Ocean Priorities
Click here to view a PDF copy of the 2008 Ocean Priorities brochure DISCOVERY • UNDERSTANDING • ACTION The Consortium for Ocean Leadership is a new organization formed by the merging of the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education (CORE) and the Joint Oceanographic Institutions (JOI). Ocean Leadership is a Ocean Leadership will work with the 110th Congress, the administration and the ocean community throughout 2008 to address the following priorities in the areas of ocean science, ocean infrastructure and ocean education. Why is the Ocean Important? • The ocean covers 71 percent of the Earth’s surface. • The ocean contains 97 percent of the planet’s water. • The ocean provides 99 percent of the Earth’s habitat. • The ocean drives our weather and climate through the global transfer of heat and water. • Ocean organisms generate much of the oxygen we breathe. • The ocean contains the sedimentary archive of past planetary change. • The • More than 50 percent of the • The ocean supports a $60 billion annual seafood industry and a $20 billion recreational fishery industry. • The majority of the Nation’s commerce travels through • The ocean contains approximately $8 trillion in oil and gas reserves. • The Ocean Priorities Ocean Science Ocean Leadership believes that peer-reviewed, competitive research grants are the best means of ensuring scientific quality. The majority of competitive federal ocean research is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The Bush administration’s “Ocean Research Priorities Plan” is the first national effort to identify marine research priorities. Ocean Leadership supports the plan that provides a framework for research for the coming decade, as it wisely focuses on understanding interactions between society and the ocean. Understanding and Mitigating Climate Change The ocean plays a fundamental role in governing climate by storing and distributing heat and carbon. The ocean and its coastal zones are early victims of climate change through warming waters and ocean acidification, as well as the alteration of ocean currents, salinity and sea level. The challenge is to accurately assess the ocean’s past and present state, processes that influence the climate and to improve predictions of future climate change. Ocean Leadership is: • supporting competitive climate change research programs to understand the ocean’s role and to investigate the impacts of climate change on the ocean and living marine resources, and to develop mitigation options; • facilitating the collection and integration of historical ocean data derived from the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program with realtime ocean observations from sea and space to develop better climate models; and • promoting legislation to examine the acidification of the ocean and establish a more effective interagency climate change research program. Supporting Exploration of the Ocean The ocean remains a vast, relatively unexplored realm with the capacity to directly impact the safety, health and welfare of society. Exploration is where science begins. Scientists have discovered new ecological communities in the deep ocean with unique biochemical systems, which may provide insights to the origins of life on Earth. The vast biodiversity in the ocean also provides human benefits such as pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, molecular probes and nutrients. Ocean Leadership is: • advancing ocean observing systems that collect and share real-time and long-term data streams needed to understand the biological, chemical, geological and physical oceanic dynamics and processes; • supporting publicly and privately sponsored programs that investigate new species and unexplored ocean environments, including the deep biosphere found along seafloor volcanic ridges, the • advocating enactment of authorizing legislation and increased appropriations for exploration and research programs. Enhancing Human Health The ocean is a source of both health hazards and bioproducts that promote human health. Marine animals and plants produce a vast array of chemical, bacterial and viral compounds that can cause human illnesses or may be the source of pharmaceuticals to prevent and treat human disease. Ocean Leadership is: • elevating federal programs to increase resilience to natural hazards, investigate the causes of health hazards and mitigate illnesses from contaminated seafood, polluted waters, diseasecausing microbes and harmful algal blooms; • expanding federal support for exploration of new habitats using innovative biochemical and genomic techniques to identify, prevent and treat disease; and • encouraging inter-agency cooperation to better understand the connections between the ocean and human health. Improving Ecosystem Health Marine ecosystems are extremely diverse, ranging in both latitude (polar regions to the tropics) and depth (shallow coastal waters to the deep ocean). Resource managers must consider human activities, benefits and impacts within a broad biological and physical environment. Interdisciplinary research can provide the information needed to balance competing uses of the marine environment. For instance, we need to know how sound affects marine mammals so that sonar can be used safely. Ocean Leadership is: • advancing research on pollution, hypoxia, coral reef degradation and fishing impacts to improve ecological management; • incorporating biological parameters into ocean observing