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The
coastal ocean, which includes our oceans and coasts,
our bays and estuaries, and the Great Lakes, is economically,
politically, and socially critical to the nation. More than half
of the U.S. population lives in coastal counties. Coastal areas
are hubs of commerce, home to many major American corporations,
ports and transportation networks. The coasts are used by millions
of Americans annually for recreation and support a surging tourist
trade. Coastal waters are rich in living and nonliving marine
resources that sustain prosperity and economic growth nationwide.
A healthy, vibrant coast means vigorous and growing economic opportunities.
NOAA promotes sustainable economic development, jobs and prosperity
along the Nation's coasts through:
- Building
partnerships with state and local governments to revitalize
urban waterfronts and develop innovative, cost-effective coastal zone management
plans that balance competing demands for recreation, tourism,
development, commercial growth, environmental protection, transportation
and fisheries;
- Managing
a network of 13 National Marine
Sanctuaries that spur tourism and new economic opportunities,
while protecting invaluable natural and cultural resources,
such as the coral reefs and shipwrecks found off the Florida
Keys;
- Working
to protect coastal communities from the occurrence of disastrous
oil and hazardous
material spills and limiting the effects of spills on coastal
resources, such as shell fisheries and beaches, that are vital
to local economies;
- Maintaining
a national network of monitoring programs that detect, quantify
and forecast changes in coastal environmental quality; and,
- Maintaining
a national network of monitoring programs that detect, quantify
and forecast changes in coastal environmental quality.
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Marine Protected Areas — may
include national marine sanctuaries, fisheries management zones,
national seashores, national parks, national monuments, critical
habitats, national wildlife refuges, national estuarine research
reserves, state conservation areas, state reserves, and many
others. MPAs have different shapes, sizes, and management characteristics,
and have been established for different purposes. |
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Volunteering
for the Coast - for anyone interested in environmental
stewardship through personal actions. The information provided
on this site is for individuals looking for volunteer opportunities,
coordinating volunteer efforts, or seeking ways to build successful
volunteer programs. |
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Coastal
Hazards |
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Oil
Spills |
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Coastal
Services Center - supports the
environmental, social, and economic well being of the coast
by linking people, information, and technology.
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NOAA
CoastWatch Great Lakes Program
- NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab obtains, produces,
and delivers environmental data and products for near real-time
monitoring of the Great Lakes to support environmental science,
decision making, and supporting research. This is achieved by
providing access to near real-time and retrospective satellite
observations.
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The Marine
Geology & Geophysics Division of the NOAA National
Geophysical Data Center and the collocated World Data Center
for Marine Geology & Geophysics, in Boulder, Colo., compiles
and maintains extensive bathymetric, marine sediment, and trackline
geophysical databases in both coastal and open ocean areas.
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Coast
Survey - a component of the National Ocean Service
with a long history as the oldest scientific organization in
the United States, having its foundation as far back as 1807.
Today the Office of Coast Survey is known for the useful and
necessary navigational products which are required for the safe
and efficient maritime commerce in and out of our Nation's ports.
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Coastal
Zone Management - is a unique federal-state partnership
that provides a proven basis for protecting, restoring, and
responsibly developing the nation's important and diverse coastal
communities and resources.
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Estuarine
Reserve Research - The National Estuarine Research
Reserve System protects and studies estuarine areas through
a network of 25 reserves. We hope you will use this Web site
to learn more about the importance of estuaries, our national
programs, reserves in your state, and critical issues, such
as polluted runoff, restoration science, invasive species and
environmental stewardship. |
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Great
Lakes Environmental Research Lab - The Great Lakes
Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) conducts high-quality
research and provides scientific leadership on important issues
in both Great Lakes and marine coastal environments leading
to new knowledge, tools, approaches, awareness and services.
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Integrated
Coastal Management - a cooperative undertaking
among the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UNESCO,
the National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, the Center for the Study of Marine Policy (University
of Delaware), the World Bank, and the UNEP Global Programme
of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from
Land-based Activities in conjunction with a number of other
partners around the world. |
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National
Centers for Coastal Ocean Science - The National
Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) conducts and supports
research, monitoring, assessment, and technical assistance to
people managing coastal ecosystems and society's use of them.
Formed within the National Ocean Service in March 1999, it puts
all NOAA's coastal research centers in one group. Each Center
has specific capabilities and research expertise in important
ocean and coastal issues.
- The
Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research
- The Center for
Coastal Monitoring and Assessment
- The Center for
Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research
- The Center for Coastal
Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research
- The Hollings
Marine Laboratory
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Ocean
Prediction Center - issues marine warnings, forecasts,
and guidance in text and graphical format for maritime users.
Also, the OPC quality controls marine observations globally
from ship, buoy, and automated marine observations for gross
errors prior to being assimilated into computer model guidance.
The Ocean Prediction Center also provides forecast points in
coordination with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) for Tropical
Cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean E of 65W.
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Ocean
and Coastal Resource Management - administers the
Coastal Zone Management Act and a leader on the Nation's coastal,
estuarine and ocean management issues.
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Sea
Grant - network of Sea Grant Colleges and research
institutions. Headquartered at many of the nation's premier
universities, Sea Grant programs are located in coastal and
Great Lake states, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. A national network
of 30 Sea Grant Colleges and institutional programs shares research,
outreach and education to solve old problems and explore new
uses for the world's marine, Great Lakes and coastal resources.
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