A Message from the NOS Assistant Administrator

"America’s oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes play a vital role in the life of every American; but the future of these areas is in jeopardy. The National Ocean Service (NOS) is on the front lines in understanding, predicting, and responding to the challenges facing our oceans and coasts. 

More than 156 million people—over half of the U.S. population—live in coastal areas, including the Great Lakes. Coastal areas contribute $7.9 trillion to the U.S. economy.

To keep coastal communities, economies, and environments safe, NOS is protecting and restoring coastal habitats, reducing impacts associated with coastal development and other uses, and protecting coastal water quality and quantity to prevent illness and sustain ecosystems. We are working to enhance coastal resiliency and reduce impacts from coastal hazards such as spills, storms, and climate change.

As we face changes in our Earth’s climate, NOS activities such as monitoring sea level and observing changes in ecosystems are helping us understand climate change impacts. This understanding, combined with the tools, information, and training for coastal managers that we provide, will help communities be better prepared for, and respond to, potential climate impacts.

To balance environmental conservation, economic development, and recreational enjoyment of ocean and coastal resources, we protect a national network of marine sanctuaries, estuarine reserves, and marine protected areas that encompass an area greater than all U.S. national parks combined.

NOS also provides tools and information to keep marine transportation safe, efficient, and environmentally sound. The nation’s marine transportation system contributes more than $742 billion to the U.S. GDP annually and provides more than 13 million jobs. To support this lifeline for commerce, we deliver real-time ocean information, produce and update nautical charts, measure and predict tides, and manage the nation’s geospatial reference system.

As we move forward, NOS is engaged in the marine spatial planning process. Marine spatial planning involves looking at the whole picture, from the environment to the people, to determine how to best use ocean areas. We at NOS are committed to finding solutions that balance demands for development with the need to protect the environment and to achieve social and economic objectives in an open and planned way.

I encourage you to explore NOS to learn about our many services, products, and tools."

— David Kennedy
NOS Assistant Administrator