**Other Data 9 Stewardship Investments: Other Text Data**

**FY 2008 Closing Package**

**Section A: Investment in Non-Federal Physical Property (SFFAS No. 8,
par 87)**

***2. Provide a description of the major programs of Federal Investments
in non-Federal property.***

**FY 2008 and FY 2007:**

Non-federal physical property investments are expenses included in the
Department's Net Cost of Operations for the purchase, construction, or
major renovation of physical property owned by state and local
governments. Based on a review of the Department's programs, NOAA and
EDA have significant investments in non-federal physical property.

**NOAA:**

**National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERR):** The NERR system
consists of 27 estuarine reserves protected by federal, state, and local
partnerships that work to preserve and protect the nation's estuaries.
The NERR system helps to fulfill NOAA's stewardship mission to sustain
healthy coasts by improving the nation's understanding and stewardship
of estuaries. Estuarine reserves are the areas where freshwater from
rivers meet the ocean. These areas are known as bays, swamps, sloughs,
and sounds. These important coastal habitats are used as spawning
grounds and nurseries for the nation's commercial fish and shellfish.
Estuaries filter much of the polluted runoff from rivers and streams
that would otherwise contaminate oceans. The reserves were created with
the passage of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, and, as of
September 30, 2007, encompassed approximately 1.3 million acres of
estuarine waters, wetlands, and uplands. The newest reserve,
Mission-Aransas, TX, was designated on May 3, 2006. NERRs are
state-operated and managed in cooperation with NOAA. The NOAA's
investments in non-federal physical property are for the acquisition of
lands and development or construction of facilities, auxiliary
structures, and public access routes for any NERR site.

**Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program**: This program was
established under the Commerce, Justice, and State Appropriations Act of
2002, "for the purpose of protecting important coastal and estuarine
areas that have significant conservation, recreation, ecological,
historical, or aesthetic values, or that are threatened by conversion
from their natural or recreational state to other uses." The investments
in non-federal physical property include matching grants awarded to
state and local governments for land acquisition in coastal and
estuarine areas. Since FY 2002, matching grants have been directed to
137 such projects.

**Coastal Zone Management Fund**: The Coastal Zone Management Program is
authorized by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, and administered
at the federal level by NOAA's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource
Management. The investments in non-federal physical property include
incidental expenses of land acquisition, and low-cost construction on
behalf of various state and local governments, for the purpose of
preservation or restoration of coastal resources and habitats. The
NOAA's financing supports various coastal states in their redevelopment
of deteriorating and urbanized waterfronts and ports, as well as
providing for public access to beaches and coastal areas. The state and
local governments receive funding for these investments through NOAA
grant expenditures, and these grant expenditures also include funding
for purposes other than the investments in non-federal physical
property. There is currently not in place a mechanism for the state and
local governments to determine and report to NOAA the amount of monies
they expend for the investments in non-federal physical property. The
Department, accordingly, cannot report the amount of investments in
non-federal physical property for the Coastal Zone Management Fund.

**Section B: Research and Development: Investment in Development (SFFAS
No. 8, par. 100)**

***1. Provide a description of the major programs of Federal investments
in development. (SFFAS No. 8, par. 100).***

**FY 2008 and FY 2007:**

**NOAA:**

The NOAA conducts a substantial program of environmental R&D in support
of its mission, much of which is performed to improve the U.S.'s
understanding of and ability to predict environmental phenomena. The
scope of research includes:

-   Improving predictions and warnings associated with the weather, on
    time scales ranging from minutes to weeks;

-   Improving predictions of climate, on time scales ranging from months
    to centuries;

-   Improving understanding of natural relationships to better predict
    and manage renewable marine resources and coastal and ocean
    ecosystems.

The NOAA also conducts research that is intended to provide a solid
scientific basis for environmental policy-making in government. Examples
of this research include determining the stratospheric ozone-depleting
potential of proposed substitutes for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and
identifying the causes of the episodic high rural ozone levels that
significantly damage crops and forests.

