**A Review of NOAA, ORPP, Line Office and other National Plans -- A
Snapshot of the "Top-Down" National Planning Landscape**

**[Background]{.underline}**

This report provides a snapshot of relevant national ocean, coastal and
Great Lakes priorities, such as those contained in the Ocean Research
Priorities Plan (ORPP), NOAA's Strategic Plan and Strategic Vision, and
numerous other plans. This document provides an overview of the national
planning landscape as Sea Grant sets out to develop a relevant, robust
national strategic plan. It is not an exhaustive look at every national
plan, but rather intended to provide examples of commonality that will
help inform Sea Grant's national strategic planning process.

**I. Reason for the Top-down synthesis (from the "A Plan for Strategic
Planning" Document):**

The National Sea Grant College Program Strategic Plan must conform to
and integrate with these \[NOAA\] long-term plans. In addition, the
NSGCP Plan should incorporate the ocean research priorities and
implementation strategies presented in the Ocean Research Priorities
Plan (2007). While drafting the priorities for Sea Grant, the Steering
Committee should also review and consider the long-term strategic plans
of other federal agencies and national organizations. This will help
promote coordinated overlap, mitigate against wasteful overlap, and
identify gaps in priority areas. These plans include, but are not
limited to, the NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management,
U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy Final Report, An Ocean Blueprint for the
21^st^ Century (2004), Pew Oceans Commission Report, America's Living
Oceans: Charting a Course for Sea Change (2003), U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, and National Science Foundation.

**II. A look at the Ocean Research Priorities Plan as a baseline**

In developing a snapshot of the national planning landscape, it was
critical to identify a single plan that could be used as the basis for
comparison among plans and as a mechanism for identifying commonalities
among plans. The Ocean Research Priorities Plan and Implementation
Strategy (ORPP) is the first document of its kind to identify national
ocean research priorities for the next ten years to ensure that the
management, use, and protection of our ocean ecosystem is based on the
strongest available science to promote health and sustainability. The
document was developed with extensive input from the ocean community and
represents a national look at research priorities, specifically on
understanding the interactions between society and the ocean. The
successful pursuit of these national priorities rests on the active
engagement and collaboration with public and private sector partners at
local, state, regional, Federal, and international levels.

The four near-term research priorities articulated in the ORPP are:

-   **Response of Coastal Ecosystems to Persistent Forcing and Extreme
    Events** to provide better forecasts of coastal response to a
    variety of natural events and human influenced processes, such as
    hurricanes and non-point source pollution.

-   **Comparative Analysis of Marine Ecosystem Organization** to
    understand the complex dynamics of marine ecosystems and use that
    understanding to improve management of these critical areas and
    their resources.

-   **Sensors for Marine Ecosystems** to develop the tools needed to
    collect key, but elusive, scientific information on various
    biological and chemical processes necessary to better understand
    marine ecosystems.

-   **Meridional Overturning Variability** to enhance ongoing efforts to
    observe, understand, and predict changes in ocean circulation in the
    Atlantic Ocean, a key driver of climate variability and change.

In addition, the six societal themes defined in the ORPP are as follows
(in more detail below). It is these societal themes that have the most
direct relevance to Sea Grant.

-   **Stewardship of Natural and Cultural Ocean Resources**

-   **Increasing Resilience to Natural Hazards**

-   **Enabling Marine Operations**

-   **The Ocean's Role in Climate**

-   **Improving Ecosystem Health**

-   **Enhancing Human Health**

Further, the ORPP provides guidance on how the various ocean science
sectors (government, academia, industry, and non-government entities)
can and should be engaged, individually or through partnerships, to
address the areas of greatest research need and opportunity. However,
given the magnitude of the task, the report established priorities at a
relatively high level and the implementation strategies were not
detailed. Of specific interest to Sea Grant is that one of the actions
identified in the Subcommittee on Integrated Management of Ocean
Resources' (SIMOR) 2006 work plan is for Sea Grant's university network
to facilitate the development of Regional Research and Information
Plans. These developing Regional Plans will outline one mechanism for
regional ORPP implementation and identify the top research and
information priorities. The Sea Grant regional Research and Information
Planning effort is currently underway (using the ORPP as a guide) and is
as inclusive as possible, involving a broad range of regional ocean,
coastal, and Great Lakes stakeholders. The feedback from those regional
plans and a synthesis of the state strategic plans serves as a companion
piece to this top-down analysis and is provided in the accompanying
Bottom-up synthesis.

**[Findings]{.underline}**

In light of the fact that the ORPP is the first national-level document
of its kind, and for the reasons mentioned above, it will serve as the
basis of comparison for the national plans reviewed. While there are
numerous other key plans that provide content for a top-down planning
landscape, we chose to use the ORPP as a reference and benchmark. In the
attached analysis, the six ORPP societal themes serve as that benchmark
for comparison.

