socio-economic research,
    impact studies, and other methods of evaluating alternative future
    scenarios for coastal communities.

-   Foster regional cooperation and partnerships among local government
    officials, community stakeholders, and regional planning
    organizations to promote sustainable growth plans and strategies
    that protect local and regional natural resources that will ensure
    an abundance of these resources is available to serve future
    generations.

**SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD SUPPLY**

The U.S. has witnessed the decline of many of its major fisheries while
seafood consumption is on the rise, resulting in a seafood trade deficit
of \$8 billion per year, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture
Foreign Agricultural Service statistics. At the same time, Sea Grant,
through its research, extension, and education activities, and work with
partners, has produced important discoveries that have aided the
stabilization and recovery of many endangered fisheries. According to
the NOAA Aquaculture Program, aquaculture is in its infancy in the U.S.,
amounting to just over \$1 billion of a \$70 billion worldwide industry.
Aquaculture creates important new opportunities to meet the increased
demand for seafood, but a number of questions need to be addressed for
its full potential to be realized. Seafood safety is a growing concern
as international trade increases and fish diseases and contamination
become bigger problems. Sea Grant has key roles to play in advancing
public understanding of the nature of these problems and opportunities.
Through the use of its research, extension, and education capacities,
Sea Grant will support the kind of informed public and private
decision-making that will lead to a sustainable supply of safe seafood
long into the future.

**Goal: A sustainable supply of safe seafood to meet public demand.**

Ensuring a sustainable supply of safe seafood requires an understanding
of the effects of overfishing, past management decisions, and climate
change on U.S. wild fish populations as well as the role ecosystem-based
fisheries management can play. It also requires better understanding of
the range of complex issues related to developing the domestic
aquaculture industry. Sea Grant will make major contributions by
supporting research that provides the knowledge needed to understand the
factors stressing fisheries and the complexities of aquaculture
development. Sea Grant will also translate and transfer useful research
findings through extension and education activities to ensure
responsible and productive use of these resources in the future.

> **Strategies**

-   Use Sea Grant's research, extension, education, and communication
    capabilities to develop and disseminate essential knowledge about
    natural and human threats to the long-term viability of wild fish
    populations, to identify ways to minimize these threats, and to use
    ecosystem-based fisheries management and other innovative approaches
    to accomplish this.

-   Conduct integrated research, education, and outreach activities to
    support a viable domestic aquaculture industry with acceptable
    environmental impacts, in ways that are consistent with national
    objectives, building on the leadership role Sea Grant plays in this
    area.

-   Work with NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Program, other federal
    and state partners, and the seafood industry to enhance the
    management and productivity of wild fisheries.

**Goal: A healthy domestic seafood industry that harvests, produces,
processes, and markets seafood responsibly and efficiently.**

A healthy seafood industry requires harvesting techniques that minimize
by-catch and damage to marine habitats. It requires development of
value-added products, enhanced quality assurance, and education about
how to market under-utilized species. Sea Grant will involve harvesters,
recreational fishermen, producers and managers in being responsible
stewards as well as successful entrepreneurs. Sea Grant will support
development of new technologies and participate in collaborative efforts
to increase the range of seafood products produced, enhancing American
competitiveness in global markets.

> **Strategies**

-   Engage harvesters, recreational fisherman, producers and managers in
    the development of research and management innovations related to
    the condition, use, and conservation of the natural resources they
    depend on.

-   Support research, development, and transfer of new technologies to
    keep the domestic seafood industry financially competitive and
    environmentally responsible.

-   Work with the seafood industry to develop new products and
    innovative marketing approaches to increase seafood availability and
    profitability.

**Goal: Informed consumers who understand the importance of ecosystem
health and sustainable harvesting practices to the future of our
domestic fisheries, who appreciate the health benefits of seafood
consumption, and who understand how to evaluate the safety of the
seafood products they buy.**

Increased attention to the safety of domestic and international seafood
has created an urgent need for rapid assessment techniques,
certification programs, and standards for domestic and international
seafood products, so consumers will have reliable information to inform
their buying decisions. Sea Grant will involve industry representatives
in the application of seafood safety standards, train inspectors and
wholesalers in how to assess seafood quality, and develop educational
materials related to seafood safety, quality, and security and make
these materials readily available to consumers.

> **Strategies**

-   Enhance training and technical assistance programs related to the
    application of standards for safe domestic and imported seafood.

-   Develop educational programs and materials that enhance the American
    public's understanding of what is required to maintain sustainable
    domestic fisheries and to build the public's awareness of
    differences in the quality, safety, and nutritional benefits of
    different seafood products so they will be informed advocates and
    consumers.

-   Work in close coordination with the National Marine Fisheries
    Service and other federal partners to develop information portals
    that give access to factual information on seafood safety.

**HAZARD RESILIENCE IN COASTAL COMMUNITIES**

Sea level rise, the increased number and intensity of coastal storms,
the ongoing threat of oil spills, and other natural and human hazards
are putting more people and property at risk along the Nation's coasts,
with major implications for human safety and the economic and
environmental health of coastal areas. It is essential that residents of
coastal communities understand these risks and learn what they can do to
reduce their vulnerability and respond quickly and effectively when
events occur. Sea Grant will use its integrated research, training, and
technical assistance capabilities, and its presence in coastal
communities to play a major role in helping local citizens,
decision-makers, and industries plan for hazardous events and optimize
the ability of their communities to respond and rebuild.