The NOAA conducts most R&D in-house; however, contractors to NOAA
undertake most systems R&D. External R&D work supported by NOAA includes
that undertaken through federal-academic partnerships such as the
National Sea Grant College

Program, the Cooperative Institutes of the Environmental Research
Laboratories, the Climate and Global Change Program, and the Coastal
Ocean Program.

Here is a brief description of the major R&D programs of NOAA:

**Environmental and Climate**: The Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research is NOAA's primary research and development office. This office
conducts research in three major areas: climate research, weather and
air quality research, and ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes research. The
NOAA's research laboratories, Office of Global Programs, and research
partners conduct a wide range of research into complex climate systems,
including the exploration and investigation of ocean habitats and
resources. The NOAA's research organizations conduct applied research on
the upper and lower atmosphere as well as the space environment.

**Fisheries**: The NOAA's NMFS is responsible for the management and
stewardship of living marine resources and their habitat within the
Nation's Exclusive Economic Zone. The NMFS manages these resources
through science-based conservation and management, and the protection
and restoration of healthy ecosystems to ensure their continuation as
functioning components of ecosystems, while also affording economic
opportunities and enhancing the quality of life for the American public.
Fishery stocks and protected species are surveyed, catch data are
collected, and research is conducted to better understand the variables
affecting the abundance and variety of marine fishes and protected
species. Protection of endangered species, restoration of coastal and
estuarine fishery habitats, and enforcement of fishery regulations are
primary bureau activities.

The research and management of living marine resources is conducted in
partnership with states, universities, other countries, and
international organizations.

**Marine Operations and Maintenance and Aircraft Services:** These
expenditures support NOAA's programs requiring operating days and flight
hours to collect data at sea and in the air. The NOAA's Marine and
Aviation Operations manage a wide variety of specialized aircraft and
ships to complete NOAA's environmental and scientific missions. The
aircraft collect the environmental and geographic data essential to NOAA
hurricane and other weather and atmospheric research, conduct aerial
surveys for hydrologic research to help predict flooding potential from
snowmelt, and provide support to NOAA's fishery research and marine
mammal assessment programs. The NOAA's ship fleet provides oceanographic
and atmospheric research and fisheries research vessels to support
NOAA's strategic plan elements and mission.

**Weather Service:** The National Weather Service conducts applied
research and development, building upon research conducted by NOAA
laboratories and the academic community. Applied meteorological and
hydrological research is integral to providing more timely and accurate
weather, water, and climate services to the public.

**Other Programs**: As a national lead for coastal stewardship, National
Ocean Service promotes a wide range of research activities to create the
strong science foundation required to advance the sustainable use of
precious coastal systems.

Understanding of the coastal environment is enhanced through coastal
ocean activities that support science and resource management programs.
The National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service,
through its Office of Research and Applications, conducts atmospheric,
climatological, and oceanic research into the use of satellite data for
monitoring environmental characteristics and their change. It also
provides guidance for the development and evolution of spacecraft and
sensors to meet future needs.

***[2. Provide a description of the progress of major development
projects including the results with respect to projects completed or
otherwise terminated during the year and the status of projects that
will continue (SFFAS No. 8, par. 99).]{.mark}***

**[FY 2008:]{.mark}**

[]{.mark}

**[NOAA:]{.mark}**

[]{.mark}

[**Scientific collaboration with industry improves management of key
recreational fishery**: In partnership with fishermen in FY 2007 and FY
2008, NOAA Fisheries Service has developed a non-lethal surveying
technique to assess the habitat and stocks of selected rockfish species
in two marine conservation areas recently created in the Southern
California Bight. Because this method involves collaboration with the
fishing industry, the industry is supportive of the results, making
management less contentious. Marine sport fishing in Southern California
is a huge industry, in excess of \$200 million annually, and non-lethal
fish surveying techniques are key to maintaining rockfishes and other
overfished species because they are estimated at or below 25% of their
pristine levels. The new survey method combines the information obtained
from multi-frequency echo sounders mounted on Commercial Passenger
Fishing vessels (CPFV) with images captured by video and still cameras
deployed from a remotely operated vehicle, exploiting the advantages of
each measurement technology. The first 60-day survey of the Southern
California Bight began in FY 2007 and will be completed in FY 2008 using
the NOAA ship David Starr Jordan.]{.mark}