systems to advance marine stewardship; and • drafting legislation to establish a federal marine mammal research program to foster better regulation of interactions with marine mammals. Ocean Infrastructure Gaining access to information about the ocean has always been the fundamental hurdle for oceanography. In addition to vessels, observatories and satellites, federal agencies also provide important support for land-based laboratories, instrumentation, computing and cyber infrastructure, and cuttingedge infrastructure such as genomics, robotics and nanotechnology. The cost of building, operating and maintaining ocean research infrastructure has grown substantially to the point where the ocean science community must address the various infrastructure needs and set priorities to help guide federal investment. Ocean Observing Systems An integrated ocean observing system is needed to acquire, analyze, store, integrate, transform and deliver information about theocean to resource managers, government agencies, researchers, educators and the public. Furthermore, continuous time-series measurements are vital to understand long-term trends and cyclic changes in the ocean and global climate. Ocean Leadership is: • advancing the development of an Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) through the passage of authorizing legislation and appropriations for an IOOS; and • supporting NSF’s Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) that will develop and install transformational technologies to deliver realtime ocean data to researchers, laboratories and classrooms. Access to the Sea The success of open ocean and coastal research depends on the ability to access data directly from the ocean. Data from research vessels, buoys, floats and drilling platforms has been augmented by the creation of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and new airborne systems. Despite these technologies, there are still enhancements needed to improve access to the sea. Ocean Leadership is: • guiding the development of a strategy to yield a more capable fleet for the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS), while also ensuring that NSF and the U.S. Navy fulfill their commitments to build three regional and two ocean-class vessels. UNOLS manages an aging fleet in desperate need of new construction, operations and maintenance funds; • advocating for the development of new sensors to expand our ability to measure biological, chemical and genomic properties and map ocean habitats. These new sensors would capitalize on the potential to further survey and study the marine environment; and • promoting the full use of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program’s capabilities to extend the known limits of the deep biosphere, delineate the Earth’s structure and processes, provide historical climate data to improve predictive models and understand the processes that generate natural hazards. Remote Sensing Satellites observe the ocean continually on a global scale. The National Research Council’s (NRC) report titled Earth Science and Applications from Space: National Imperatives for the Next Decade and Beyond, found that “the extraordinary • ocean color data from space — essential for detecting and predicting changes in ecosystem productivity and the impacts of ocean acidification; • sea-surface wind information — vital for understanding the exchange of heat between the atmosphere and the ocean, atmospheric dynamics (including hurricanes) and the physics and biology of the ocean; • year-round sea surface temperature — reveals important information for understanding ocean circulation, climate and the heat exchange between the ocean and atmosphere; and • ocean surface topography/altimetry data — needed to quantify how water moves through the ocean and how energy is exchanged between the ocean and the atmosphere. Ocean Education Expanding ocean education opportunities for students and the public is essential for the development of sound ocean policy, management and a diverse workforce capable of meeting the increasing demands of a technology-driven economy. The ocean community also needs to share ocean science materials of interest to the public through the aquaria, museums, science centers, zoos and other informal education centers that reach 142 million visitors each year. Ocean Literacy To cultivate responsible ocean stewards that make informed decisions and to promote policies that protect the health of the oceans and coasts, public outreach efforts are needed to foster a greater awareness and appreciation of the ways that the ocean affects our lives. Ocean Leadership is: • supporting ocean education programs, including the National • coordinating the development of ocean-related materials for incorporation into K-12 curricula with national science education efforts; and • integrating real-time ocean observing data and information products into K-12 classrooms and informal learning centers. Workforce Development Ocean research is a fertile training ground for cultivating future scientists and promoting fundamental math and science skills that enhance • advocating for the expansion of undergraduate experiential marine learning opportunities through summer internships; • promoting fellowships and traineeships at the graduate and post-doctorate levels; and • supporting efforts to recruit and retain students and increase participation of underrepresented and underserved groups in the ocean-related workforce.