**I. Societal Themes**

*Societal Theme 1: Stewardship of Natural and Cultural Ocean Resources*

-   Research Priority 1: Understand the status and trends of resource
    abundance and distribution through more accurate, timely and
    synoptic assessments

-   Research Priority 2: Understand interspecies and habitat/species
    relationships to support forecasting resource stability and
    sustainability

-   Research Priority 3: Understand human-use patterns that may
    influence resource stability and sustainability

-   Research Priority 4: Apply advanced understanding and technologies
    to enhance the benefits of various natural resources from the open
    ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes

*Societal Theme 2: Increasing Resilience to Natural Hazards*

-   Research Priority 5: Understand how hazard events initiate and
    evolve and apply that understanding to improve forecasts of future
    hazard events

-   Research Priority 6: Understand the response of coastal and marine
    systems to natural hazards and apply that understanding to
    assessments of future vulnerability to natural hazards

-   Research Priority 7: Apply understanding to develop multi-hazard
    risk assessments and support development of models, policies, and
    strategies for hazard mitigation

*Societal Theme 3: Enabling Marine Operations*

-   Research Priority 8: Understand the interactions between marine
    operations and the environment

-   Research Priority 9: Apply understanding of environmental factors
    affecting marine operations to characterize and predict conditions
    in the maritime domain

-   Research Priority 10: Apply understanding of environmental impacts
    and marine operations to enhance the marine transportation system

*Societal Theme 4: The Ocean's Role in Climate*

-   Research Priority 11: Understand ocean-climate interactions within
    and across regions

-   Research Priority 12: Understand the impact of climate variability
    and change on the biogeochemistry of the ocean and implications for
    its ecosystems

-   Research Priority 13: Apply understanding of the ocean to help
    project future climate changes and their impacts

*Societal Theme 5: Improving Ecosystem Health*

-   Research Priority 14: Understand and predict the impact of natural
    and anthropogenic processes on ecosystems

-   Research Priority 15: Apply understanding of natural and
    anthropogenic processes to develop socioeconomic assessments and
    models to evaluate the impact of multiple human uses on ecosystems

-   Research Priority 16: Apply understanding of marine ecosystems to
    develop appropriate indicators and metrics for sustainable use and
    effective management

*Societal Theme 6: Enhancing Human Health*

-   Research Priority 17: Understand sources and processes contributing
    to ocean-related risks to human health

-   Research Priority 18: Understand human health risks associated with
    the ocean and the potential benefits of ocean resources to human
    health

-   Research Priority 19: Understand how human use and valuation of
    ocean resources can be affected by ocean-borne human health threats
    and how human activities can influence these threats

-   Research Priority 20: Apply understanding of ocean ecosystems and
    biodiversity to develop products and biological models to enhance
    human well-being

**II. Other Key National-level Plans**

A full comparative analysis of other national-level plans in light of
the ORPP is attached (Appendix A). I would like to thank Steve Sempier,
of MS-AL Sea Grant, for freely providing the format and much of the
content for the analysis. It highlights the following plans:

-   An Ocean Blueprint for the 21^st^ Century -- Final Report of the
    U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy

-   New Priorities for the 21st Century-NOAA\'s Strategic Plan FY 2006
    -- FY 2011

-   NOAA Sea Grant Strategic Plan for FY 2003-2008 and Beyond -- Science
    for Sustainability in the 21st Century

-   NOAA Coastal Services Center - Strategic Plan - 2001--2006

-   NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Strategic Plan

-   NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Research Plan for Fiscal Years 2007 to
    2011

-   Strategic Plan of the National Ocean Service 2005-2010

-   Working Together to Save Lives -- National Weather Service Strategic
    Plan for 2005-2010

-   Strategic Plan NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research FY
    2005 -- FY 2010

-   New Priorities for the 21st Century-National Marine Fisheries
    Service Strategic Plan Updated for FY 2005 -- FY 2010

-   NMFS Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research

-   NOAA Satellites and Information Service Strategic Plan FY 2005-2010

-   National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Centers for
    Coastal Ocean Science Human Dimensions Strategic Plan FY 2008 -- FY
    2013

-   National Estuarine Research Reserve Strategic Plan 2005-2010

-   NERRS Research and Monitoring Plan (2006 - 2011)

-   EPA National Estuary Program

-   Naval Oceanographic Office -- Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2004-2008

-   U.S. Department of Interior Government Performance and Results Act
    Strategic Plan Fiscal Year 2007-2012

-   Department of Interior -- Strategic Plan FY 2003-2008

-   Department of State Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental
    and Scientific Affairs

-   2006-2001 EPA Strategic Plan Charting Our Course

-   A Short Introduction to the...Water Elements of the New EPA
    Strategic Plan