[]{.mark}

[**New technology helps tribes detect harmful toxins in shellfish**: In
the Northwest, the primary harmful algal bloom toxin affecting shellfish
is domoic acid. This toxin is produced by blooms of microscopic algae
known as Pseudo-nitzschia and accumulates in shellfish, crabs and fish.
Tribal and non-tribal communities alike suffer severe economic losses
due to recreational and commercial harvesting closures and lost tourism.
To meet the need for a safe, rapid, cost-effective monitoring tools used
by tribes, local environmental groups and state agencies to monitor
biotoxins in shellfish, NMFS fisheries scientists and collaborators
adapted a medical technology to rapidly test for antibodies for domoic
acid (rapid detection bioassay kits). Development began in 2006 with
testing occurring in 2007 and 2008. Three scientists from NOAA's
National Marine Fisheries Service were recently awarded the 2007 NOAA
Technology Transfer Award for their development and commercialization of
these rapid, cost- effective kits. The technology will help coastal
tribes quickly and accurately determine contamination levels in
shellfish and expedite harvesting decisions for shellfish beds in remote
areas of the Washington coast. As a result, tribes now have the
capability to monitor their subsistence food source for domoic acid
levels within two hours of sampling at a cost of about \$10 per sample.
In comparison, samples sent to the State of Washington Department of
Health for regulatory testing took a minimum of three days and cost
about \$250 per sample.]{.mark}

[]{.mark}

[**NOAA deploys fourth \"smart buoy\" on the Captain John Smith
Chesapeake National Historic Trail**: NOAA\'s Chesapeake Bay Office has
deployed its fourth \"smart buoy\" as part of the Captain John Smith
Chesapeake National Historic Trail---the nation\'s first water-based
National Historic Trail. The Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System
(CBIBS) is an observing system, interpretive trail guide, and
educational resource being developed by NOAA. CBIBS is a system of buoys
placed along portions of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National
Historic Trail and is designed to mark significant points along the
Trail. These state-of-the-art, interactive buoys, provide real-time
meteorological, oceanographic, and water-quality information at
different points along the trail. Following three successful deployments
in 2007, the fourth interpretive buoy was launched in July 2008 near
Deltaville, VA., off Stingray Point. The launch coincided with the 400th
anniversary of Captain John Smith's near death due to a stingray wound
at this location during his explorations of the Chesapeake Bay. Two more
buoys will be launched in 2008, on the Elizatbeth River in Norfolk, VA,
and at the mouth of the Susquehanna near Havre de Grace, MD. The concept
for these \'smart buoys\' grew out of NOAA\'s advancements in Earth
observing systems. NOAA is the lead agency for the U.S. Integrated Ocean
Observing System---a cornerstone of the President\'s U.S. Ocean Action
Plan---and these buoys will be part of the larger Chesapeake Bay
Observing System. These measurements, as well as historical and cultural
information about the Bay, can be accessed over the internet or by
phone.]{.mark}

[]{.mark}

[**NMFS Continues to Develop FishWatch, a seafood consumer guide**:
Seafood consumers in the U.S. increasingly concerned about the
sustainability and quality of seafood, can now turn to a NOAA Fisheries
Service Web site, FishWatch, for the latest information. The Web site,
at http://www.fishwatch.noaa.gov, was launched in August 2007 with
consumer information on 30 popular seafood species. After its launch,
the site quickly became one of the most visited sites on the NOAA
Fisheries web. In February 2008, new species and features were added to
the site, which now provides sustainability and health information and
recipes on over 75 seafood species. The President's Ocean Commission
charged NOAA Fisheries Service with informing the public about the
status of the living marine resources managed by the agency, and
FishWatch is an outgrowth of that initiative. FishWatch provides seafood
consumers with timely information about seafood, such as red snapper.
The Web site includes environmental details on the status of fish
populations, as well as nutritional facts and information on seafood and
health. FishWatch also provides critical trade information, such as
where seafood comes from and how much money it brings to the
economy.]{.mark}

