**A Review of State Sea Grant Plans & Relevant State Ocean, Coastal and
Great Lakes Priorities -- A Snapshot of a "Bottom-Up" Planning
Landscape**

**I. Background**

In response to a National Research Council review, the National Sea
Grant College Program formed a Response Integration Team (RIT) with
three subcommittees: strategic planning, performance evaluation and
operations. Each subcommittee was asked to formulate recommendations and
produce a report. The Strategic Planning Subcommittee's report suggested
the formation of a Strategic Planning Steering Committee which would
begin implementation of a revised strategic planning process both at the
national and state level. Further, they suggested that the Steering
Committee begin with a synthesis of existing programs from both a
\'top-down\' and \'bottom-up\' approach. With respect to the bottom-up
approach the subcommittee stated:

> *Many state Sea Grant programs conduct outstanding, nationally
> relevant programs of great importance to the National Sea Grant
> College Program. These activities represent a great source of
> innovation and learning that could be of use to revisit and regularly
> revise the National Sea Grant College Program\'s Strategic Plan. A
> bottom up synthesis of the thematic and functional priorities of state
> Sea Grant plans is one of the most important background summaries
> needed to determine national Sea Grant priorities. Such a bottom up
> synthesis would be valuable to NOAA as the agency works to capture the
> priorities of stakeholders and to revise its priorities in the future.
> It is also recommended that regional syntheses of state strategic
> plans be conducted as well as syntheses of relevant state ocean,
> coastal, and Great Lakes priorities, given the new emphasis on
> regional planning by both Sea Grant and NOAA.*

This report presents the "bottom-up" planning landscape by providing
information from two perspectives -- thematic and programmatic. Sea
Grant's thematic priorities have, for many years, served to define the
program as Sea Grant\'s mission statement, strategic planning processes,
and program evaluation processes are all organized thematically. The
first part of this report presents that perspective via an overview of
all state Sea Grant strategic plans based upon Sea Grant's thematic
areas, and current Regional Research and Information planning
information.

The Sea Grant program can also be described functionally - as research,
extension, education and communication networks. The functional or
programmatic perspective is reflected in the organization of each state
program with portfolios and personnel assigned to the various functional
components. Thus, this report also provides a bottom-up snapshot of Sea
Grant's functional priorities, via a review of objectives developed by
the Sea Grant Educators Network, pertinent information from Sea Grant
extension and communication surveys, and partnership information from
the 2006 state Sea Grant annual reports. Note that the snapshots of the
programmatic components may only represent a particular issue or topic
relevant to that network. In particular, there are no current
operational or evaluative processes in place for the research network,
which is unfortunate given the relative importance of that component.

**II. A Bottom-up Snapshot of Sea Grant's Thematic Priorities**

**A. Background Information on Sea Grant's Thematic Areas**

A "thematic area" is a core area of emphasis and expertise in Sea
Grant's purview. Ideas for themes could have come from anywhere within
the Sea Grant enterprise. The Sea Grant Association's (SGA) Program
Mission Committee (PMC) coordinated this information for eventual
presentation to SGA's Board of Directors. After discussion with the SGA
membership, the Board of Directors then worked with the Nation Sea Grant
College Program Office to establish priorities for thematic areas.

The 11 thematic areas, which include: Aquatic Invasive Species,
Aquaculture, Biotechnology, Coastal Communities & Economies, Coastal
Natural Hazards, Digital Ocean, Ecosystems & Habitats, Fisheries, Marine
& Aquatic Science Literacy, Seafood Science & Technology, and Urban
Coasts, were vetted through the Sea Grant College Program Network, and
each one explores pressing issues related to the health and sustained
well-being of our coasts and coastal economies. All state Sea Grant
strategic plan objectives and all Sea Grant projects generally fall into
at least one of the 11 thematic areas.[^1]

**B. Overview of the conditions and challenges and Sea Grant's niche
within each (based upon Sea Grant's thematic area**[^2]**)**

**Thematic Area #1: AQUACULTURE**

**Issue:** Marine aquaculture is an important and rapidly emerging
multimillion-dollar industry within the United States. While the U.S.
currently imports more than 60 percent of consumable fish and shellfish
(a trend which has resulted in a seafood trade deficit of roughly \$9
billion annually), within the next 20 years marine aquaculture has the
potential to supply upwards of 25 percent of all seafood consumed
domestically, replenish certain fisheries, and relieve fishing pressure
on wild stocks, particularly in coral reef habitats. In addition to
providing more sustainable seafood management, marine aquaculture could
also offset the negative effects the collapse of several of the nation's
major fishery industries has had on coastal communities by providing
employment for many otherwise out-of-work fishermen and seafood
processors.

