The States of Connecticut and New York invited two NOAA program offices to discuss sea-floor mapping of Long Island Sound on January 11-12, 2011. Long Island Sound is a critical waterway for trade and commerce, including vessels carrying large amounts of oil and other petroleum products.

NOAA's Office of Coast Survey (OCS) and National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) are helping state authorities manage the trade-offs between protecting, conserving, and enjoying marine resources while accommodating the needs of transportation and economic growth. NOAA will help the states determine what types of maps and other products will best meet local needs. Representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will also attend.

OCS has been working to update Long Island Sound bathymetry since the late 1990s. NCCOS is expert in mapping bottom (benthic) habitats throughout the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Pacific. They both lent expertise to plan these mapping missions that will ultimately provide data and maps for decisionmakers interested in projects that will benefit economic development.