[]{.mark}

[**NOAA Celebrates the International Polar Year With Important Antarctic
Research**: NOAA\'s Antarctic Marine Living Resources (AMLR) Program is
charged with providing the scientific information needed to conserve and
manage the marine living resources in the oceans surrounding Antarctica.
The International Polar Year spans from March 2007 to March 2009 and the
AMLR research team began heading south in October 2006 and worked
through the Antarctic summer. The AMLR research team will repeat the
effort in 2008. The United States is the leading consumer of Antarctic
marine resources, including 80% of the imported Patagonian and Antarctic
toothfish (Chilean sea bass). AMLR data is valuable to the nation's
commitment to the international treaty to preserve the Antarctic as its
21-year long-term data stream can be used to provide a unique historical
perspective to IPY research. AMLR has become a most comprehensive
research program that utilizes land, sea, and space-based platforms to
gather information on the environment and ecology from the northern end
of the Antarctic Peninsula, and through cooperation with our
international partners, relates this to the well being of the Southern
Ocean. The program's mission of tracking the food web relationships
between Antarctic krill and its predators, as well as collecting
environmental data under changing sea ice conditions is critical to
managing these resources wisely. Completing its 21st year of land-based
and ship-based research in the Antarctic, an AMLR-chartered vessel
traveled approximately 3,250 nautical miles, allowing researchers to
document population distribution patterns of finfish and crab species or
place tracking tags on marine mammals to investigate annual survival
rates. From this data, researchers can get an idea of what's occurring
in the animals' environment over long distances and time
periods.]{.mark}

[]{.mark}

**FY 2007:**

**NOAA:**

**NOAA Scientists Discover New Species of Marine Life:** NOAA Fisheries
Service scientists led a team of world-renowned taxonomists in October
2007 on a three-week expedition in the Hawaiian Islands that found
several potentially new species of crabs, corals, sea cucumbers, sea
quirts, worms, sea stars, snails, and clams. From this expedition, well
over 100 new species records will likely be identified for French
Frigate Shoals in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. The
expedition was part of the international Census of Marine Life's Census
of Coral Reef Ecosystems (CReefs), and was the first in a series of
proposed coral reef surveys to take place around the globe, led jointly
by Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of
California--San Diego, Australian Institute of Marine Science, and NOAA.
The goal of the expedition was to conduct biodiversity surveys, with a
focus on small marine organisms (i.e., invertebrates, algae, and
microbes). Over 50 sites were surveyed throughout the atoll using a
variety of ingenious collection methods including baited traps, brushing
of rubble, underwater vacuuming with gentle suction, plankton tows,
light traps, and sediment and water sampling. These methods were
meticulously developed over the course of a year to minimize impact to
the environment.

**NOAA Discovers New Cetacean Sounds Similar to Morse Code**: In 2006,
NOAA Fisheries Service researchers described a new kind of dolphin
communication. The sound consists of repeated patterns of "burst pulses"
of varying lengths. A burst pulse is a series of echo-location clicks
that are so close together that they make a continuous buzzing sound.
The repeated patterns of these clicks are closer to Morse Code than they
are to any previously described type of dolphin call. So far, this type
of sound appears to be made only by northern right whale dolphins. It is
still not clear how the dolphins use this sound, but the sound is likely
to be useful to NOAA researchers in acoustically identifying this
species at sea. Post-cruise analysis on this discovery occurred in
November 2006, and an article describing this discovery was published in
the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America in February 2007.

**Section C: Investment in Human Capital (SFFAS No. 8, par 94)**

***1. Provide a description of the major education and training programs
considered Federal investments in human capital. (SFFAS No. 8, par
94).***

**FY 2008 and FY 2007:**

Human capital investments are expenses, included in the Department's Net
Cost of Operations, for education and training programs that are
intended to increase or maintain national economic productive capacity
and produce outputs and outcomes that provide evidence of the constant
or increasing national productive capacity. These investments exclude
education and training expenses for federal civilian and military
personnel. Based on a review of the Department's programs, the most
significant dollar investments in human capital are by NOAA.