**Sea Grant's Niche:** The National Sea Grant College Program is well
positioned to develop the nation's marine aquaculture industry, based on
its experience with marine resources conservation and broad network of
multidisciplinary research, education, and extension teams located in
universities throughout the country. Sea Grant programs in the coastal
and Great Lakes states have a particular advantage in producing socially
and environmentally responsible and effective aquaculture research and
development.

**Thematic Area #2: INVASIVE SPECIES**

**Issue:** Aquatic invasive species have been identified as one of and
perhaps the greatest threat to coastal ecosystems, economies, and human
health. The pervasiveness of the problem, affecting all four coastal
regions---East, West, Gulf and Great Lakes---as well as many interior
states led Congress to pass the Non-indigenous Aquatic Nuisance
Prevention and Control Act (NANPCA) in 1990 followed by the National
Invasive Species Act in 1996, and most recently, the National Aquatic
Invasive Species Act in 2003. Despite such attention, new invaders
continue to infiltrate coastal areas.

**Sea Grant's Niche:** The scale and scope of the invasive species
problem requires the broad organizational capacity and expertise that
Sea Grant provides. Operational in every coastal state, the Sea Grant
program is best suited to address such problems and has become a leader
in invasive species research, education, and outreach for both public
and private institutions, businesses, and individuals. Sea Grant's
strengths in education and outreach are particularly important, as
research alone will not solve the invasive species problem.

**Thematic Area #3: BIOTECHNOLOGY**

**Issue:** The rapidly growing field of biotechnology has created new
opportunities for research and economic development. While biological
technology as it relates the marine environment is still in its infancy,
marine plants, animals, and microorganisms produce unique biochemicals,
which have demonstrated potential to treat diseases such as cancer and
inflammatory disorders and may one day prove effective against HIV.
Marine biochemicals have other commercial applications as well, such as
in the emerging field of nanofabrication. While the application of
marine products in biotechnology has substantial economic potential,
such uses may also provide many environmental benefits such as the
generation of new technology for monitoring biological processes,
remediation of pollutants, and conversion of wastes.

**Sea Grant's Niche:** Sea Grant has a long and successful history of
involvement in marine biotechnology. The program has been actively
involved in the development of many new, highly marketable biochemicals
including Pseudopterosin, an anti-inflammatory agent isolated from a
marine gorgonian with a market value of \$3 million to \$4 million each
year. In addition to human health benefits, such products have also
served to enhance environmental remediation and even improve fisheries
management through the use of DNA fingerprints.

**Thematic Area #4: COASTAL COMMUNITIES AND ECONOMIES**

**Issue:** Healthy ecosystems are essential to the economic survival of
coastal communities. Unfortunately, population growth, increasing
tourism, and development can jeopardize the sustainability of coastal
ecosystems. As coastal ecosystems and economies are integrally linked,
economic growth must complement environmental conservation in a
sustainable way, that is, in a manner that meets present needs without
compromising future generations' quality of life.

**Sea Grant's Niche:** While the diversity of needs and interests among
coastal stakeholders presents unique challenges, such disparities must
be overcome if coastal communities are to develop economically and
environmentally sustainable environments. To bridge this gap, Sea Grant
has a distinct advantage, providing coastal communities with the best
available science-based information for long-term sustainable community
development and decision-making, coupled with the knowledge, experience
and tools needed to bring diverse coastal interests together. The
knowledge, programs and approaches developed by Sea Grant has broad
applicability and can be applied from state to state throughout the
national network.

**Thematic Area #5: COASTAL HAZARDS**

**Issue:** The winds, waves, and floods generated by hurricanes and
other major storms, as well as earthquakes and tsunamis all pose a
serious threat to coastal development and human welfare. Property losses
from coastal disasters have increased dramatically over the past few
decades, amounting to upwards of \$150 billion in the 1990s alone. Such
risks will only intensify with rising sea levels, land subsidence,
expanding coastal populations (often unfamiliar with coastal hazards),
and rapidly increasing investments in valuable but vulnerable coastal
property. Such conditions necessitate a coordinated national effort to
reduce the economic, social, and environmental costs of natural hazards.

**Sea Grant's Niche:** Research and outreach programs are an essential
to increased coastal hazard awareness and preparedness. Sea Grant and
its network of universities, laboratories, and outreach programs
contribute considerable expertise and capability to the national coastal
natural hazards mitigation effort. Sea Grant is particularly well suited
to take the lead in the development of new remediation and disaster
prevention technologies, risk assessment, habitat restoration, and
information generation, distribution, and transfer.

