This Administration has strongly supported science and interagency coordination, across government and with academic, industry, and other stakeholders, to address societal needs and inform effective ocean management. Today, the Office of Science and Technology Policy is releasing three reports authored by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC)’s Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainability’s Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology (SOST) that describe Federal actions on two pressing issues: ocean acidification and ocean and coastal mapping.

Improving ocean-acidification research and monitoring

Two reports released today respond to the 2014 Strategic Plan for Federal Research and Monitoring of Ocean Acidification, which was prepared pursuant to the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 (FOARAM). The “Implementation of the Strategic Plan for Federal Research and Monitoring of Ocean Acidification” report identifies the needs and activities described in the Strategic Plan that are being addressed by Federal agencies. These efforts will enable agencies to better identify and address gaps in research and information on ocean acidification. To complement the Implementation Plan, the “Fourth Report on Federally Funded Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Activities” responds to a Congressional request for biennial updates on implementation activities under FOARAM, identifies expenditures for these activities, and details how Federal agencies are implementing the Strategic Plan in a coordinated and complimentary manner.

For additional information on Federally funded ocean-acidification research and monitoring please see here. For the 2010 and 2012 reports to Congress on ocean and coastal mapping see here and here.

Tamara Dickinson is the Principal Assistant Director for Environment and Energy for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.