**NOAA:**

**National Sea Grant College Program**: Sea Grant is a nationwide
network, administered through NOAA, of 32 university based programs that
work with coastal communities. With the adoption in 1966 of the National
Sea Grant College Act, Congress established an
academic/industry/government partnership that would enhance the nation's
education, economy, and environment into the 21st century. The program
supports activities designed to increase public awareness of coastal,
ocean, and Great Lakes issues, to provide information to improve
management decisions in coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes policy, and to
train graduate students in marine and Great Lakes science. The Knauss
Fellowship Program offers qualified masters and doctoral students the
opportunity to spend a year working on Marine and Great Lakes policy
issues with the Executive and Legislative branches of the federal
government. There is also a Graduate Fellowship Program for Ph.D.
candidates in the specialized areas of population dynamics and marine
resource economics. Participants in this program can receive up to three
years of funding.

**National Estuarine Research Reserve Program**: This program supports
activities designed to increase public awareness of estuary issues,
provide information to improve management decisions in estuarine areas,
and train graduate students in estuarine science. The National Estuarine
Research Reserve System's Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) Program
offers qualified masters and doctoral students the opportunity to
address scientific questions of local, regional, and national
significance. The result is high-quality research focused on improving
coastal management issues. All GRF projects must be conducted in a
National Estuarine Research Reserve and enhance the scientific
understanding of the reserve's ecosystem. In FY 2007, 52 Graduate
Research Fellowships have been awarded.

**Educational Partnership Program**: The NOAA **Educational Partnership
Program (EPP)** with **Minority Serving Institutions (MSI)** provides
financial assistance through competitive processes to minority serving
institutions that support research and training of students in
NOAA-related sciences. The program's goal is to increase the number of
educated, trained and graduated students from underrepresented
communities in science and technology directly related to NOAA's
mission. EPP/MSI also seeks to increase collaborative research efforts
between NOAA scientists and researchers at minority serving academic
institutions. Financial assistance is provided through four competitive
program components: the Cooperative Science Centers, the Environmental
Entrepreneurship Program, the Graduate Sciences Program, and the
Undergraduate Scholars Program.

NOAA provides funding to eligible MSIs on a competitive basis to
educate, train and graduate students in NOAA sciences, particularly
atmospheric, oceanic, environmental, living marine resources, remote
sensing and scientific environmental technology. The NOAA EPP
Cooperative Science Center goals are to:

-   Educate, train and graduate students, particularly from
    underrepresented communities, in NOAA mission sciences;

-   Develop expertise in a NOAA scientific area;

> • Strengthen and build capacity in a NOAA scientific and management
> area
>
> • Build research experience in a NOAA scientific and management area

-   Increase graduation rates of students from underrepresented
    communities in NOAA mission sciences;

-   Impact NOAA workforce statistics by increasing representation from
    underrepresented communities in NOAA mission sciences;

-   Leverage NOAA funds to build the education and research capacity at
    the MSI.

The EPP/MSI Environmental Entrepreneurship Program (EEP) provides
funding to eligible minority serving institutions on a competitive basis
to engage students to pursue advanced academic study and
entrepreneurship opportunities in the NOAA related sciences. NOAA's EEP
supports student training and experiential learning opportunities for
the purpose of stimulating job-creation, business development, and
revitalizing local communities. EEP's objective is to increase the
number of students at MSIs proficient in environmental business
enterprises.

The Undergraduate Scholarship Program is designed to increase the number
of students who undertake course work and graduate with degrees in the
targeted areas integral to NOAA's mission. Appointments are for two
years, and are made to students who have recently declared or are about
to declare a major in atmospheric, oceanic, or environmental science.
The students participate in research, training, and development
activities at NOAA offices and facilities during two summer internships.
There were 15 students that started the program in FY 2007.

The Graduate Sciences Program (GSP) is aimed primarily at increasing
opportunities for students in NOAA-related fields to pursue research and
educational training in atmospheric, environmental, remote sensing and
oceanic sciences at minority serving institutions (MSI) when possible.
The GSP offers between two years (master's candidates) to four years
(doctoral students) of NOAA-related research and training opportunities.
The GSP provides college graduates entry-level employment and hands-on
research and work experience at NOAA. Currently, seven students were
selected and were participating in the GSP in FY 2007. The program hopes
to add five more students in FY 2008.

**Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Program**: This program
was established in 2005 to (1) increase undergraduate training in
oceanic and atmospheric science, research, technology, and education,
and foster multidisciplinary training opportunities; (2) increase public
understanding and support for stewardship of the ocean and atmosphere
and improve environmental literacy; (3) recruit and prepare students for
public service careers with NOAA and other agencies at the federal,
state, and local levels of government; and (4) recruit and prepare
students for careers as teachers and educators in oceanic and
atmospheric science and to improve scientific and environmental
education in the U.S. There were 110 students starting the program in
2007. The first scholarship recipients are expected to complete the
program in May 2009.

**Section D: Research and Development: Investment in Basic Research
(SFFAS No. 8, par 100)**

***1. Provide a description of the major programs of Federal investments
in basic research. (SFFAS No. 8, par 100).***

**FY 2008 and FY 2007:**

Investments in R&D are expenses that are included in the Department's
Net Cost of Operations. The investments are divided into three
categories: (1) basic research, the systematic study to gain knowledge
or understanding of the fundamental aspects of phenomena and of
observable facts without specific applications toward processes or
products in mind; (2) applied research, the systematic study to gain
knowledge or understanding necessary for determining the means by which
a recognized and specific need may be met; and (3) development, the
systematic use of the knowledge and understanding gained from research
for the production of useful materials, devices, systems, or methods,
including the design and development of prototypes and processes.

The investments are made with the expectation of maintaining or
increasing national economic productive capacity, or yielding other
future economic and societal benefits. Based on a review of the
Department's programs, the only significant investments in

R&D are by NIST and NOAA.

***[2. Provide a description of any major new discoveries made during
the year (SFFAS No. 8, par 99).]{.mark}***

[]{.mark}

**[FY 2008:]{.mark}**

[]{.mark}

[**NOAA**:]{.mark}

[]{.mark}

[**Migratory Behavior of Green Sturgeon Revealed by Acoustic Tagging**:
NMFS scientists have published a paper describing extensive migrations
of green sturgeon through the coastal waters between California and
southeast Alaska. Green sturgeon were tagged with acoustic pingers and
their movements monitored by arrays of hydrophones along the west coast
of North America. The researchers found that many green sturgeon
undertake extensive seasonal migrations, spending summers in southern
areas and winters off British Columbia. This pattern of movement is
quite unusual among migratory animals, which typically overwinter at
lower latitudes and spend summers at higher latitudes. The results
indicate that southern DPS green sturgeon, which are protected under the
Endangered Species Act, may be impacted by activities far from their
spawning river, such as Canadian bottom trawl fisheries.]{.mark}

[]{.mark}

[**Persistent Man-made Chemical Pollutants Found in Deep-Sea Octopods
and Squids**:]{.mark}

[New evidence that chemical contaminants are finding their way into the
deep-sea food web has been found in cephalopods (a class of organisms
that includes octopods, squids, cuttlefishes and nautiluses).
Cephalopods are the primary food for 28 species of odontocetes, the
sub-order of cetaceans that have teeth and include beaked, sperm, killer
and beluga whales and narwhals as well as dolphins and
porpoises.]{.mark}

[]{.mark}

[NOAA researchers in collaboration with others, collected nine species
of cephalopods from depths between 1,000 and 2,000 meters (about 3,300
to 6,600 feet) in 2003 in the western North Atlantic Ocean using a large
mid-water trawl. Twenty-two specimens were analyzed for a variety of
contaminants. Among the chemicals detected were tributyltin (TBT),
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), brominated diphenyl ethers (BDEs), and
dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT), a pesticide banned in the U.S.
in the 1970s but still used on a limited basis in some parts of the
world to control diseases like malaria.  They are known as persistent
organic pollutants (POPs) because they don\'t degrade and they persist
in the environment for a very long time.]{.mark}