-   U.S. Environmental Protection Agency About the Gulf Ecology Division
    \"Research at the Lab\"

-   Agricultural Research Service Strategic Plan for FY 2006-2011

-   Coastal Impact Assistance Program Guidelines

-   Department of the Army -- Corps of Engineers - Civil Works -
    Strategic Plan - Fiscal Year 2004 -- Fiscal Year 2009

-   Productive Lands-Healthy Environment-Natural Resources Conservation
    Service Strategic Plan 2005-2010

-   Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force Strategic Plan (2007 - 2012)

-   U.S. Climate Change Science Program Strategic Plan - 2003

**[Analysis]{.underline}**

**I: What are the critical short and long-term needs with regard to
ocean/coastal and Great Lakes resource assessment, conservation and
development?**

The analysis shows that there are multiple matches among the
national-level plans for every ORPP societal theme. The themes that show
the highest correspondence (25 or more common mentions) to the plans
reviewed are:

-   Stewardship of Natural Resources

-   Enabling Marine Operations

-   The Ocean's Role in Climate

-   Improving Ecosystem Health

-   Enhancing Human Health

Within those specific societal themes, the critical short and long-term
priorities are numerous. The most prevalent (25 or more common mentions)
are as follows (reference attached spreadsheet). In each case, the
priorities have implications for both short-term and long-term time
scales. The nine common priorities (listed here in reference to the
corresponding ORPP Research Priorities) are:

> **Stewardship of Natural Resources**

-   A. Understanding the complex relationships between humans and the
    environment, particularly as it pertains to habitat and our ability
    to forecast for sustainability and stability of our resources (e.g.
    this might include Integrated Ecosystem Assessments (IEAS) and
    ecosystem forecasting *Research Priority 1*

-   B. Understanding both the current status and long-term trends of
    resource abundance and distribution through assessments (e.g. again,
    IEAs) (short-term and long-term) *Research Priority 2*

-   C. Understanding the specific human activities and patterns that
    affect the stability of natural resources *Research Priority 3*

> **Enabling Marine Operations**

-   D. Understanding interactions between marine operations and the
    environment -- both commercial and recreational (e.g. water access
    issues, new uses such as aquaculture, preparedness for marine
    industries, effects of coastal hazards) *Research Priority 8*

> **The Ocean's Role in Climate**

-   E. Understanding the impact of climate variability and change on the
    ocean and understanding what the implications are for the whole
    ecosystem - everything that lives in the ocean, and everything that
    depends on it. *Research Priority 12*

> **Improving Ecosystem Health**

-   F. Understanding and predicting the specific effect that humans have
    on the whole ecosystem (not just climate), and understanding what
    specific impact is attributed to naturally-occurring events (e.g.
    coastal hazards, climate change, sea level rise) *Research Priority
    14*

-   G. Apply understanding of natural and anthropogenic processes to
    develop socioeconomic assessments and models to evaluate the impact
    of multiple human uses on ecosystems *Research Priority 15*

-   H. Apply understanding of marine ecosystems to develop appropriate
    indicators and metrics for sustainable use and effective management
    (NOTE: process-related but highlights the importance of coastal
    management) *Research Priority 16*

> **Enhancing Human Health**

-   I. Understanding both the sources and the relevant processes that
    contribute to ocean-related risks to human health (e.g. seafood
    safety, vibrio, algal blooms, highlights need for adequate
    observing) *Research Priority 17*

**II: Where are strong programs already in place to address these needs,
inside or outside NOAA and where are the gaps?**

The nine common priorities above are currently being addressed to
varying degrees, although none entirely. The following briefly describes
the status of the nine priority areas, and identifies some of the gaps
in each area.

-   **A, B, C. Stewardship of Natural Resources**: Within NOAA and among
    its partner agencies, the ability to develop specific ecosystem
    forecasts is emerging, but none of the forecasts are inclusive or
    broad. For example, harmful algal bloom forecasts are becoming more
    common, but there are many areas where forecasts are not currently
    available. Further, significantly more research is required before
    we have an adequate understanding of the complex relationships
    between humans and the environment. NOAA is beginning a
    multi-disciplinary effort to conduct Integrated Ecosystem
    Assessments. Many data sources will be critical to this effort, but
    it will be critical to ensure that our understanding of the complex
    relationships between humans and the ecosystem are understood at the
    appropriate level. **Gaps:** In order to accomplish that, we will
    need engagement with communities and research results at those
    multiple scales as well.

