Component Programs
- Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory
- Great Lakes Enviromental Research Laboratory
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
- National Sea Grant Program
- Ocean and Human Health Initiative
- Ocean Exploration and Research
- Office of Protected Resources
- Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory
About ERP
ERP Parent Org's
What is NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science?
The National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) conducts and supports research, monitoring, assessments, and technical assistance to meet NOAA's coastal stewardship and management responsibilities. Formed within the National Ocean Service (NOS) in March 1999, NCCOS includes the following Centers:
- Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research (CCEHBR)
- Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research (CCFHR)
- Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA)
- Center for Human Health Risk at Hollings Marine Laboratory (CHHR)
- Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research (CSCOR)
NCCOS focuses its research on ecosystems (coral reefs; estuaries; National Marine Sanctuaries; and coastal ocean regions) and ecosystem stressors (climate change, extreme natural events, pollution, invasive species, and land and resource use). Understanding how these stressors affect ecosystems is vital for assessing the impacts on coastal communities and effectively managing our nation’s ocean and coastal resources.
- Biogeographic information for: National Marine Sanctuaries Program management plans, National Marine Fisheries Service Regions, and Science Center of the Fisheries Management Program
- Ecological forecasts of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and hypoxia
- Marine debris locations for the Marine Debris Program
- Coral reef health status and stressor research for the Coral Program
- Forensics support for National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement
- Coral reef and seagrass recovery calculations / expert testimony for the Damage Assessment Center
- Marine mammal mortality toxin analysis for National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Protected Resources
- Ecological impacts of sea level rise for the Climate Program
- Fisheries habitat research for the National Marine Fisheries Service
- Long term contaminant monitoring data used by many Programs
- Integrated assessments on impacts of invasive species for the Invasive Species Program
- Development of a Habitat Restoration Manual for the National Ocean Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service
NCCOS Vision & Mission:
Vision: Effective coastal stewardship is guided by science to maximize societal benefits.
Mission: Provide the scientific basis for managing coastal and ocean ecosystems.