[]{.mark}

[Recent studies have reported the accumulation of POPs in the blubber
and tissues of whales and other predatory marine mammals as well as in
some deep-sea fish. Other investigators had speculated that the
pollutants in marine mammals had resulted from feeding on contaminated
squids. However, almost no information existed prior to this study about
POPs in deep-sea cephalopods.]{.mark}

[]{.mark}

[**Ancient Deep Sea Coral Reefs Off Southeastern U.S. Serve as
Underwater "Islands" in the Gulf Stream, Home to Many New Species of
Animals**: Largely unexplored deep-sea coral reefs, some perhaps
hundreds of thousands of years old, off the coast of the southeastern
U.S. are not only larger than expected, but also home to commercially
valuable fish populations and many newly discovered species. Results
from a series of NOAA-funded expeditions to document these previously
unstudied and diverse habitats and their associated marine life have
revealed some surprising results. The coral habitats explored during the
expeditions appear to be more extensive than previously believed and are
important habitat for several species of commercially and recreationally
important fish as well as sponges, crabs, brittle stars and other
creatures. The corals also contain historical data about changing ocean
climate and productivity, and are hotspots of biodiversity. Many
organisms live in and around these deep coral habitats, including
species new to science and species with pharmaceutical
potential.]{.mark}

[]{.mark}

[Additional background information and images from these expeditions can
be found on the NOAA Ocean Explorer web site
(<http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/explorations.html>) under
the "Islands in the Stream\" and the "Life on the Edge"
expeditions.]{.mark}

[]{.mark}

[**NOAA Researchers Find Aquaculture Promising Method to Grow Black Sea
Bass**:]{.mark}

[Black sea bass is an important recreational and commercial fishery
along the Atlantic coast of the US, but landings have decreased in
recent decades as the demand for this fish as seafood and in sushi
markets has risen.  In an attempt to meet that demand, NOAA researchers
recently evaluated the potential of black sea bass for commercial
aquaculture and found promising results.\
\
After two separate culture trials over a period of four years, NOAA
fisheries biologists found that sea bass can be grown from larvae to
adults in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), eating a diet of
commercial pellet feeds. Black sea bass grow slowly in the wild.
According to the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, the largest
black sea bass caught by an angler in Massachusetts\'s waters weighed
eight pounds, and off Florida the record is just over five pounds.  Most
common, however, is a 12-inch fish generally weighing about one pound.
Black sea bass can be grown rapidly in RAS where they can attain weights
in under two years that take wild stocks three years or more to
achieve.]{.mark} 

**Section E: Research and Development: Investment in Applied Research
(SFFAS No. 8, par 100)**

***1. Provide a description of the major programs of Federal investments
in applied research. (SFFAS No. 8, par 100).***

**FY 2008 and FY 2007:**

**NOAA:**

The NOAA conducts a substantial program of environmental R&D in support
of its mission, much of which is performed to improve the U.S.'s
understanding of and ability to predict environmental phenomena. The
scope of research includes:

-   Improving predictions and warnings associated with the weather, on
    time scales ranging from minutes to weeks;

-   Improving predictions of climate, on time scales ranging from months
    to centuries;

-   Improving understanding of natural relationships to better predict
    and manage renewable marine resources and coastal and ocean
    ecosystems.

The NOAA also conducts research that is intended to provide a solid
scientific basis for environmental policy-making in government. Examples
of this research include determining the stratospheric ozone-depleting
potential of proposed substitutes for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and
identifying the causes of the episodic high rural ozone levels that
significantly damage crops and forests.

The NOAA conducts most R&D in-house; however, contractors to NOAA
undertake most systems R&D. External R&D work supported by NOAA includes
that undertaken through federal-academic partnerships such as the
National Sea Grant College

Program, the Cooperative Institutes of the Environmental Research
Laboratories, the Climate and Global Change Program, and the Coastal
Ocean Program.