**Thematic Area #6: DIGITAL OCEAN**

**Issue:** The Digital Ocean Project has become a promising tool for
marine resource management. By developing methods to create extensive
digital models of ocean resources and phenomena or extreme events such
as hurricanes, the project will build on previous Sea Grant technology
to facilitate the translation and dissemination of chemical, biological
and physical data into tools to better manage marine resources.
Technology developed under the project will benefit a wide array of
coastal stakeholders, from fisheries managers to regional authorities.

**Sea Grant's Niche:** The mission of Sea Grant's Digital Ocean is to
build on work pioneered by Sea Grant to develop methods for creating
digital representations, or models, of ocean resources and phenomena. By
gathering, analyzing and making data widely available, we can help
provide essential tools for ensuring the health and sustainability of
our marine resources and economy.

**Thematic Area #7: ECOSYSTEMS AND HABITATS**

**Issue:** The U.S. economy depends on healthy coastal ecosystems. The
United States' 95,000-miles of coastal areas provide essential habitat
for fish and shellfish that make up 75 percent of U.S. commercial
landings. Coastal zones also provide habitat for numerous species of
recreational fishes, waterfowl, migratory birds, marine mammals and sea
turtles. Rapid population growth and urbanization in coastal areas,
however, has destroyed large swaths of coastal wetlands, degraded
coastal water quality, and placed substantial strain on coastal
ecosystems. Indeed, nearly half of the nation's coastal wetlands have
been lost---exceeding 90 percent in some states. Beaches, dunes,
seagrasses, coral reefs, oyster reefs and other valuable habitats face
similar pressures. Loss and deterioration of coastal habitats has
dramatically affected U.S. fishery stocks as landings and genetic
diversity decline.

**Sea Grant's Niche:** Drawing on extensive experience in marine
resource management education, research and technical assistance, Sea
Grant focuses on minimizing the negative impacts of anthropogenic
changes to coastal ecosystems and on developing and implementing methods
of restoring damaged coastal habitats. Sea Grant provides vital
information on critical or vulnerable habitats and species and engages
private and public entities. While empowering coastal communities to
undertake well-planned coastal development that preserves and helps
restore coastal habitats. In addition, Sea Grant has been a leader in
research and outreach regarding public health and economic impacts many
harmful algal blooms (HABs) caused by excessive inputs of nutrients and
toxic pollutants, and subsequent wetland loss and over-fertilization of
coastal waters.

**Thematic Area #8: FISHERIES**

**Issue:** America's fisheries are under extreme stress from many
sources and new management approaches must be found to cope with the
difficult challenges. To make the best decisions, fishery managers must
have a reasonable idea of how many fish comprise each population, the
rates at which they grow, reproduce, and die, and how many can be
harvested under various scenarios of regulatory measures and fishing
pressure. It is also important that fisheries managers know how their
decisions might affect people who depend on fishery resources. When
changes affect people, it is equally important to help them cope.

**Sea Grant's Niche:** With myriad relationships among university,
government and industry researchers, Sea Grant is uniquely situated to
promote cooperative research on subjects critical to decisions being
made by fisheries managers. Topics include stock assessment, habitat and
ecosystem health, environmental contamination, area management
strategies, fish biology and behavior, climate change, management
institutions, conflict resolution and others. Sea Grant's outreach
specialists translate and transfer useful research findings to
stakeholders. Located in coastal communities, Sea Grant extension
personnel enjoy cooperative working relationships with recreational,
commercial and subsistence fishing interests. This unique front-line
presence will allow Sea Grant to facilitate local problem solving and
guide experiments in community-based management.

**Thematic Area #9: MARINE AND AQUATIC SCIENCE LITERACY**

**Issue:** The challenges to marine and aquatic science education in
this country are profound. Fifty-two million pre-college students are
being taught science by 1.9 million elementary and 186,000 middle and
high-school teachers. Of these educators, 37% in high school, 83% in
middle school, and practically all teaching science at the elementary
level lack science degrees (NSTA 2000). To compound this problem, too
few of the teachers who do have science degrees have studied marine and
aquatic science. In fact, these content areas are barely mentioned in
the National Science Education Standards, an influential report released
by the National Research Council in 1996.

