Statewide collaboration among these regional entities should foster broad sharing of information and increase the accessibility of information. Creation and maintenance of a common database and an information clearinghouse for use by resource managers, resource users, the public and scientists should be a high priority. This is, in essence, a recommendation to revitalize the earlier concept of the North Pacific Research Board to oversee a funding stream from the income on the Dinkum Sands settlement money. This opportunity to capture a reliable funding stream for long-term research is too great to let slip through our grasp. So there is a big bright spot in spite of the budget constraints we are seeing until there is a plan in place for balancing the budget.
Good science is absolutely critical to good management of our resources for future generations.