Here is a brief description of the major R&D programs of NOAA:

**Environmental and Climate**: The Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research is NOAA's primary research and development office. This office
conducts research in three major areas: climate research, weather and
air quality research, and ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes research. The
NOAA's research laboratories, Office of Global Programs, and research
partners conduct a wide range of research into complex climate systems,
including the exploration and investigation of ocean habitats and
resources. The NOAA's research organizations conduct applied research on
the upper and lower atmosphere as well as the space environment.

**Fisheries**: The NOAA's NMFS is responsible for the management and
stewardship of living marine resources and their habitat within the
Nation's Exclusive Economic Zone. The NMFS manages these resources
through science-based conservation and management, and the protection
and restoration of healthy ecosystems to ensure their continuation as
functioning components of ecosystems, while also affording economic
opportunities and enhancing the quality of life for the American public.
Fishery stocks and protected species are surveyed, catch data are
collected, and research is conducted to better understand the variables
affecting the abundance and variety of marine fishes and protected
species. Protection of endangered species, restoration of coastal and
estuarine fishery habitats, and enforcement of fishery regulations are
primary bureau activities.

The research and management of living marine resources is conducted in
partnership with states, universities, other countries, and
international organizations.

**Marine Operations and Maintenance and Aircraft Services:** These
expenditures support NOAA's programs requiring operating days and flight
hours to collect data at sea and in the air. The NOAA's Marine and
Aviation Operations manage a wide variety of specialized aircraft and
ships to complete NOAA's environmental and scientific missions. The
aircraft collect the environmental and geographic data essential to NOAA
hurricane and other weather and atmospheric research, conduct aerial
surveys for hydrologic research to help predict flooding potential from
snowmelt, and provide support to NOAA's fishery research and marine
mammal assessment programs. The NOAA's ship fleet provides oceanographic
and atmospheric research and fisheries research vessels to support
NOAA's strategic plan elements and mission.

**Weather Service:** The National Weather Service conducts applied
research and development, building upon research conducted by NOAA
laboratories and the academic community. Applied meteorological and
hydrological research is integral to providing more timely and accurate
weather, water, and climate services to the public.

**Other Programs**: As a national lead for coastal stewardship, National
Ocean Service promotes a wide range of research activities to create the
strong science foundation required to advance the sustainable use of
precious coastal systems.

Understanding of the coastal environment is enhanced through coastal
ocean activities that support science and resource management programs.
The National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service,
through its Office of Research and Applications, conducts atmospheric,
climatological, and oceanic research into the use of satellite data for
monitoring environmental characteristics and their change. It also
provides guidance for the development and evolution of spacecraft and
sensors to meet future needs.

***[2. Provide a description of any major new applications developed
during the year (SFFAS No. 8, par 99).]{.mark}***

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**[FY 2008:]{.mark}**

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**[NOAA:]{.mark}**

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[**California Commercial Landings Data Recovered**: NMFS completed work
on a California commercial landings database covering landings between
1931 to 2007. Landings from 1931 through 1968 were recovered through the
NESDIS Climate Database. The recovered data, when combined with more
recent landings estimates from the California Cooperative Groundfish
Survey from 1969-2007, forms one of the longest detailed catch records
in the US. The 1931-68 period includes monthly summaries of catches.
These data are now openly available to the public for use in stock
assessments and monitoring of climate effects. NMFS is currently working
with the California Department of Fish and Game to extend the geographic
summary information to more recent years.]{.mark}

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[**Integrated Ecosystem Assessment for Puget Sound and the California
Current:** The Northwest Fisheries Science Center is leading a team of
scientists to conduct a preliminary IEA in Puget Sound in collaboration
with the Puget Sound Partnership. The NOAA approach to IEA is: to
identify ecosystem goals; indicators, and targets to assess the health
of the Sound\'s ecosystem; conduct risk analysis to determine the
current status and key threats; generate alternative management
strategies; and, evaluate the strategies and resulting ecosystem status.
This approach will help decision-makers understand the ecosystem
services most at risk, identify management strategies with the best
chance of producing recovery, and increase public awareness and support
for recovery and management actions to promote a healthy Puget Sound
ecosystem. What we learn from the Puget Sound IEA effort will help guide
development of an IEA for the California Current and provide a
foundation for ecosystem-based management.]{.mark}

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