**Sea Grant's Niche:** As a national network, Sea Grant has the inherent
strengths necessary to be a key player in the development of that
critical national education base. Sea Grant's innovative and effective
marine and aquatic education programs have been a cornerstone of the Sea
Grant program and they have produced a record of successes that span
three decades. With more than 30 years of sustained funding, strong
regional infrastructures and a commitment to education, Sea Grant is
capable of making the long-term investments and providing the continuity
needed to ensure meaningful education outcomes. The program has
established and supports a network of Sea Grant educators that provides
valuable leadership in marine and aquatic science education activities
at the local, regional and national levels throughout this country,
offering a wide array of experiential internships, fellowships,
team-based research courses, interdisciplinary courses and programs, and
traditional research assistantships that broaden the experiences of
undergraduate and graduate students alike.

**Thematic Area #10: SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD TECHNOLOGY**

**Issue:** The U.S. seafood industry an increasingly competitive global
marketplace, complex trade policies, stricter safety regulations, rising
energy costs, food security concerns and an increasingly limited seafood
supply. Changes brings new opportunities to expand markets, form
strategic alliances and encourage innovations to lower production costs,
create new products, add value to existing ones, increase safety and
reduce waste. In this new seafood era, science and education are
cornerstones for maintaining the vitality of the nation's \$27 billion
seafood industry (\$55 billion including consumer expenditures) and its
250,000 member workforce. To remain competitive, the industry must
control the costs of catching, transporting, processing, storing and
distributing seafood. The U.S. seafood industry recognizes the benefits
of innovation, but it is comprised of mostly small and medium-sized,
independent enterprises that simply cannot afford research and
development programs.

**Sea Grant's Niche:** Through its unique capabilities in research and
technology transfer, the national Sea Grant network is poised to help
the industry increase quality and safety, add value, lower costs and
expand seafood supplies and markets. While the Sea Grant seafood science
and technology community is uniquely positioned to advance the global
competitiveness of the nation's seafood industry, meeting this goal will
require a continuous commitment by Sea Grant's many partners and
additional funding as well.

**Thematic Area #11: URBAN COASTS**

**Issue:** More than half of the U.S. population is concentrated in
coastal areas accounting for only 10 percent of the nation's land mass.
Economic growth since World War II has increased the urbanization of
coastal areas---with corresponding rises in pollution and environmental
degradation. In an urban setting, a shoreline has significant appeal,
shown in the demand for recreational, business and residential
developments near the water. Communities and states must decide how to
balance economic and environmental values, manage the impacts of runoff
and waste disposal, and consider transportation, recreation and commerce
needs---all while maintaining the integrity of coastal ecosystems that
provide critical habitat and nurseries for countless species.

**Sea Grant's Niche:** Sea Grant leads the nation in solving problems
and recognizing opportunities along our urban coasts. For example, Sea
Grant has extensive experience in assessing the risks of contaminants in
dredged materials and the identification of disposal options. In
addition, Sea Grant's federal-state partnership combines
multidisciplinary scientific research with public education and
outreach, which endows it with a unique capability to provide
policymakers, managers, users and the public with understandable
scientific explanations of coastal processes and the value and risks
involved in coastal activities and change.

**III. Sea Grant's Current Leadership and Activities within the Thematic
Areas**

**[A. A Review of State Sea Grant Strategic Plans]{.underline}**

In the current National Sea Grant College Program Strategic Plan, there
are sub-priorities listed under each thematic area. Since all programs
participate in thematic areas, the National Office linked the objectives
from the state program's strategic plans to the National Sea Grant
College Program's thematic areas. The National Office then aggregated
the state Sea Grant program information into Sea Grant's current ten
regions[^3]: Alaska, California Current (combining the Pacific NW and SW
regions) Caribbean, Great Lakes, Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, Insular
Pacific, Mid-Atlantic, New York Bight, and South Atlantic Region to see
where each region participates the most in Sea Grant's current eleven
thematic areas.

In reviewing the state Sea Grant Strategic Plans, efforts were made to:
(1) place state Sea Grant planning priorities in appropriate theme areas
in those cases where the state\'s theme area title was inconsistent with
the National Sea Grant Strategic Plan (Theme Team Areas); (2) keep the
priorities in the theme areas as reported by the State, unless the
priority clearly belonged in a different theme area; and (3) report
priorities at the \'objective\' level.

Information was pulled solely from the strategic plans. Implementation
plans were not reviewed for additional information in cases where
strategic plans lacked detail. The purpose of this comparison was to
compare strategic plans, and not ancillary documents.

The regional comparisons match each state\'s strategic plan priority
element to the NOAA Sea Grant Strategic Priority Element by Theme Area.
If more than one item from the state\'s strategic plan fit under the
NOAA Sea Grant Element, it was combined into one. If a state\'s item
could fit under more than one NOAA Sea Grant Element, it was applied to
all possible elements, generously.