    -   **Lead agencies:** NOAA, DOI, EPA

-   **D. Enabling Marine Operations**: Marine operations are essential
    components -- both domestically and in the global economy. Marine
    operations include both recreational and commercial issues. It is
    increasingly necessary to protect our waterways, keep them clear,
    provide accurate charts and maps, understand new uses for the EEZ
    such as offshore aquaculture, understand the ocean environment with
    readily accessible observation data, and meet the critical needs of
    those who work and play on the water. Many of these issues are being
    addressed, but as U.S. ports expand, security threats persist, and
    once-public-access areas are being privatized, this area will
    receive increased attention. NOAA has existing operational authority
    for mapping and charting and the U.S. Coast Guard is responsible for
    clearing the waterways, although NOAA and its partners also have a
    strong marine debris program. **Gaps**: Aquaculture is a long-time
    Sea Grant priority but offshore aquaculture in federal waters is an
    emerging area that will need continued emphasis at both the research
    and policy levels. In addition, integrated earth observations will
    go a long way toward monitoring our shores, understanding our
    coastlines, and even predicting severe storms and tsunamis, but one
    gap is ensuring that the technologies, sensors, and instrumentation
    used is adequately addressing the needs of the end-users. Another
    gap is in balancing the needs for commercial, recreational, and
    industrial coastal use and access. As these sectors increasingly
    collide, many water-dependent enterprises-traditionally small
    businesses engaged in recreation, tourism and marine trades- must
    become equipped to make reasonable decisions about waterfront
    development.

    -   **Lead agencies:** Coast Guard, Navy, DOT, NOAA

-   **E. The Ocean's Role in Climate**: Climate forcings, both natural
    and anthropogenic, are complex to understand, and even more complex
    to explain in terms that the general public will understand.
    Understanding the impact of climate variability and change on the
    ocean and understanding what the implications are for the whole
    ecosystem has come a long way in recent years, but much is left to
    accomplish. **Gaps**: In particular, there is a large gap on the
    front end in understanding the end-users' specific needs for
    information as well as on the back end in explaining the results of
    scientific experiments, and transferring those results in a
    meaningful way to the end-users. The recent interagency efforts in
    climate change understanding have advanced the science tremendously.
    In addition, recent attention to climate in pop culture and the news
    media have assisted the general public's understanding of the issues
    surrounding climate change.

    -   **Lead Agencies:** Led by the U.S. Climate Change Science
        Program, an interagency organization of 13 federal agencies -
        U.S. [AID](http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/agencies/aid.htm),
        Department of Agriculture, [Department of Commerce --
        NOAA](http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/agencies/noaa.htm) and NIST,
        [Department of
        Defense](http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/agencies/defense.htm),
        [Department of
        Energy](http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/agencies/doe.htm),
        [Department of Health and Human Services,
        NIH](http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/agencies/nih.htm), [Department
        of State](http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/agencies/state.htm),
        [Department of
        Transportation](http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/agencies/dot.htm),
        DOI, [US Geological
        Survey](http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/agencies/interior.htm);
        [EPA](http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/agencies/epa.htm);
        [NASA](http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/agencies/nasa.htm),
        [NSF](http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/agencies/nsf.htm),
        [Smithsonian
        Institution](http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/agencies/smithsonian.htm)

-   **F, G, and H. Improving Ecosystem Health**: The U.S. Commission on
    Ocean Policy and Pew Oceans Commission have made milestone
    recommendations for improving coastal management in the U.S. Those
    reports have sparked many discussions within the coastal management
    community on ways to improve coastal management, and ultimately
    ecosystem health. In addition, the Coastal Zone Management Act is
    pending re-authorization, providing another opportunity to
    re-examine our domestic coastal management. While the authority
    firmly rests with NOAA in the federal-state partnership Coastal Zone
    Management Program, there are multiple other federal agencies and
    non-governmental organizations involved in this effort. **Gaps**:
    The executive branch Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has
    recognized the critical nature of coastal management and has called
    for enhanced integration between the NOAA entities that have some
    jurisdiction in that area, namely the Office of Ocean and Coastal
    Resource Management (OCRM), the National Centers for Coastal Ocean
    Science (NCCOS), Sea Grant, and the Coastal Services Center (CSC).
    In addition, there are numerous other gaps that still exist in this
    broad arena. To name a few, they include a better understanding of
    the inter-related structure and function of marine ecosystems and
    how natural and anthropogenic factors alter physical, chemical,
    biological, geological, and ecological processes that shape these
    systems; a more robust characterization of ecosystem status and the
    ability to predict change within ecosystems; continually improved
    management and governance efforts across jurisdictions, including
    both scientific and socio-economic activities; and the promotion of
    cross-cutting education and stewardship about ecosystem health.

