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| The Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research
- Coastal Ocean Program (CSCOR/COP) is an important federal-academic partnership
providing predictive capabilities for managing coastal ecosystems. CSCOR/COP seeks
to deliver the highest quality science in time for important coastal policy decisions
by supporting high-priority research and interagency initiatives related to NOAA's
mission in three goal areas: |
Coastal Fisheries Ecosystems
CSCOR/COP supports the conservation and management of living marine resources
by improving ecological and oceanographic predictions for fisheries management.
Studies focus on: 1) identifying critical processes that control replenishment
of fishery resources; 2) determining mechanisms that allow fishery populations
to withstand stress from fishing; and 3) quantifying species interactions so
models can be used in management decisions. Current efforts support fisheries
management councils dealing with Bering Sea pollock, cod and haddock on Georges
Bank, and salmon in the Pacific Northwest.
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Cumulative Coastal Impacts
CSCOR/COP improves the scientific basis for managing coastal ecosystems through
a series of regional watershed projects on the causes and impacts of multiple
stresses on coastal land and marine ecosystems. Studies focus on: 1) developing
indicators of physical, chemical, and biological stress; 2) predicting impacts
of multiple stresses on living marine resources; 3) valuing natural resources
in ecological and economical terms; and 4) predicting the outcomes of management
strategies. Current efforts support coastal and natural resource managers dealing
with multiple stressors in the Chesapeake Bay, Florida Bay and the Florida Keys,
the Great Lakes; Coral Reef Ecosystems in the Caribbean and Micronesia; and
southeast Atlantic coastal ecosystems.
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Harmful Algal Blooms/Eutrophication
CSCOR/COP is assessing the impacts of harmful algal blooms (HABs)
and eutrophication on coastal ecosystems and habitats by leading a national
interagency research program on the ecology and oceanography of HABs, coordinating
a national HAB research and monitoring strategy, and developing new technologies
for assessing and monitoring habitat degradation. Studies focus on: 1) developing
the means to forecast HAB development, persistence, and toxicity; 2) developing
HAB prevention, control, and mitigation strategies; and 3) conducting a scientific
assessment of the causes and consequences of Gulf of Mexico hypoxia.
Benefits of CSCOR/COP
Continued population pressures on the Nation's coastal areas
and ongoing changes in the environment will continue to stress our coastal
waters, bays and estuaries, and the Great Lakes. While the need for data and
information to address today's problems is pressing, CSCOR/COP has also set
its sights on developing information for longer-range management and policy
decisions at larger and more complex scales than are traditional. CSCOR/COP
has done this in the belief that research helps solve today's problems, and,
hopefully helps prevent those of tomorrow. CSCOR/COP research will help the
U.S. respond to the major challenges of the next century and balance the needs
of economic growth with those of conserving the environment by:
- developing ecosystem-level scientific projects that are multi-disciplinary,
long in duration, and evaluate the impact of multiple stressors on ecological
functions
- providing predictive information to resource managers that will help
conserve and restore important marine resources
- fostering HAB event response to safeguard public health, local economies,
and coastal habitats
- transitioning successful research to NOAA operations
Last Updated:
October 31, 2002
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