Click here to view the 2007 Oceans 11 Priorities Brochure. 2007 Priorities Oceans 11 CORE will work with the 110th Congress and the Administration throughout 2007 to address the following 11 priorities. A full description of these priorities is here. What is CORE? The Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education (CORE) is the leading Washington, DC-based non-profit association representing public and private ocean research and education institutions, aquaria and industry. Since 1994, CORE has played a leadership role in advancing oceanographic research and working to develop sound marine science policy. CORE is the respected voice of the ocean community and is dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the oceans among government agencies, non-governmental organizations and the general public. Why Is Ocean Research Important?
Advocacy Principles for Research Funding CORE’s activities are guided by overarching principles that provide consistency in the development and implementation of new policies. In these principles CORE believes that:
Ocean Agencies Ocean-related research and education programs are distributed among 15 federal agencies, with significant financial support provided to state, academic, and private industry through the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Navy, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Stronger partnerships with state, academic, and industry stakeholders, and improved interagency collaboration –facilitated by National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) and the White House Committee on Ocean Policy, are essential for understanding and managing our oceans, coasts, and CORE will work to ensure that these ocean agencies have sufficient resources to support competitive research, infrastructure and educational activities necessary to protect our nation’s marine resources, economic future, national security and quality of life. United States Navy National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Science Foundation National Aeronautics and Space Administration Department of Energy Environmental Protection Agency United States Coast Guard Department of Homeland Security Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Minerals Management Service Office of Science and Technology Policy Office of Management and Budget Department of State National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Promote Ocean Literacy and Workforce Development To make informed personal decisions and promote public policies that protect the health of the oceans and coasts, public outreach efforts through formal (classrooms) and informal (aquariums) education venues are needed to foster greater awareness and appreciation of the many ways that the oceans affect everyday life. CORE is: · working to integrate ocean and coastal science research into state and federal education standards and science textbooks; · promoting the use of real-time oceanographic data via coastal and ocean observing systems in classrooms, museums, aquariums and learning centers; and · supporting federal ocean science education programs at the various NOPP agencies, including Sea Grant, the Support Currently, there are several bipartisan initiatives to boost · supporting the various bipartisan innovation proposals that would double the NSF budget; and · working to include the Department of Defense, NOAA, and NASA’s earth science research programs in competitiveness initiatives. Endorse the Implementation of the Near-Term Priorities of the ORPP The Ocean Research Priorities Plan (ORPP) intends to chart the research priorities for the next decade. The ORPP must establish a strategy to prioritize oceanographic research to better protect, conserve and manage our marine resources. CORE is: · undertaking a review of the ORPP’s near-term priorities and the National Research Council’s review of those priorities; · aligning the academic community’s research priorities with the ORPP’s near-term priorities; and · identifying key research projects that the academic community should undertake to make progress on these priorities. Promote Ocean Observing Systems Sustained ocean observing systems are essential to understanding our oceans and gathering the data necessary to help manage and conserve our ocean resources. Ocean Observing is a key component of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy (USCOP) report, ‘An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century,’ the U.S. Ocean Action Plan, and the Ocean Research Priorities Plan. CORE is: · working to secure authorizing legislation in the 110th Congress for a national Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS); · supporting NSF’s Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) that will install transformational technologies in ocean observatories; and · encouraging NOAA and NASA to develop new technologies to extend the range of satellite-based ocean measurements for observing the coastal ocean. Increase Understanding of Climate Change Oceans are vital to the Earth’s climate system, yet our understanding of their physical, chemical, biological and geological processes remain poorly understood and inadequately