    -   **Lead Agencies**: NOAA, NSF, DOI

-   **I. Enhancing Human Health**: The ORPP rightly states that the
    ocean community faces many challenges in addressing the relationship
    between the ocean and human health. Adequate process studies and
    assessments, monitoring, and data sharing and interpretation are
    needed to determine sources of human health risks, assess and
    predict risks to human health from those sources, and support the
    needs of a wide variety of end users. Expanded exploration and
    investigation of the ocean environment will contribute to our
    current understanding of the potential benefits from the ocean.
    These efforts also strongly interface with initiatives to improve
    ecosystem health and understand ecosystem processes, impacts of
    climate change, and effects of natural hazards. **Gaps**: While many
    gaps in the research knowledge base exist, there are numerous gaps
    in infrastructure that exist in this area, including the need to
    develop effective communication and education networks, including
    platforms for technology transfer; the need to develop research
    standard materials and protocols, build interdisciplinary research
    capacity, including cross-disciplinary training and cross-agency
    collaborations. Other gaps include the need to develop and maintain
    the infrastructure required to needed to answer questions of public
    health significance (e.g. platforms, submersibles, & sensors) as
    well as the necessary databases to integrate and disseminate
    relevant data and products.

    -   **Lead agencies**: NIH- National Institute of Environmental
        Health Services, U.S.AID, NOAA, EPA, NSF

**III: What strengths/strategic advantages can Sea Grant bring to
addressing specific needs and filling gaps?**

Sea Grant is unique in two primary ways. First, it is implemented
locally, but as part of a national infrastructure. Second, the program
is a federal-university partnership that has the ability to engage the
academic community in addressing local, regional and national issues.
That nested local to national infrastructure coupled with the ability to
bring university expertise to bear on coastal challenges offers many
unique advantages, specifically in the areas of extension and outreach.

Sea Grant is administered at the national level (through NOAA), but
implemented at the local level. This unique model brings to bear the
expertise of the academic community in essential but practical research
and outreach activities that address society's changing needs. The Sea
Grant model allows for quick, effective transfer of science-based
information: informing citizens, allowing ocean- and Great Lakes-related
businesses to grow, and empowering policy makers to formulate
well-informed decisions.

Sea Grant's integrated national network is a key player in addressing
emerging issues at local, regional and national levels, and safeguarding
our coasts. Sea Grant brings decades of experience and know-how. In our
waters, along our coasts, within our communities---Sea Grant is there.
Each of the four integrated elements of Sea Grant can be described as
follows: (the text below is excerpted from the National Sea Grant
College Program one-pager -
<http://www.seagrant.noaa.gov/aboutsg/NationalOnePager_010407.pdf>)

**Applied Research** -- Each year, Sea Grant supports nearly 500
research projects investigating a wide variety of marine and coastal
topics. This research addresses critical issues of local, regional and
national importance. Among other advances, Sea Grant scientists have
improved sensors for environmental monitoring (including sea level rise
and tsunami prediction), developed promising drugs and industrial
materials from the sea, devised new uses for seafood byproducts,
monitored destructive invasive species, and improved the management of
wild fish stocks.

**Extension** -- While research is a crucial component of Sea Grant,
transferring the knowledge to the people who can benefit from it is just
as important. Sea Grant's network of more than 300 outreach experts work
with coastal community members and decision makers to provide informal
education and transfer new technologies. Sea Grant extension staff
members work with communities in countless ways - to improve tourism
opportunities, help fish farmers develop environmentally-sound shellfish
farming practices, explain the impacts of land use on water quality, and
provide technical assistance to communities planning for, and dealing
with, hurricanes and other natural hazards.

**Education** -- Sea Grant has a long tradition of increasing
environmental literacy through education. Sea Grant works with K-12
teachers to bring environmental sciences into the classroom---and to
bring students out of the classroom and into the natural environment.
Sea Grant also supports undergraduate and graduate students in a broad
range of disciplines. In three decades of service, Sea Grant has trained
more than 12,000 college and graduate students. In addition, the Sea
Grant program offers fellowships for graduate students to gain science
and policy experience with NOAA, Congress, state and federal agencies,
and ocean industries.

**Communications** -- Each program within the Sea Grant network has a
dedicated communications staff that works to deliver accurate, reliable,
science-based information. Through newsletters, brochures, posters,
articles, web sites, books, radio, videotape and other media, Sea Grant
communicators have earned their reputations as honest brokers of
information about marine and coastal issues. In recent years, Sea Grant
communications experts have created products ranging from environmental
radio podcasts and video documentaries to informational guides and
colorful books about the history and science of our coastal regions.

According to the current National Sea Grant College Program Strategic
Plan, Sea Grant has specific expertise in the following areas:
Aquaculture, Aquatic Invasive Species, Biotechnology, Coastal
Communities and Economies, Coastal Hazards, Digital Oceans, Ecosystems
and Habitats, Fisheries, Marine and Aquatic Science Literacy, Seafood
Science and Technology, and Urban Coasts. Within each of those current
thematic areas, Sea Grant conducts integrated research and outreach to
address the critical priorities. While the specific topic areas are
critical, there are many coastal challenges that Sea Grant is able to
address through its integrated model, and *that* is what makes Sea Grant
unique.

