Among other things, the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) addresses concerns about development and population pressure on our nation’s coasts. Shown above is an aerial view of a wind farm near the New Jersey shoreline.

The Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) provides national leadership, strategic direction, and guidance to state and territory coastal programs and estuarine research reserves.  OCRM also contributes to the global community through its work with coral reefs and marine protected areas.

OCRM works with state and territory coastal resource managers in a variety of ways:

• providing national leadership and strategic direction to address coastal resource issues

• offering guidance to state and territory coastal pro­grams and estuarine research reserves

• working with state and territory managers to develop a scientifically-based, comprehensive national system of marine protected areas

• supporting effective management and sound science to protect, sustain, and restore coral reef ecosystems

• delivering technology that supports effective coastal management

OCRM activities are mandated by three articles of legislation: the Coastal Zone Management Act, Marine Protected Areas Executive Order, and Coral Reef Conservation Act.

 

National Coastal Management Program

OCRM implements the National Coastal Zone Management Program as directed by the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) of 1972. The Program is a voluntary federal-state partnership that works to protect, restore, and responsibly develop our nation’s diverse coastal communities and resources. OCRM provides technical and financial assistance to the 34 coastal states and territories participating in the Program to implement their coastal management programs.  

OCRM also administers several programs related to the National Coastal Zone Management Program.  The office jointly administers the Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program with the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that all states and territories participating in the National Coastal Zone Management Program have comprehensive programs in place to reduce polluted runoff in the coastal zone.

Through the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program, OCRM protects coastal and estuarine lands considered important for their conservation, recreation, ecologic, historic, or aesthetic values.

 

National Estuarine Research Reserves

In 2007, research reserves throughout the nation dedicated new buildings to support the work of researchers and educators. This building dedication took place at Eklhorn Slough Reserve in northern California.

OCRM is responsible for implementing the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS), which was created by the CZMA. The reserve system comprises 27 sites in 23 states and Puerto Rico that are operated by state agencies and universities in partnership with OCRM’s Estuarine Reserves Division. The system protectes more than 1.3 million acres f coastal and estuarine habitat for purposes of long-range research, education, and stewardship. Each estuarine reserve implements long-term science programs that provide crucial information about how coastal ecosystems function, how human activity impacts estuaries, and methods for improving their conditions. This critical information is provided to coastal managers, decision makers, and the public. Reserves also offer K-12 education programs for students and teachers to learn more about estuaries and their importance.

 

Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology

The Coral Program works on corals as well as with the local people who manage them, like the coastal managers at this U.S. Virgin Island stakeholder meeting in 2007.

The Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET, pronounced “sigh-seat”) is a leader in transforming the best available science into practical, innovative tools that coastal managers need to address their priority challenges. CICEET is a partnership between NOAA and the University of New Hampshire.

 

Coral Reef Conservation

OCRM administers NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program, ensuring that all NOAA planning and budget activities related to coral reefs are coordinated. OCRM also supports NOAA’s role as the co-chair of the inter-agency U.S. Coral Reef Task Force.  In 2007, the office was successful in producing an Administration bill to reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000.

 

Marine Protected Areas

For decades, resource managers have used place-based management, including marine protected areas (MPAs), to manage U.S. marine resources. The term ‘marine protected area’ is a generic one describing area-based protection in estuarine, coastal, marine, and Great Lakes waters.  An MPA describes multiple-use sites with few user restrictions as well as marine reserves (also called no-take areas). While MPAs are not new, they are garnering increased interest because they have the potential to be a strong resource management tool, especially when paired with other management tools, such as fishery regulations and pollution controls.

Marine protected areas are important for human uses and wildlife, as evidenced by these otters and family members visiting Elkhorn Slough in California.

In May 2000, Presidential Executive Order 13158 on marine protected areas was signed by President Clinton. In 2001, the Order was endorsed by the Bush Administration. Part of the Order establishes the National Marine Protected Areas Center within NOAA, in partnership with the Department of the Interior. The MPA Center coordinates with coastal zone managers and the national estuarine research reserves on a variety of projects, including an inventory of marine managed areas throughout the nation.

OCRM also works with constituents to support, improve, and reauthorize relevant articles of legislation, including the Coastal Zone Management Act, Coral Reef Conservation Act, and Marine Protected Areas Executive Order.  

Every two years, OCRM confers the Walter B. Jones Memorial and NOAA Excellence Awards in Coastal and Ocean Resource Management. These awards honor people and organizations for their dedication and outstanding contributions in balancing the health of our coastal and ocean resources with the needs of the human community.