An estimated 8 million metric tons (MMT) of plastic waste enters the world's ocean each year - the equivalent of dumping a garbage truck of plastic waste into the ocean every minute. Plastic waste is now found in almost every marine habitat, from the ocean surface to deep sea sediments to the ocean's vast mid-water region, as well as the Great Lakes. This report responds to a request in the bipartisan Save Our Seas 2.0 Act for a scientific synthesis of the role of the United States both in contributing to and responding to global ocean plastic waste. The United States is a major producer of plastics and in 2016, generated more plastic waste by weight and per capita than any other nation. Although the U.S. solid waste management system is advanced, it is not sufficient to deter leakage into the environment. Reckoning with the U.S. Role in Global Ocean Plastic Waste calls for a national strategy by the end of 2022 to reduce the nation's contribution to global ocean plastic waste at every step - from production to its entry into the environment - including by substantially reducing U.S. solid waste generation. This report also recommends a nationally-coordinated and expanded monitoring system to track plastic pollution in order to understand the scales and sources of U.S. plastic waste, set reduction and management priorities, and measure progress. Table of Contents Front Matter Summary 1 Introduction 2 Plastic Production and Global Trade 3 Plastic Waste and Its Management 4 Physical Transport and Pathways to the Ocean 5 Distribution and Fate of Plastic Waste in the Ocean 6 Tracking and Monitoring Systems for Ocean Plastic Waste 7 Interventions for U.S. Contributions to Global Ocean Plastic Waste References Appendixes Appendix A: Biographies of the Committee on the United States Contributions to Global Ocean Plastic Waste Appendix B: Definitions and Acronyms Appendix C: Legal Framework Appendix D: Estuary Table Appendix E: Global Instruments and Activities Relevant to Ocean Plastic Pollution

Many coastal areas of the United States are at risk for tsunamis. After the catastrophic 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean, legislation was passed to expand U.S. tsunami warning capabilities. Since then, the nation has made progress in several related areas on both the federal and state levels. At the federal level, NOAA has improved the ability to detect and forecast tsunamis by expanding the sensor network. Other federal and state activities to increase tsunami safety include: improvements to tsunami hazard and evacuation maps for many coastal communities; vulnerability assessments of some coastal populations in several states; and new efforts to increase public awareness of the hazard and how to respond.
Tsunami Warning and Preparedness explores the advances made in tsunami detection and preparedness, and identifies the challenges that still remain. The book describes areas of research and development that would improve tsunami education, preparation, and detection, especially with tsunamis that arrive less than an hour after the triggering event. It asserts that seamless coordination between the two Tsunami Warning Centers and clear communications to local officials and the public could create a timely and effective response to coastal communities facing a pending tsuanami.
According to Tsunami Warning and Preparedness, minimizing future losses to the nation from tsunamis requires persistent progress across the broad spectrum of efforts including: risk assessment, public education, government coordination, detection and forecasting, and warning-center operations. The book also suggests designing effective interagency exercises, using professional emergency-management standards to prepare communities, and prioritizing funding based on tsunami risk.

Atlantic salmon in Maine, once abundant but now seriously depleted, were listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) in November 2000. The listing covers the wild fish in eight Maine rivers as a single "distinct population segment." The controversy in Maine that accompanied the listing led Congress to request the National Research Council's (NRC's) advice on the science relevant to understanding and reversing the declines in Maine's salmon populations. The charge to the NRC's Committee on Atlantic Salmon in Maine included an interim report focusing on the genetic makeup of Maine Atlantic salmon populations. This is the interim report. Understanding the genetic makeup of Maine's salmon is important for recovery efforts, because the degree to which populations in Maine differ from adjacent populations in Canada and the degree to which populations in different Maine rivers and tributaries differ from each other affect the choice of recovery options that are most likely to be effective. This report focuses only on questions of genetic distinctiveness. The committee's final report will address the broader issues, such as the factors that have caused Maine's salmon populations to decline and the options for helping them to recover.

