1: Coastal and Ocean Resources

Protect, Restore, and Manage the Use of Coastal and Ocean Resources Through an Ecosystem Approach to Management

Other Information:

Coastal areas are among the most developed in the Nation. More than half the population lives on less than one-fifth of the land in the contiguous United States. Coastal counties, including those along the Great Lakes, are growing three times faster than counties elsewhere, adding more than 3,600people a day to their populations. Coastal and marine waters support over28 million jobs and provide a tourism destination for 180 million Americans a year. The value of the ocean economy to the United States is over $115billion. The amount added annually to the national economy by the commercial and recreational fishing industry alone is over $48 billion, with an additional $6 billion in direct and indirect economic impacts from aquaculture. With its Exclusive Economic Zone of 3.4 million square miles, the United States manages the largest marine territory of any nation in the world. NOAA has a unique mandate from Congress to be a lead federal agency in protecting, managing, and restoring these marine resources. To meet this mandate, our scientists, specialists, and external partners contribute world class expertise in oceanography, marine ecology, marine archeology, fisheries management, conservation biology, natural resource management, and risk assessment. To achieve balance among ecological, environmental, and social influences, we have adopted an ecosystem approach to management. We recognize the transition to an ecosystem approach must be incremental and collaborative. In pursuing this approach, we strive to integrate the concerns, priorities, and expertise of all citizens and sectors in the management of coastal and marine resources. NOAA’s goal to conserve, protect, manage, and restore living marine resources and coastal and ocean resources is critical to the health of the U.S. economy. Increased public knowledge of ecosystems and the principles of sustainable development, and the active involvement of the public as stewards for coastal and marine ecosystem issues in their communities, are critical components of this mission. Developed countries such as the United States have a responsibility for stewardship of the marine ecosystem and for setting standards to protect and manage the shared resources and harvests of the oceans. Believing that it is possible to balance sustainable economic development and healthy functioning marine ecosystems, we seek to provide an example for the rest of the world in comprehensively managing resources of the world’s oceans and coasts.

Objective(s):

1: Fish Stocks

2: Protected Species

3: Coastal and Marine Ecosystems

4: Invasive Species

5: Habitat

6: Public Awareness and Stewardship

7: Community Planning and Management

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