**1. Participation of Sea Grant Priorities on a National Scale**

The following bar chart is the national average of participation for
each thematic area based upon State Sea Grant program objectives that
fall under one or more of the NOAA Sea Grant sub-priority area of each
thematic/priority area.

![](media/image1.pct){width="6.11875in" height="3.4881944444444444in"}

**2. Sea Grant Priorities on a Regional Scale**

**New York Bight Region**

The New York Bight region consists of Connecticut, Massachusetts (MIT &
WHOI), New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania Sea Grant
Programs. Based upon this region's State Strategic Plans, the areas of
highest participation include Coastal Communities and Economies,
Ecosystems & Habitats, Marine & Aquatic Science Literacy, and
Aquaculture.

![](media/image2.pct){width="3.9722222222222223in" height="2.5in"}

**The Gulf Region**

The Gulf region consists of the Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi/Alabama
and Texas Sea Grant Programs. The state strategic plans submitted for
this region reveal high levels of program participation in Aquaculture,
Coastal Communities & Economies, Ecosystem & Habitats, and Marine and
Aquatic Science Literacy. Even though Fisheries is not among the top
four priority areas for this region, all four programs participate in
the sub-priorities of Improve Fisheries Management and Caring for
People. Similarly, all programs are involved in the Reduce Loss of Life
and Property sub-priority within Coastal Hazards.

![](media/image3.wmf){width="4.0in" height="2.501388888888889in"}

**The California Current Region (Pacific NW & SW)**

The California Current region is comprised of the California, Oregon,
Southern California, and Washington Sea Grant programs. State strategic
plans for California Current programs indicate that Coastal Communities
& Economies, Coastal Hazards, Ecosystem & Habitats, and Aquatic Invasive
Species are all top priority areas for the region. While Fisheries is
not among the top four priority areas, all of the California Current
programs participate in the sub-priorities of Improve Fisheries
Management and Caring for People. All programs also participate in the
Create and Sustain Effective Marine and Aquatic Science-based
Educational Programs and Cultivate Sea Grant Leadership sub-priorities
under Marine Aquatic Science Literacy. In addition, all states are
engaged in the Digital Ocean sub-priority, Focusing on Coastal Areas and
the Seafood Science & Technology sub-priority, Ensuring Food Safety.

![](media/image4.wmf){width="3.875in" height="2.486111111111111in"}

**The South Atlantic Region**

The South Atlantic region includes Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and
South Carolina Sea Grant programs. Participation levels in this region
are highest in the areas of Ecosystem & Habitats, Coastal Communities &
Economies, Aquaculture, and Marine Aquatic Science Literacy. In
addition, while Fisheries is not a top priority for the region, all four
programs participate in the sub-priority of Better Understanding of Fish
Biology and Behavior.

![](media/image5.wmf){width="4.004861111111111in"
height="2.498611111111111in"}

**The Mid-Atlantic Region**

The Mid-Atlantic region includes Sea Grant programs in Delaware,
Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia. These four programs indicate
priorities in Coastal Communities & Economies, Ecosystem & Habitats,
Marine Aquatic Science & Technology, and Urban Coasts.

![](media/image6.wmf){width="4.089583333333334in" height="2.5in"}

**The Great Lakes Region**

The Great Lakes region includes the Illinois/Indiana, Michigan,
Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin Sea Grant
Programs. Top priority areas, as indicated in the state strategic plans
include Aquatic Invasive Species, Ecosystem & Habitats, Coastal
Communities & Economies, and Urban Coasts. While Seafood Science &
Technology is not among the top four priority areas for the Great Lakes
region, all programs participate in the sub-priority of Ensuring Seafood
Safety.

![](media/image7.wmf){width="4.0875in" height="2.6756944444444444in"}

**The Gulf of Maine Region**

The Northeast region includes Sea Grant programs in Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts (MIT and WHOI), New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island.
Within the region, participation was highest in the areas of Coastal
Communities & Economies, Aquaculture, Fisheries, and Ecosystem &
Habitats. While not one of the four priorities areas, all programs
participate in Marine Aquatic Science Literacy sub-priorities, Create
and Sustain Effective Marine and Aquatic Science-based Educational
Programs and Cultivate Sea Grant Leadership.

![](media/image8.wmf){width="4.125in" height="2.720833333333333in"}

**The remaining three regions, Caribbean, Insular Pacific and Alaska
currently constitute a single state Sea Grant program thus the regional
and state syntheses are identical.**

**The Caribbean Region**

The Caribbean region is comprised of the Puerto Rico Sea Grant program,
which has identified priorities in Aquaculture, Aquatic Invasive
Species, Coastal Communities & Economies, Coastal Hazards, and Ecosystem
& Habitats areas.

