NOAA is taking significant steps to address climate change impacts on U.S. coastal and marine environments. The agency has updated its fishery management guidance to adapt to changing marine species distributions and awarded a $25 million grant to the University of Michigan for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System Science Collaborative, enhancing research on coastal resilience and sustainability.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is actively enhancing its strategies to manage and protect the United States' coastal and marine ecosystems in response to environmental changes and climate impacts. Recent initiatives include revising fishery management protocols and reinforcing research on coastal resilience through significant funding.
NOAA has introduced new guidelines for fishery management councils to adapt to the shifts in marine species distributions due to climate change. This involves rethinking regional administrative boundaries to better manage the changing locations of fish populations. The guidance aims to help councils prepare and amend fishery management plans as species migrate across traditional jurisdictional areas, ensuring sustainable fisheries under shifting environmental conditions.
The University of Michigan has been awarded a $25 million grant from NOAA to continue leading the National Estuarine Research Reserve System Science Collaborative. This initiative supports research addressing critical environmental challenges in U.S. coastal communities, focusing on sustainability, climate change impacts, and empowering historically excluded communities. The grant will fund projects that develop innovative, science-based solutions for enhancing the resilience of estuarine habitats and communities.
NOAA's recent actions, from updating fishery management guidelines to funding significant coastal research, highlight its commitment to adapting U.S. environmental policies and practices to better address the challenges posed by climate change. These efforts are crucial for the sustainable management of marine and coastal ecosystems, ensuring their health and productivity for future generations.