The sea ice surrounding Antarctica has increased in extent and concentration from the late 1970s, when satellite-based measurements began, until 2015. Although this increasing trend is modest, it is surprising given the overall warming of the global climate and the region. Indeed, climate models, which incorporate our best understanding of the processes affecting the region, generally simulate a decrease in sea ice. Moreover, sea ice in the Arctic has exhibited pronounced declines over the same period, consistent with global climate model simulations. For these reasons, the behavior of Antarctic sea ice has presented a conundrum for global climate change science. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine held a workshop in January 2016, to bring together scientists with different sets of expertise and perspectives to further explore potential mechanisms driving the evolution of recent Antarctic sea ice variability and to discuss ways to advance understanding of Antarctic sea ice and its relationship to the broader ocean-climate system. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop. Table of Contents Front Matter Antarctic Sea Ice Variability in the Southern Ocean-Climate System: Proceedings of a Workshop References Appendix A: Statement of Task Appendix B: Definitions of Key Terms Appendix C: Acronyms and Abbreviations Appendix D: Workshop Agenda and Participants Appendix E: Invited Speaker Abstracts Appendix F: Biographical Sketches of Planning Committee Members

Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act (FCMA), managers are required to use the a /best scientific information availablea in the preparation of federal fishery management plans (National Standard 2 in the FCMA). However, the Act provides no further guidance as to how conformance to this standard should be determined. Because adherence to this standard has often been contentious, Congress has considered adding a definition for what constitutes a /best scientific information availablea in the reauthorization of the FCMA. This report examines both the current application and the controversy over the standard and concludes that a legislative definition would be too inflexible to accommodate regional differences and future advances in science and technology. Instead, the report recommends that NOAA Fisheries adopt procedural guidelines to ensure that the scientific information used in the development of fishery management plans is relevant and timely and is the product of processes characterized by inclusiveness, transparency and openness, timeliness, and peer review.

This book describes the development of ocean sciences over the past 50 years, highlighting the contributions of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to the field's progress. Many of the individuals who participated in the exciting discoveries in biological oceanography, chemical oceanography, physical oceanography, and marine geology and geophysics describe in the book how the discoveries were made possible by combinations of insightful individuals, new technology, and in some cases, serendipity. In addition to describing the advance of ocean science, the book examines the institutional structures and technology that made the advances possible and presents visions of the field's future. This book is the first-ever documentation of the history of NSF's Division of Ocean Sciences, how the structure of the division evolved to its present form, and the individuals who have been responsible for ocean sciences at NSF as "rotators" and career staff over the past 50 years. Table of Contents Front Matter Keynote Lecture The Emergence of the National Science Foundation as a Supporter of Ocean Sciences in the United States Landmark Achievements of Ocean Sciences Achievements in Biological Oceanography Achievements in Chemical Oceanography Achievements in Physical Oceanography Achievements in Marine Geology and Geophysics Deep Submergence: The Beginnings of Alvin as a Tool of Basic Research The History of Woods Hole's Deep Submergence Program Creating Institutions to Make Scientific Discoveries Possible A Chronology of the Early Development of Ocean Sciences at NSF Ocean Sciences at the National Sciences Foundation: Early Revolution Ocean Sciences at the National Sciences Foundation: An Administrative History Two Years of Turbulence Leading to a Quarter Century of Cooperation: The Birth of UNOLS Scientific Ocean Drilling, from AMSOC to COMPOST Technology Development for Ocean Sciences at NSF Large and Small Science Programs: A Delicate Balance The Great Importance of "Small" Science Programs The Role of NSF in "Big" Ocean Science: 1950 to 1980 Major Physical Oceanography Programs at NSF: IDOE Through Global Change Major International Programs in Ocean Sciences: Ocean Chemistry Ocean Sciences Today and Tomorrow The Future of Physical Oceanography The Future of Ocean Chemistry in the United States The Future of Marine Geology and Geophysics: A Summary Out Far and In Deep: Shifting Perspectives in Ocean Ecology Global Ocean Science: Toward an Integrated Approach Education in Oceanography: History, Purpose, and Prognosis Evolving Institutional Arrangements for U.S. Ocean Sciences NSF's Commitment to the Deep Fifty Years of Ocean Discovery Argo to ARGO The Importance of Ocean Sciences to Society Appendix A: Symposium Program Appendix B: Symposium Participants Appendix C: Poster Session Appendix D: NSF Division of Ocean Sciences: Senior Science Staff, Rotators, IPAs, and Visiting Sciences Appendix E: Support of Ocean Sciences at NSF from 1966 to 1999 Appendix F: Organizational Charts Appendix G: NRC Project Oversight Appendix H: Acronyms Index Supplementary Pictures

