Ecosystem Goal: Ecosystem Observations Program

Program Manager:  Ned Cyr
Program Coordinator:  Steven Swartz

Brief Program Description:

NOAA’s Ecosystem Observation Program (EOP) is designed to be a coastal and oceanic ecological observing system that supports the programs in the Ecosystem Goal. It provides information on the status of living marine resources and distributes this information to NOAA’s clients. The EOP’s capabilities encompass routine observations (e.g., resource surveys), assessments and forecasts, and product development to improve the technical capability of the observation system. EOP also includes data management and quality assurance activities, the production of routine technical reports, and supports appropriate collaborative linkages to other Goal Teams and Councils. The EOP’s capabilities are directed at providing the necessary information for management decisions. This contrasts the EOP with the Ecosystem Research Program (ERP) that conducts research that leads to the development of new products, technology and information.

• Updated fish and protected resources stock assessments
• Routine use of new scientific developments and state-of-the-art technologies, integrating them into NOAA’s observing capabilities
• Increased understanding of biology, ecology and life history of protected resources and commercially and recreationally important fish stocks
• Increased ability to assess the short-run costs and benefits and cost- effectiveness of alternative management measures
• Dissemination of scientific information data and tools to the science and management communities, policy makers, conservation groups and resource users world-wide
• Collaboration with academic, industry, citizen groups, NGOs and International community partners
• Integration of the National Observer Program and physical observations for Living Marine Resources and Protected Resources
• Development of indicators of ecosystem productivity, health and stress (in conjunction with ERP)
• Identification and integration of NOAA’s ecosystem observing capabilities into the Integrated Ocean Observation Program (IOOS)

• Increased understanding and monitoring of species listed under the ESA and MMPA
• Increased accuracy of sustainable harvest estimates for commercially important fisheries
• Increased ability to assess the longer term impacts of proposed management measures as well as the cumulative effects of regulations on fishermen, shore side firms and fishing-dependent communities
• Transition of monitoring and assessment results, products, and procedures into operational application
• Increased development of the National Ecological Observing “backbone” for IOOS
• Routine integration of existing physical observations into fish and protected species forecasts
• Provide integrated routine indicators to show “status of the ecosystem”
• Increased habitat characterization associated with living marine resources under NOAA’s jurisdiction
• Increased number of ecosystem variables and parameters that describe the status and trends of coastal ecosystems and living marine resources and are amenable for use in ecological forecasting

• Integrated “End to End “ coastal and oceanic observing system to collect and analyze data and provide forecasts required to meet management and societal needs for ecosystem management
• High quality, routine ecosystem assessment and forecasts to meet NOAA’s and the American public’s management needs and expectations
• Implementation of new procedures, data systems, and techniques to manage and archive ecosystem information for NOAA’s clients in the government and private sectors
• Routine production and delivery of NOAA Ecosystem Observations Program’s findings and products to its constituents
• Increased public awareness of ecosystem conservation and management issues and improved sense of stewardship for ecosystems and their component resources by the public

President’s FY 05 budget request:  $306.5M