The Coastal Ocean Observing Center is working with the Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System and other organizations in the northeast to form a regional coastal ocean observing system for the Gulf of Maine as part of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System. Our collective goal is to establish a sustainable program of coastal ocean observations focused on delivering information useful to scientists, educators, resource managers, policy makers, and of general interest to the public.

In accordance with this strategy, Coastal Ocean Observing Center has signed a memorandum of understanding to form the Gulf of Maine Ocean Data Partnership. This partnership is an agreement among governmental agencies, intergovernmental organizations, academic, research, or other nonprofit entities, all engaged in the collection of data on the Gulf of Maine. Signatories agree “that a coordinated effort is needed to enable users throughout the Gulf of Maine region and beyond to discover and put to use the vast and growing quantities of data in their respective databases. Through the coordinated access to the respective databases, the signers wish to advance a truly integrated ocean observing system in the Gulf of Maine, promote an understanding of the diversity and distribution of life in the Gulf of Maine, and contribute to integrated oceans management.”

Other signatories to this memorandum of understanding are: the National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Fisheries Science Center; Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans; St. Andrews Biological Station, Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans; Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System; Maine Department of Marine Resources; Coastal Services Center, NOAA; Woods Hole Field Center, USGS; and the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.