**The Insular Pacific Region**

The Insular Pacific Region consists of the Hawaii Sea Grant program. As
indicated in the Hawaii Sea Grant strategic report, top priorities for
the region are Aquaculture, Aquatic Invasive Species, Biotechnology,
Coastal Communities & Economies, Coastal Hazards, and Ecosystem &
Habitat.

**The Alaska Region**

The Alaska region Sea Grant program has highlighted a number of priority
areas, which include Coastal Communities & Economies, Ecosystem &
Habitats, Fisheries, and Seafood Science & Technology.

**[B. Sea Grant Regional Planning Effort Information]{.underline}**

Eight regional planning efforts were initiated in FY06: Alaska, Pacific
Northwest and Southwest, Insular Pacific, Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico,
South Atlantic, and Gulf of Maine. The Mid-Atlantic, Caribbean, and New
York Bight regional planning efforts will begin by the end of this
fiscal year. The charge for each of the regional teams is to develop a
Regional Research and Information Plan by the end of FY08. There is a
common framework for the planning efforts across all the regions, but
each of the regional teams is implementing that framework in the manner
most suited to their particular region. The general framework is as
follows:

-   Establish a regional coordination group to oversee the planning and
    implementation of the research and information plan;

-   Conduct a bottom-up needs assessment with broad user and stakeholder
    input from all levels of government, academia, industry,
    non-governmental organizations, and the public;

-   Identify research and information gaps;

-   Develop a research and information plan for the region (not for Sea
    Grant or for a particular agency) that ranks priorities according to
    management-critical needs;

-   Develop coordination mechanisms to ensure the transfer of technology
    and information to the appropriate end users; and

-   Provide an ongoing platform for coordination, collaboration, and
    resource sharing among participants.

Since the regional initiative has just begun and since different regions
are using slightly different approaches on different timeframes the
current snapshot of regional efforts is limited to a subset of all
defined regions.

Through the regional workshop held in Silver Spring last month, three
regions (Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Maine, and the Pacific NW and SW)
shared preliminary results of regional priorities from their planning
efforts, which are listed below.

**(1) Gulf of Mexico** -- Preliminary Results from Regional Planning
Exercise, looking at how the Gulf of Mexico plans link to the ORPP
Themes.

+--------------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| **Ocean Research Priorities Plan**   | **Percent of\                 |
|                                      | goals/priorities in GOM       |
| **Theme**                            | plans\                        |
|                                      | with link to theme**          |
+--------------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| Improving Ecosystem Health           | 36.1%                         |
+--------------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| Stewardship of Natural and Cultural  | 32.8%                         |
| Resources                            |                               |
+--------------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| Enhancing Human Health               | 9.3%                          |
+--------------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| Enabling Marine Operations           | 8.2%                          |
+--------------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| Increase Resilience to Natural       | 7.5%                          |
| Hazards                              |                               |
+--------------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| The Ocean\'s Role in Climate         | 6.1%                          |
+--------------------------------------+-------------------------------+

**(2) Gulf of Maine -- Preliminary Results**

Thematic Priority Areas...

-   Effects of Climate Change

-   Conservation & Sustainability

-   Oceans & Human Health

-   Management & Governance

Focused Opportunities

-   Use of New Technologies

-   Modeling Ecosystem Impacts

-   Address Issues of Scale

**(3) Pacific NW & SW - Preliminary Results**

Areas Seven Themes have emerged repeatedly in national and regional
programs and Sea Grant; working on identifying the broad elements that
fall with in each of these themes; they are almost all encompassing.
Each of the collaborating Sea Grant Programs focuses on different areas
within these themes:

1.  Social and Economic Vitality of Coastal Communities

2.  Coastal Natural Hazards

3.  Human Health

4.  Ecosystem Dynamics, Quality and Connectivity

5.  Ocean's Role in Climate Variability

6.  Marine Transportation and Security

7.  Ocean Education and Environmental Literacy

**[IV. A Bottom-up Snapshot of Sea Grant's Functional Strengths and
Priorities]{.underline}**

**A. Sea Grant College Program Background**

Sea Grant is a NOAA partnership program that engages the nation\'s
universities in conducting scientific research, education and extension
projects designed to help us better understand and use our ocean,
coastal and Great Lakes resources. As a national network of over 30 Sea
Grant programs, located in all coastal and Great Lakes states and Puerto
Rico, there are more than 300 participating institutions involving over
3,000 scientists, engineers, outreach experts, educators and students.
Sea Grant is also a matching program; a non-federal matching requirement
results in substantial leveraging of additional effort.

What Does Sea Grant Do?