The complexity of managing the natural and economic resources of our
oceans and Great Lakes is enormous. Fast-growing human populations are
putting increased pressures on the environment. As coastal populations
grow, so too do the threats to precious environmental resources---among
them, safe seafood, water quality and ecosystem health. The need for
solid, relevant research, and effective ways of sharing this information
with decision makers and the public, is more urgent than ever before.
Sea Grant projects embrace an array of activities, from applying
sensible and sustainable development concepts for Hawaii's fast growing
coastal communities to curbing the spread of invasive species such as
the European green crab, which is decimating many types of shellfish.
But there is much that remains to be done to meet future demands for
safe food, safe water and healthy coastal communities.

As Sea Grant directs and tailors its mission for the future, the program
will continue to improve citizens' understanding of marine science and
the environment, and apply that knowledge to help communities make sound
decisions. Few institutions can match Sea Grant's track record of
success, in informing the public, educating K-12 students and teachers,
and training undergraduate and graduate students---cultivating the next
generation of coastal scientists and policy makers.

In light of its integrated structure, Sea Grant is uniquely capable of
filling some of the gaps outlined above. Examples of Sea Grant's
capacity in each gap area are:

-   **A, B, C. Stewardship of Natural Resources**: Stewardship is at the
    heart of Sea Grant's mission. One gap identified in this area is the
    need for community engagement and the translation of research
    results on multiple scales in order to better inform emerging
    Integrated Ecosystem Assessments (IEAs). Sea Grant is well-suited to
    fill this gap as a result of its long-standing relationship with
    communities. As a university-based program, engagement is paramount
    to the Sea Grant model. In particular, Sea Grant is meeting the
    challenge through the facilitation of interagency Regional Research
    and Information Plans. The Regional Plans are one step toward
    regional implementation of the recent National Ocean Research
    Priorities Plan (ORPP) and also satisfy one of the actions
    identified in the Subcommittee on Integrated Management of Ocean
    Resources' (SIMOR) 2006 work plan. If implemented as intended, the
    Regional Research and Information Plans will hopefully inform the
    priorities in the developing IEAs as well as future funding
    recommendations for relevant federal agencies.

-   **D. Enabling Marine Operations**: Sea Grant has a long history in
    aquaculture and with both commercial and recreational ocean and
    coastal uses. A known capacity for Sea Grant is in stakeholder
    engagement, in this case as it relates to understanding and
    articulating the needs of end-users to ensure that the technologies,
    sensors, and instrumentation used is adequately addressing the needs
    of the end-users. However, it remains critical that there are
    adequate "push" and "pull" so that the useful information obtained
    by Sea Grant from the bottom-up is fully integrated into the system
    and does not go un-used. In addition, Sea Grant is also able to fill
    the gap in balancing the needs for commercial, recreational, and
    industrial coastal use and access. For example, Sea Grant recently
    served as a critical convener of a National Working Waterfronts
    conference to bring together multiple agencies, organizations, and
    academics to discuss the issues facing working waterfronts today.

-   **E. The Ocean's Role in Climate**: While Sea Grant does conduct a
    limited amount of climate research, its niche is likely best found
    in the area of extension. To that end, Sea Grant and NOAA's Climate
    Program Office recently partnered together with NOAA's Coastal
    Services Center to hold a *Workshop on Climate Science and Services:
    Coastal Applications for Decision Making through Sea Grant Extension
    and Outreach.* The purpose of the workshop was to explore and foster
    the use of the Sea Grant extension, communications, and education
    networks as a facilitator of climate science and services in coastal
    decision making at the local level. The workshop facilitated a
    dialogue among representatives of the Sea Grant climate extension
    network and the climate research and services communities. The
    workshop was an opportunity for Sea Grant extension specialists to
    develop a better understanding of some of the current and future
    impacts of climate change in coastal regions and the range of
    existing and emerging decision-support resources available for
    coping with these impacts. In addition, the workshop was intended to
    generate insight into the climate information needs of the Sea Grant
    extension network, as well as to foster collaboration among climate
    research and service providers, and the Sea Grant community. The
    workshop was well-received and there appears to be an emerging niche
    for Sea Grant to develop a climate extension network.

-   **F, G, and H. Improving Ecosystem Health**: There are great strides
    that must be taken to improve ecosystem health and Sea Grant is in
    the midst of an OMB-directed integration effort with its partners in
    order to improve coastal management with one ultimate goal of
    improving ecosystem health. Regarding the other gaps that exist in
    this area, there are numerous possibilities for Sea Grant to find
    its niche -- through funding competitive research on water quality,
    inter-related habitats, and non-point source pollution; the
    development of a robust socio-economic research and outreach
    portfolio; and the capitalization of Sea Grant's strong education
    capacity.

