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The U.S. government is closed. This site will not be updated; however, NOAA websites and social media channels necessary to protect lives and property will be maintained. To learn more, visit commerce.gov.
For the latest forecasts and critical weather information, visit weather.gov.
The Great Lakes, the largest surface freshwater resource in the world, has long been recognized for its valuable natural resources and services vital to the wellbeing of our nation. In 2012 a probabilistic sampling component was included under an expanded version of NOAA’s National Status and Trends/Mussel Watch Program in the Great Lakes as a … Read more
Pollution in the marine environment has the potential to negatively impact ecosystem health, including adverse effects on fisheries species. This can occur through direct impacts, food web effects and habitat degradation. Vieques is an island municipality of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, located 11 km off the east coast of the main island. In addition … Read more
This report presents a framework and provides findings from a community vulnerability assessment analysis conducted in the Choptank Habitat Focus Area (HFA) within the Chesapeake Bay. Due to the strong connectivity between Chesapeake Bay communities and their environment, the risks associated with flooding, coastal storms, and sea level rise are heightened, thus requiring integrated science … Read more
The Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) is a comprehensive, standard terminology published in 2014. The standard is intended to unify habitat classification efforts, in order to allow for broader integration and comparison of data. The standard is well-developed, and has been implemented in some regions, but CMECS not been tested extensively in the … Read more
Saipan Lagoon plays a crucial role in the economy, tourism, and culture of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). Understanding the spatial distribution and extent of Lagoon habitats is needed for planning sustainable economic development, evaluating zoning scenarios, minimizing user conflicts, ensuring public safety, and preventing environmental degradation in the Lagoon. To meet … Read more
In 2009, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) launched the Deep-Sea Coral Research and Technology Program (DSCRTP) following the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The goal of the DSCRTP is to provide scientific information needed to manage, conserve and protect deep-sea coral and sponge ecosystems throughout the United States (NOAA … Read more
The Guana Tolomato Matanzas reserve is one of 28 National Estuarine Research Reserves (GTMNERR) encompassing approximately 73,300 acres of salt marsh and mangrove tidal wetlands, oyster bars, estuarine lagoons, upland areas, and offshore ocean waters along the northeastern coast of Florida in St. Johns and Flagler Counties (Figure 1). The reserve consists of a northern … Read more
This report presents long-term seasonal distribution maps of selected seabird, pinniped and cetacean species off the Pacific coast of Washington. The maps were created to support state-led marine spatial planning and responsible stewardship of natural resources by the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. They are intended to distinguish persistent areas of high relative density from … Read more
The primary purpose of this document is to provide local and federal partners with baseline information and survey methods to allow for continued monitoring efforts to evaluate the effectiveness of management actions taken at the Samoa Maritime quarry in Faga’alu, American Samoa. This document summarizes work completed between 2012 and 2014, and was coordinated and … Read more
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Deep-Sea Coral Research and Technology Program (DSCRTP) was launched in 2009, following the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). The goal is to provide scientific information needed to conserve and manage deep-sea coral ecosystems in the United States (NOAA 2008; Hourigan 2009). The Program … Read more