SGA DOCUMENTS
Transition 2001:
"science serving america's coasts"

    • articles of incorporation
    • sga bylaws
    • science serving america's coasts
    • a vision for success
    • sga awards
    • theme-centered research
    • funding principles
    • position papers

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January 2001

Sea Grant's Unique Role in Government

Sea Grant occupies a unique niche within the Federal science community. Sea Grant’s competitive research ranks with the best the Federal government can support, but the distinguishing feature of Sea Grant is that the science is policy- or mission-relevant and is linked with an outreach network that ensures the research is put to use. The talents of university-based researchers, educators and outreach specialists are all brought to bear on major coastal issues. The flexibility of Sea Grant to adapt resources to attack changing priorities and issues is critical to working in the coastal zone with its constantly evolving issues; it is generally more difficult and expensive for Federal laboratories to make those quick course corrections. While other agencies may focus on more limited aspects of coastal and marine problems (for example EPA concentrates on water quality and habitat, NMFS on fisheries), Sea Grant alone has the broadest of mandates, namely to understand and promote the wise use of all aspects of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources. That is why the original legislation envisioned Sea Grant as a national program that would allow the Federal government to carry out a wide range of activities in the coastal zone, and gave Sea Grant the authority to accept funds from other Federal agencies to support its programs. And, the Sea Grant Programs’ work on coastal and marine issues complements the Nation’s system of Land Grant Colleges and Universities that work on more land-based issues.

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