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The National Marine Sanctuary Program–National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Long–term Agreement (NMSP–NCCOS LTA)

RESEARCH FOCUS: The following three categories of research are currently the primary focus of the partnership with sanctuaries:

Characterization
Within five years (2008), NMSP and NCCOS want descriptions of all sanctuaries’ resources for the future detection of diver among a school of snappersignificant changes. In some cases, characterization of selected resources will allow hypotheses to be tested regarding the source of those changes and to determine whether sanctuary goals are being met.

Monitoring
Within five years, all sanctuaries will have monitoring programs that can detect change in the status of selected resources, in certain cases at a scale that provides the basis for testing hypotheses and predicting consequences of those changes to sanctuary ecosystems under both management action and inaction. Application of forecasting techniques and technology that utilize this monitoring information will be emphasized.

Anticipatory Science
A limited, but consistent effort will be made to develop and test new technologies and techniques for monitoring the health of marine systems.

LTA–Funded Research Project Summaries
Characterize sanctuary waters: Cordell Bank, Gulf of the Farallones, and Monterey Bay
Protect critical and sensitive habitats: Olympic Coast
Characterize resources through biogeographic assessments: Cordell Bank, Gulf of the Farallones, and Monterey Bay
 Evaluate boundary expansion proposals: Channel Islands
Effectively manage fisheries: Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Reserve
 Characterize resources through biogeographic assessments: Stellwagen Bank
Effectively manage resources: Gray’s Reef
 Characterize resource to improve management: Gray's Reef
Evaluate no-take effects in reserve: Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas
 Protect critical and sensitive habitats: Florida Keys

In addition, special projects will be considered. Projects may arise that demand immediate attention or hold great promise for solving specific sanctuary issues. These scientific needs will be addressed on a case by case basis.

Use the NCCOS Project Explorer (opens in a new window) to explore all research projects involving the sanctuaries.

For more information, contact the Program Coordinator, Patricia Hay (Patricia.Hay@noaa.gov) or the Program Managers, Dr. Mark Fonseca (NCCOS) and Steve Gittings (NMSP) (Mark.Fonseca@noaa.gov, Steve.Gittings@noaa.gov).

Related Documents and Links

NCCOS Centers' National Marine Sanctuary sites