-   **I. Enhancing Human Health**: One identified gap in this area is
    the need to develop effective communication and education networks,
    including platforms for technology transfer. Sea Grant has a strong,
    well-positioned education community to address this need, as well as
    the national infrastructure required to translate scientific results
    and disseminate relevant data and products. With specific regard to
    education, Sea Grant has tremendous capacity as a partner in NSF's
    Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE) network. The
    ten COSEE centers around the country promote partnerships between
    research scientists and educators, disseminate best practices in
    ocean sciences education, and promote ocean education as a
    charismatic, interdisciplinary vehicle for creating a more
    scientifically literate workforce and citizenry. COSEE provides one
    venue that could serve as a tool for delivering Oceans and Human
    Health-related education information.

**IV: What specific kinds of partnerships offer Sea Grant the best
opportunities to achieve meaningful and measurable outcomes in
addressing these needs?**

Partnerships enable Sea Grant to expand its effort and scope. Sea Grant
has established state-federal partnerships with great capabilities for
promoting coastal economic growth, improving the quality of coastal
environments, educating students in marine sciences, solving critical
marine and Great Lakes resource problems.

By its very design, Sea Grant is a partnership between the federal
government and the university community. This fundamental partnership is
the defining characteristic of Sea Grant and can not be underestimated.
It allows for federal dollars to be matched by state dollars, ensures
state buy-in for national issues, and provides NOAA with a primary
mechanism to bring university expertise to bear on ocean and coastal
challenges.

In addition, here is a sampling of existing national Sea Grant
partnerships that are serving our nation: (See also:
<http://www.seagrant.noaa.gov/partnerships/partnerships.html>)

**Smart Growth**\
Originally under the auspices of the NOAA Sea Grant Coastal Communities
and Economies Theme Team, representatives from NOAA, the National Sea
Grant Office (NSGO) and the Sea Grant network have developed a
partnership with EPA's Office's of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds and
Policy, Economics and Innovation in the area of coastal community
development. EPA's relationship with the Sea Grant extension specialists
associated with the coastal community development (CCD) program enhances
the education and training opportunities available to local decision
makers. Significant partnership opportunities are available by coupling
EPA's national smart growth expertise and resources with Sea Grant's
locally based extension and education infrastructure. This partnership
was galvanized by EPA providing in-depth training opportunity to Sea
Grant CCD specialists on smart growth project planning. EPA also
assisted participants in drafting a work plan that has allowed them to
directly implement some aspect of smart growth in their community over
the last few years.

**Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)\
**FEMA represents an emerging partnership for Sea Grant at the national
level, even though there are numerous state Sea Grant programs that have
existing partnerships with FEMA. In the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina
and Rita, a Louisiana Sea Grant extension agent joined with FEMA
Disaster Assistance Employees (DAE) to assist the fishing industry in
Louisiana's Plaquemines and St. Bernard's Parishes. FEMA's mission is to
reduce the loss of life and property and protect the Nation from all
hazards, including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other
man-made disasters, by leading and supporting the Nation in a
risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness,
protection, response, recovery, and mitigation. However, DAEs are
volunteers and not long-term residents of the communities to which they
are assigned. Sea Grant's long-standing connection to the communities in
which they serve proved to be an invaluable asset to FEMA post-Katrina.
As a result of the unique partnership forges between Sea Grant and FEMA
in New Orleans, Plaquemines Parish was the first and only Parish to be
ready for the opening of the next shrimping season. Building on that
local example, national Sea Grant and national FEMA headquarters have
initiated a similar pilot partnership at the regional level -- beginning
in FEMA Region IV, headquartered in Denton, TX. The partnership joins
Sea Grant extension experts with FEMA employees. If successful at the
regional scale, consideration will be given to a national-level ramp-up.

