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

Executive Summary

The National Sea Grant College Program is a dynamic, national network of 30 university-based programs located in all the coastal and Great Lakes states and Puerto Rico. Over 200 institutions and more than 3,000 scientists, engineers, educators, students, and outreach experts participate in the Program each year. Sea Grant’s mission is to enhance the practical use and conservation of coastal, marine and Great Lakes resources to create a sustainable economy and environment. The distinguishing feature of Sea Grant is that its scientific research is policy- and mission-relevant and is linked with an outreach network that ensures the research is put to use. As the National Research Council (NRC) pointed out in 1994, Sea Grant has been virtually the only source of funding in the U.S. for marine policy research and a major contributor to the fields of marine aquaculture, coastal and estuarine research, marine fisheries management, seafood safety, marine biotechnology, marine engineering and coastal technology development.

Of the numerous challenges and opportunities facing America’s coasts, three are particularly compelling and have been selected for increased attention by Sea Grant over the next five years:

• Promoting Sustainable Coastal Community Development
• Using and Conserving Coastal and Marine Resources
• Creating Value through Marine Biotechnology

Sea Grant’s ability to contribute to NOAA’s mission is made difficult for two reasons. As stated by the NRC, “Sea Grant is not properly positioned within NOAA to fulfill the objective of the National Sea Grant College Program Act or to contribute in efficient and effective ways to NOAA’s missions. Sea Grant’s location within a Line Office focused on research inhibits Sea Grant’s non-research activities and makes it difficult for the program to function across Line Office boundaries.” And both the Heritage Foundation in 1981 and the NRC identified the same problem: continued underfunding. As a result, Sea Grant lacks the capacity it should have to assist in setting NOAA priorities, function across line offices, and better serve the agency in the emerging need to improve its engagement of constituents and the public.

There is considerable justification to recommend that:

1) Sea Grant should become the primary university-based research, education, training and technical assistance program in support of coastal, marine, and Great Lakes resource use, management and conservation within NOAA, and be positioned within the Agency’s organizational structure so as to most effectively contribute to NOAA’s mission.

2) Appropriations to support the Sea Grant Program should increase substantially over the next five years to respond to major coastal challenges, needs and opportunities.

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