UAF, with its Sea Grant College Program, Marine Advisory Program, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, and Seward Marine Center, provided judges, logistics, organization and funding support. The Alaska SeaLife Center and the Seward High School donated the use of their facilities. Awards made to the science departments of Anchorage East and Dimond High Schools were donated by the faculty, staff and students of UAF's School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. MAP and KAKM 7 folks video taped the entire event, so that it could be broadcast at a later date throughout the state on PBS stations. About 50 Seward and science community volunteers made it all happen.
Teams consist of four students plus one alternate and a coach.
Each match has a maximum of 25 toss-up questions and an equal number of bonus questions. Students must develop a research document on a specific ocean-related question or problem. For NOSB 2000, the research project requires students to discuss the future of salmon populations and fisheries in Alaska, and to prepare a long-term management plan for the salmon resources closest to their school, considering both scientific and socioeconomic factors. The students must also give an oral presentation on their project. The written and oral presentations each count for half of the 50 percent total.