**Law Center**\
The Sea Grant Law Center was founded to disseminate information about
marine laws and policies, coordinate ocean and coastal law researchers,
and provide the Sea Grant College Program and its constituents a source
of critical analysis of marine laws and policies. Founded in 2002 as a
partnership between the National Sea Grant College Program and Ole Miss,
the Law Center is a national asset that provides legal research to the
Sea Grant community and its constituents.  One of its initial primary
focuses was contributing to the legal analysis by the U.S. Commission on
Ocean Policy of the laws that affect the Nation\'s oceans and coasts (as
mandated by Congress in the Oceans Act of 2000). Other research includes
fisheries law, marine habitat conservation, non-indigenous species and
current issues in wetlands law and policy.
<http://www.olemiss.edu/orgs/SGLC/>**\
\
Ports & Harbors**\
Sea Grant\'s Ports and Harbors partnership was established to develop a
direct point of contact between Sea Grant and some of the nation\'s
largest ports in order to balance the principles of sustainable
development and the Nation\'s need for marine transportation. Solutions
to port needs, environmental needs, and security needs must be based on
sound science. Sea Grant provides credible scientific information
related to the issues facing the nation's maritime transportation
industry, enabling it to meet its challenges in a safe and responsible
manner.  Sea Grant\'s ports and harbors specialists through Texas A&M
University and the University of Southern California, served as focal
coordinating points for expanding Sea Grant College Program activities
on state and national ports and harbors, and related marine
transportation issues. These positions led overall efforts in ports and
harbors issues, coordinated with individuals within the Sea Grant
network on specific matters, and promoted the growth and development of
Sea Grant leadership in ports and harbors issues at the national level.
 These positions were competitively awarded a number of years ago and
the awards are transitioning out of funding this year.

**Sea Grant International****\
**President Bush's US Ocean Action Plan states, "In response to direct
requests from interested foreign governments and universities, the
Administration will conduct a donors conference in Latin America, hold a
workshop in Southeast Asia, and develop a technical assistance plan in
North Africa in order to help introduce and adapt the successful U.S.
Sea Grant system of applied research, extension, and education to
countries in these regions. Sea Grant will help create a global network
of institutions dedicated to applying the knowledge and technologies
that lead to sustainable forms of coastal and marine resource
development and conservation."

The National Sea Grant College Program, in partnership with NOAA
Research's International Activities (IA) Offices and the University of
Rhode Island's Coastal Resources Center (CRC), is working to foster
global capacity for sustainable resource use and social development in
marine and coastal environments worldwide by adapting the Sea Grant
model of applied research, extension and education to international
contexts. For more information regarding Sea Grant International, please
visit <http://www.oarhq.noaa.gov/ia/Programs/sea_grant/seagrant.htm>

**Coastal Community Development (CCD) Program**\
This Sea Grant program element focuses on the critical importance of
community planning and growth management in coastal areas. The CCD
initiative has provided services to coastal communities to aid in
efforts to protect their environmental amenities, strengthen their
economies and improve their quality of life. The goal of the Community
Development Program investment is to realize a significant step-up in
Sea Grant's engagement at the coastal community decision-making level
(municipalities, counties, state agencies, watershed management
districts, etc.) by providing the enhanced science-based support needed
to balance environmental, social and economic considerations.

**Centers for Ocean Science Education Excellence (COSEE****)**\
Centers for Ocean Science Education Excellence: NOAA Sea Grant has been
at the nexus of a major initiative in marine education in cooperation
with the National Science Foundation (NSF). This initiative, called the
Centers for Ocean Science Education Excellence (COSEE), seeks to
increase and enhance collaboration and communications among ocean
scientists, educators and the general public. Working with NSF and other
NOAA programs, the National Sea Grant Office has played an integral role
in conceptualizing and realizing the COSEE vision and is a partner with
CORE on the central coordinating office. The seven COSEE centers around
the U.S. (five of which are partnered with Sea Grant programs) are
working to facilitate the integration of research into high quality
educational activities, programs and materials in order to engage
students and their teachers, and develop their interest into a mature
understanding of the relevance of the oceans to their lives.\
**\
Rip Currents Task Force**\
In a multi-agency collaboration, NOAA's National Sea Grant College
Program and the National Weather Service (NWS), along with the U.S.
Lifesaving Association (USLA) have partnered to leverage the expertise
and resources of each organization to address the dangers of rip
currents. The task force has developed a unified and consistent public
education message and campaign, and is working to increase the dialogue
among local beach patrols, coastal NWS forecast offices and Sea Grant
Universities. The task force has developed a national rip current
brochure, a public service announcement and an outdoor sign in English
and Spanish. These materials and additional information about rip
currents can be found at:
[http://ripcurrents.noaa.gov](http://ripcurrents.noaa.gov/)

Other productive national-level partnerships include:

**Federal**

-   U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

-   Environmental Protection Agency

-   U.S. Geological Survey

-   U.S. Coast Guard

-   U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

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-   Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Taskforce

-   Other NOAA (NOS, NWS, NESDIS, NMFS, OAR)

-   National Science Foundation (NSF)

-   NASA

**Non-Governmental Organizations**

-   Sea Grant Association (SGA)

-   National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges
    (NASULGC)

-   Coastal States Organization (CSO)

-   National Marine Educators Association (NMEA)

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-   Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education (CORE)

-   Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE)

-   National Research Council

-   Seafood HACCP Alliance

-   National Fisheries Institute (NFI)

-   American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA)

-   National Non-Point Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) Network

-   American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

-   American Society for Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO)

-   National Association of Marine Laboratories (NAML)