**Goal: Widespread understanding of the risks associated with living,
working, and doing business along the Nation's coasts.**

Communities and businesses are increasingly vulnerable to hazardous
events brought on by climate-related changes, land-use changes, and
increased economic activity in coastal and Great Lakes waters. There is
a great need for information and tools to help communities assess the
risks they face and identify the options available to them to minimize
those risks. Sea Grant will support the work of NOAA's Climate Program
Office and its climate impact and adaptation-related activities. Sea
Grant will work with other federal, state, and local partners, the
banking and insurance industries, and others to develop forecasting and
risk assessment tools, economic and environmental impact models, and
other mechanisms that will help families, businesses, communities, and
regions understand their risks and take them into account in making
personal, business, and community-related decisions.

**Strategies**

-   Conduct research to assess hazard-related risks and increase the
    availability and usefulness of hazard-related information and
    forecasting for citizens, industries, and decision-makers in coastal
    communities.

-   Work with marine commercial enterprises to assess the risks
    associated with doing business in coastal areas in the context of
    hurricanes and other coastal storms, climate-related changes, and
    dramatic changes in port and international trade activities.

-   Work with the NOAA Climate Program and other public and private
    sector partners to develop comprehensive education/literacy programs
    on the immediate and long-term effects of climate-related changes,
    and other hazardous events, on human safety and property along the
    coast, and how to prepare for and survive them.

**Goal: Community capacity to prepare for and respond to hazardous
events.**

It is not enough for communities and businesses to understand their
vulnerabilities, they must act on this knowledge and become more
resilient or the human and economic losses will continue to mount.
Individuals, businesses, and communities need to develop comprehensive
emergency preparedness and response plans that increase their resiliency
and enable them to respond effectively. Sea Grant will contribute to
this by building a sound knowledge base to improve forecasting
capabilities, by identifying development and best management practices
that reduce the vulnerability of people, buildings and businesses to
coastal hazards, and by advancing ways communities can manage and
recover from these events when they occur.

**Strategies**

-   Help public and private decision-makers create and adopt policies,
    plans, and ordinances to reduce risks, manage catastrophic events
    and speed recovery.

-   Create and disseminate, in partnership with NOAA's National Weather
    Service and other entities, integrated demographic and coastal
    hazard information databases that help measure human vulnerability
    in specific coastal regions, support hazard-related planning
    activities, and facilitate disaster relief efforts.

-   Conduct research and communicate information on how the use of
    natural features and new technologies can help communities prepare
    for and mitigate the impacts of hazardous events.

**Goal: Effective response to coastal catastrophes.**

Coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes catastrophes require the Nation to
mobilize a full-range of public and private partners and resources to
mount an effective response. Sea Grant is supporting the development of
linked regional, national, and international coastal observation
networks, thereby improving the availability of information needed to
respond to crises as they unfold. Sea Grant's knowledge of local
contexts and communities can optimize response effectiveness by
facilitating immediate links to local partners and capabilities. Sea
Grant has a national network of scientists and outreach workers with
broad knowledge and experience, and it will provide multi-disciplinary
technical assistance to first responders, helping to minimize damage and
promote recovery.

**Strategies**

-   Work with NOAA's National Weather Service and the National Ocean
    Service, regional ocean observation systems, and other partners to
    make hazard-related data and data-derived products available and
    relevant to support decision-making during crisis events.

-   Contribute to the Nation's rapid response capability by developing
    ways to mobilize Sea Grant's national network of scientific and
    technical expertise to inform response strategies and activities.

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-   Make Sea Grant's local knowledge and contacts available to work with
    federal, state, regional, and local agencies, non-governmental
    organizations, and international partners that have hazardous event
    responsibilities, to facilitate the speed and quality of response to
    these crises.

**MAKING IT HAPPEN**

This strategic plan is designed to harness Sea Grant's unique
combination of research, extension, and education capabilities with its
strong federal-university-private sector partnerships to respond to the
challenges inherent in the conservation and use of our Nation's complex
coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes environments. The plan outlines ways to
discover and grasp opportunities that will enhance the lives of
Americans and people throughout the world. The National Sea Grant Office
will initiate full network participation in the development of an
implementation plan to accompany this Strategic Plan. The implementation
plan will identify measurable outcomes by which to assess progress.

All state Sea Grant programs will align their own strategic plans with
the national strategic and implementation plans so the energy,
diversity, and creativity of individual Sea Grant programs and
university partnerships may be mobilized to achieve these national
goals. State plans will align with the strategic directions set forth in
this plan and identify how state programs will contribute to the
realization of the national goals in measurable ways. At the same time,
these plans will respond to unique challenges and needs in the
particular states and regions they serve.

The National Sea Grant Office will track and coordinate state-level
accomplishments and impacts to highlight Sea Grant's contributions to
achieving national goals. The National Sea Grant Office will also track
and disseminate success stories so they can be replicated throughout the
Sea Grant network and beyond. The National Sea Grant Review Panel will
continue in its advisory role to help state programs and the National
Sea Grant Office advance Sea Grant's goals.

Effective implementation of this plan will require additional resources
for state Sea Grant programs to provide the integrated research,
extension, and education activities needed now. Also, effective plan
implementation will require an enhanced National Office that can provide
strong national leadership and support the state programs in achieving
their objectives.

Sea Grant will revisit this plan and its priorities often to ensure that
the organization is maintaining focus, staying alert to new trends and
opportunities, and accomplishing its five-year goals. The coordinated
planning and implementation processes set in motion by this plan
position Sea Grant to play a leadership role in responding to the urgent
challenges facing this country and its ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes
states and communities. Sea Grant is dedicated to working with a wide
array of NOAA programs and other partners to transform a time of crisis
in this country into a new era of opportunity in coastal resource
protection, management, and use that will serve the Nation well into
this new century and beyond.