Abstract

The oceans are dynamic systems. That’s why striking the right balance between use and protection of marine and coastal resources has always been a complicated process, whether its setting fishing levels, reducing by-catch, recovering endangered species, or considering permits for oil and gas exploration. Incorporating climate change into decision-making makes these efforts more challenging than ever before. Increased information, tools and action are essential to meeting these challenges.

This NOAA Fisheries Climate Science Strategy (Strategy) was developed to meet the growing demand for information to better prepare for and respond to climate-related impacts on the nation’s living marine resources and resource-dependent communities. The Strategy is part of a proactive approach to increase the production, delivery and use of climate-related information to fulfill NOAA Fisheries mandates in a changing climate. Implementing this Strategy will help reduce impacts and increase the resilience of our valuable living marine resources, and the people, businesses and communities that depend on them.