-   Research to tackle priority problems and opportunities identified by
    coastal residents and businesses and local, regional, state and
    federal agencies

-   Technology transfer to user groups such as natural resource
    managers, coastal planners, NGOs and businesses people,

-   Science-based information transfer about marine and coastal issues
    through extension and communications projects, serving as an "honest
    broker" among a wide range of groups, and

-   Training and curriculum development for K-12 educators to bring the
    sciences into the classroom as well as for undergraduate and
    graduate students to be mentored by senior researchers.

What Advantages Does Sea Grant Offer?

-   Local, university-based on-site project management

-   An established network of constituents and stakeholders at the local
    and state level

-   Integration of research projects with outreach capabilities

-   Leverage through matching funds

As noted in the introduction, a bottom-up snapshot of the Sea Grant
program from a functional perspective relies on a number of
\'photographs\' of various sub-network initiatives rather than a
comprehensive attempt to evaluate or organize the national program
functionally.

**[B. Sea Grant Educators Network's (SGEN) Strategic Plan
2004-2009]{.underline}**

Early in its history, Sea Grant provided an emphasis on K-12 education
by developing marine and aquatic sciences education curricula and
professional development programs for pre-college teachers. Current SGEN
efforts continue to provide pre-college teachers with enhanced science
content knowledge, instructional skills, and high-quality curricula for
teaching their students about the relevance of watersheds, coastal
processes, and marine and aquatic sciences.

The following goal and objectives are taken from the SGEN Strategic Plan
(2004-09). The SGEN will accomplish this goal by facilitating
communication and interaction among Sea Grant educators and establishing
partnerships with others involved in marine and aquatic sciences
education.

**[Goal:]{.underline}** To effectively deliver to constituent groups
marine and aquatic sciences-based information, programs, and resources
that enhance environmental literacy.

-   [Objective 1:]{.underline} Create and sustain effective marine and
    aquatic sciences-based educational programs.

-   [Objective 2:]{.underline} Cultivate and expand SGEN leadership and
    membership in marine and aquatic sciences education communities.

-   [Objective 3:]{.underline} Support the use of marine and aquatic
    sciences content and examples in teaching of science, mathematics,
    social studies, and language arts, as mandated by Federal
    initiatives, such as the *No Child Left Behind Act* (2002).

-   [Objective 4:]{.underline} Support the use of marine and aquatic
    sciences examples in standardized testing.

-   [Objective 5:]{.underline} Expand professional development
    opportunities for all educators.

-   [Objective 6:]{.underline} Engage underrepresented populations in
    SGEN efforts.

**[C. Sea Grant Extension Survey Results (2004)]{.underline}**

According to the Sea Grant Extension Leaders, the top three priority
hires include:

(1) Fisheries

(2) Water Quality/Watershed Management

(3) Education Specialist, Coastal Communities and Economies

(4) Coastal Hazards, Natural Resource Economist/Coastal Bus

When asked what the number one top priority hire is, the extension
leaders answered in the following way:

(1) Water Quality/Watershed Management, Education Specialists

(2) Habitat Restoration, Fisheries, Coastal Communities and Economies,
    Natural Resource Economist/Coastal Business Specialists

(3) Climate Change, Coastal Hazards, Outdoor/Coastal Recreation

(4) Aquaculture, Clean Marina, Ports and Harbors, Fisheries Acoustician,
    Biotechnology

**[D. Sea Grant Communication Survey Results]{.underline}**

The Communicators network is comprised of more than 110 individuals,
accounting for 90 FTE. Within that community, expertise varies from
print media to radio to web and a variety of other areas. When asked for
their top three areas of emphasis if we were able to hire additional
communications specialists, responses varied throughout the network, but
the three most common answers were: web expert, graphic designer, and
writer.

**[V. Critical Alliances]{.underline}**

Finally, as requested by the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, it
is useful, from a bottom-up perspective, to examine Sea Grant\'s most
productive alliances and partnerships.

The following partnership information was gathered from Sea Grant
Programs' 2006 Annual Reports. Partnerships that seemed to occur most
often within most programs were chosen.

