Benefits

The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System is intended to provide users with information needed for: detecting and forecasting oceanic components of climate variability; facilitating safe and efficient marine operations; ensuring national security; managing resources for sustainable use; preserving and restoring healthy marine ecosystems; mitigating natural hazards; and ensuring public health. Cost-benefit studies have estimated that the economic benefits of providing needed products and services would vastly exceed the cost of a U.S. coastal ocean observing system. Nevertheless, it is the responsibility of each regional association (RA) governing a regional coastal ocean observing system (e.g., GCOOS) to identify—with priorities—the requirements of its current and potential users of data and products (stakeholders) to the best of its ability.

To that end, the GCOOS-RA since March 2004 has been conducting workshops with stakeholder groups to attempt to identify their needs for products (with priorities), the measurements required to produce those products, and suggestions regarding economic benefits and pilot projects that might be initiated to begin to produce needed products or refine needs. Several workshops have been held to date (see below); others are being planned. In addition to workshops to identify stakeholder needs, representatives of the GCOOS-RA attend meetings of trade, engineering, and scientific associations; meet with regional offices of federal and state government agencies; attend meetings of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission; attend private industry group meetings; and meet directly with representatives of private sector firms.

These efforts are providing the basis on which we can determine the most effective enhancements to make to the GCOOS as additional financial support becomes available. Examples of high priority products identified include: analyses and forecasts of surface currents, waves and water levels; detection of low oxygen conditions; detection and forecasting of movements of harmful algal blooms; and improved forecasting of hurricane intensity.

Stakeholder workshops held:

• Exploration of Private Sector Interests and Roles in the U.S. IOOS with focus on the southeastern and Gulf U.S. States, March 2004, Houston, TX
• Exploring Needs of Researchers and Managers dealing with Harmful Algal Blooms, April, 2004, St. Petersburg, FL
• General GCOOS Stakeholder Meeting, January 2005, New Orleans, LA
• Identification of Needs of Oil and Gas and Related Industry, November 2004, Houston, TX
• Identification of Needs of Managers and Responders to Storm Surge and Inundation, January 2006, New Orleans, LA
• Developing a Harmful Algal Bloom Integrated Observing System Plan for the Gulf of Mexico, November 2007, New Orleans, LA