represented in climate modeling efforts. The impacts from climate change are also being demonstrated in our oceans including intensified hurricanes and acidification of ocean waters that is threatening the lowest levels of the marine food chain. CORE is: · supporting increased funding for understanding the ocean’s role in climate and investigating the impacts on the oceans from a rapidly changing climate; · working to advance the establishment of an Integrate Ocean Observing System as part of the broader Global Ocean Observing System of Systems; and · promoting NOAA’s role as the lead federal agency for climate research and NASA’s Earth Science Programs. Advance The oceans can benefit human health through marine-derived pharmaceuticals and bioactive agents. However, the oceans can also pose threats to public health including dangers posed by hurricanes, tsunamis, marine toxins and pathogens. CORE is: · working to achieve stable funding for NOAA’s Oceans and Human Health Initiative; · supporting the expansion of NSF and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences’ extramural research centers on oceans and human health; and · promoting the integration of oceans and human health into the National Institutes for Health (NIH) Roadmap for Biomedical Research to better coordinate and expand research opportunities at more NIH institutes. Support the The oceans are the most under-explored frontier on the planet, yet hold great potential to directly impact the safety, health and welfare of humans. CORE is: · supporting enactment of legislation authorizing a National Ocean Exploration Program that merges NOAA’s Ocean Exploration and National Undersea Research Programs; · identifying appropriate representatives for the Ocean Exploration advisory council; and · encouraging Congress and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to enhance funding for a national ocean exploration program. Implement a NOAA Organic Act NOAA was established in 1970 by a Presidential reorganization that merged the national weather bureau, fisheries bureau and coastal survey. Unfortunately, the lack of statutory authority has hampered NOAA’s ability to reorganize and improve NOAA’s capacity to fulfill its multidisciplinary missions. CORE is: · working to secure passage of legislation that would formally establish NOAA as the nation’s lead civilian ocean agency; and · supporting legislation that clarifies and codifies the functions and responsibilities of NOAA and strengthens science at the agency. Develop UNOLS Fleet Renewal and Operations Successful ocean and coastal management depends on the availability of modern ships and sufficient resources to maintain and operate those vessels. Nearly all of the midsized vessels in the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) fleet will require replacement within the next decade. Access to the Polar Regions for · supporting the appropriation of adequate funds for the construction of new research vessels and adequate funds for the maintenance and operation of the UNOLS fleet; · encouraging the development of the Interagency Working Group on Facilities (IWG-F) fleet renewal plan as a means to determine the size and capability of our fleet; and · promoting an equitable balance between the construction of vessels, operations and maintenance of those vessels, and the cost of doing science on board. Resolve Issues on Marine Mammals and Ocean Sound Over the past decade, the potential impact of ocean noise on marine mammals has become an issue of growing concern for the public, scientific and maritime communities, and federal agencies. Of particular concern is the increasing disruption that these concerns and lawsuits are creating for important scientific research programs. CORE is · working with the federal agencies to develop a research plan to investigate the impact of sound on marine mammals, such as sonars in Naval exercises; · identifying needed changes to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), such as the creation of a National Research Program; · urging finalization of the acoustic criteria that will help regulate takes associated with sound sources, applying for scientific research and incidental take permits; and · working with NOAA Fisheries to improve the scientific permitting and the incidental harassment authorization process. Support Ecosystem–Based Ocean and Coastal Management The USCOP report makes the case that the health of our oceans and their resources are in decline and that a new era of integrated, ecosystem-based management must be science-based and adaptive. The requirements of ecosystem-based management, as articulated by the USCOP, have never been fully met, even on a local scale, much less on regional and national scales. CORE is: · identifying scientific programs the will further ecosystem-based management within the Ocean Research Priorities Plan; · working to develop and secure the passage of provisions in ocean bills that create a marine ecosystem research program and promote ecosystem-based management; and · supporting the Census of Marine Life’s efforts to conduct a 2007 workshop that continues the theme of “managing for biodiversity.” | 1201 New York Ave NW | |