**[Federal]{.underline}**

-   National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

-   U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services

-   Environmental Protection Agency

-   U.S. Geological Survey

-   U.S. National Park Services

-   U.S. Department of Agriculture

-   U.S. Food and Drug Administration

-   U.S. Coast Guard

-   U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

-   NOAA's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management's (OCRM)

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-   Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Taskforce

**[Non-Governmental Organizations]{.underline}**

-   National Marine Educators Association (NMEA)

-   Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education (CORE)

-   Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE)

-   National Research Council

-   Seafood HACCP Alliance

-   National Fish and Wildlife Federation

-   National Fisheries Institute

-   National Geographic Society

-   American Zoo and Aquarium Association

-   National Council for Geographic Education

-   National Council for the Social Studies

-   North American Association of Environmental Educators

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

-   Association of Science-Technology Centers

-   American Association for the Advancement of Science

-   American Society for Limnology and Oceanography

-   Estuarine Federation Society and affiliated chapters

-   National Association of Marine Laboratories and affiliated chapters

**[International]{.underline}**

-   Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans

-   Environment Canada

-   Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

> **Appendix A**

**Sea Grant Strategic Plan's Priorities and Sub-Priorities**

Sea Grant Theme Area #1: AQUACULTURE

Priorities for NOAA Sea Grant action include:

1\. Culture system technology development

2\. Nutrition and feeds

3\. Genetics of cultured species

4\. Health and disease

5\. Stock enhancement

6\. Public policy and law

7\. Socioeconomic issues

Sea Grant Theme Area #2: BIOTECHNOLOGY

Priorities for NOAA Sea Grant action include:

1\. Marine natural products

2\. Biomolecular process discovery

3\. Marine environmental biotechnology

4\. Marine resource management

5\. Seafood safety and processing

Sea Grant Theme Area #3: COASTAL COMMUNITIES & ECONOMIES

Priorities for NOAA Sea Grant action include:

1\. Strengthening coastal planning

2\. Resource valuation

3\. Constructing indicators of sustainable development

4\. Educating coastal planners

5\. Building leadership

6\. Developing decision support systems

7\. Revitalizing communities

Sea Grant Theme Area #4: COASTAL NATURAL HAZARDS

Priorities for NOAA Sea Grant action include:

1\. Reducing the loss of life and property

2\. Weather-related hazards

3\. Earthquakes and tsunamis

4\. Shoreline change

Sea Grant Theme Area #5: DIGITAL OCEAN

Priorities for NOAA Sea Grant action include:

1\. Focusing on coastal areas

2\. Preparing for extreme events

3\. Passive acoustics in fisheries

4\. Supporting offshore industry

Sea Grant Theme Area #6: ECOSYSTEMS AND HABITATS

Priorities for NOAA Sea Grant action include:

1\. Reducing stresses on coastal ecosystems

2\. Coastal watersheds

3\. Conserving and restoring coastal habitats

Sea Grant Theme Area #7: FISHERIES

Priorities for NOAA Sea Grant action include:

1\. Partnering with constituents to improve fisheries management

2\. Caring for people by helping them adapt to changes in fishery
resources and by interjecting socio-economic dimensions into fisheries
management decisions

3\. Better understanding fish biology and behavior

4\. Balancing needs of fishermen and managers with technological
improvements to reduce bycatch, develop new value-added products, and
reduce waste

5\. Predicting effects of climate and ecosystem change and other
perturbations to aquatic systems

Sea Grant Theme Area #8: MARINE AND AQUATIC SCIENCE LITERACY

Priorities for NOAA Sea Grant action include:

1\. Create and sustain effective marine and aquatic science-based
educational programs

2\. Cultivate Sea Grant leadership in marine and aquatic sciences
education communities

3\. Support the use of marine and aquatic sciences content and examples
in science and mathematics teaching and standardized testing

4\. Expand professional development opportunities for all educators

5\. Engage underrepresented populations in science efforts

Sea Grant Theme Area #9: SEAFOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Priorities for NOAA Sea Grant action include:

1\. Ensuring seafood safety

2\. Ensuring seafood quality

3\. Improving processing technology

4\. Expanding supplies and markets

Sea Grant Theme Area #10: URBAN COASTS

Priorities for NOAA Sea Grant action include:

1\. Reducing nonpoint-source pollution

2\. Enhancing port and harbor operations

3\. Managing coastal resources

Sea Grant Theme Area #11: INVASIVE SPECIES

Priorities for NOAA Sea Grant action include:

1\. Reducing ballast water introductions

2\. Reducing intentional and accidental releases of aquaculture species

3\. Responding with integrated, multi-state programs of research,
outreach and education

[^1]: The SGA\'s Program Mission Committee has continued to discuss the
    current relevance of the 11 theme areas and has suggested, but not
    adopted, combining some of the areas, forming a smaller set of
    \'meta themes\'.

[^2]: The theme team information below was taken from Sea Grant's theme
    team one-pagers or booklets, all of which were vetted through the
    entire Sea Grant Network.

[^3]: Some State Sea Grant Programs participate in more than one
    regional effort; those programs were placed in each region in which
    they participate.