OceAn science OceAn science OceAn science

Managing resources in ways that identify and account for the complex interactions between
those resources and other components of the marine environment—including humans—is
a substantial challenge. The principle of ecosystem-based management 2 is now
widely recognized as one of the most effective ways to cope with a variety of increasing
natural and human-induced pressures. Providing the scientific support for ecosystem-based
management requires a multi-dimensional, multidisciplinary effort to enhance current
understanding of ecosystem processes, determine which interactions are most critical, and
assess the dynamics of the natural and human factors affecting those interactions, including
how those factors will change in the future.
Deployment of a robust ocean-observing system that can describe the actual state of the
ocean, coupled with a process to synthesize observational data, will fundamentally alter
society’s view of the ocean environment. Observations underpin fundamental knowledge
of the open ocean, coasts, coastal watersheds, and Great Lakes. Although much work remains,
communities interested in ocean research and management have developed mature
plans for many components of an integrated, global ocean-observing system. Deploying
the priority elements of that observing system will increase society’s access to the ocean
and allow researchers to enable the promise of ocean forecasting and ecosystem-based
management during the next decade