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is responsible for collecting information on marine recreational angling. It does so principally through the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP), a survey program that consists of an in-person survey at fishing access sites and a mail survey, in addition to other complementary or alternative surveys. Data collected from anglers through MRIP supply fisheries managers with essential information for assessing fish stocks. In 2006, the National Research Council provided an evaluation of MRIP's predecessor, the Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey (MRFSS). That review, Review of Recreational Fisheries Survey Methods, presented conclusions and recommendations in six categories: sampling issues; statistical estimation issues; human dimensions; program management and support; communication and outreach; and general recommendations. After spending nearly a decade addressing the recommendations, NMFS requested another evaluation of its modified survey program (MRIP). This report, the result of that evaluation, serves as a 10-year progress report. It recognizes the progress that NMFS has made, including major improvements in the statistical soundness of its survey designs, and also highlights some remaining challenges and provides recommendations for addressing them. Table of Contents Front Matter Summary 1 Introduction 2 Study Design and Estimation Considerations for the MRIP 3 Sampling and Statistical Estimation for the Fishing Effort Survey 4 Sampling and Statistical Estimation for the Angler Intercept Survey 5 Framework for Continued Scientific Evaluation, Review, and Certification 6 Degree of Coordination 7 Communication and Outreach with Stakeholders 8 Plans for Maintaining Continuity References Appendix A: Committee and Staff Biographies Appendix B: Review of Recreational Fisheries Survey Methods (NRC, 2006) Summary Appendix C: Table of National Research Council (2006) Recommendations Appendix D: Excerpt from Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 Appendix E: Survey Instruments Appendix F: 2014 Calibration Workshops Appendix G: Acronym List

Environmental information is important for successful planning and execution of naval operations. A thorough understanding of environmental variability greatly increases the likelihood of mission success. To ensure that naval forces have the most up-to-date capabilities, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) has an extensive environmental research program. This research, to be of greatest use to the warfighter, needs to be directed towards assisting and solving battlefield problems. To increase research community understanding of the operational demands placed on naval operators and to facilitate discussion between these two groups, the National Research Council's (NRC) Ocean Studies Board (OSB), working with ONR and the Office of the Oceanographer of the Navy, convened five previous symposia on tactical oceanography.
"Oceanography and Mine Warfare" examines the following issues: (1) how environmental data are used in current mine warfare doctrine, (2) current procedures for in situ collection of data, (3) the present capabilities of the Navy's oceanographic community to provide supporting information for mine warfare operations, and (4) the ability of oceanographic research and technology developments to enhance current mine warfare capabilities. This report primarily concentrates on the importance of oceanographic data for mine countermeasures.

What can sharks teach us about our immune system? What can horseshoe crabs show us about eyesight? The more we learn about the ocean, the more we realize how critical these vast bodies of water are to our health and well-being. Sometimes the ocean helps us, as when a marine organism yields a new medical treatment. At other times, the ocean poses the threat of coastal storm surges or toxic algal blooms. From Monsoons to Microbes offers a deeper look into the oceans that surround us, often nurturing yet sometimes harming humankind. This book explores the links among physical oceanography, public health, epidemiology, marine biology, and medicine in understanding what the ocean has to offer. It will help readers grasp such important points as: How the ocean's sweeping physical processes create long-term phenomena such as El Nino and short-term disastrous events such as tsunamis?including what communities can do to prepare. What medicines and nutritional products have come from the ocean and what the prospects are for more such discoveries. How estuaries work?where salt and fresh water meet?and what can go wrong, as in the 7,000 square mile "dead zone" at the out-flow of the Mississippi River. How the growing demand for seafood and the expansion of ocean-going transport has increased our exposure to infectious agents?and how these agents can be tracked down and fought. Why "red tides" of toxic algae suddenly appear in previously unaffected coastal areas, and what happens when algal toxins find their way into our food supply or the air we breathe. The book recommends ways we can implement exciting new technologies to monitor the physics, chemistry, and biology of the ocean to recognize change as it happens. From the impact of worldwide atmospheric warming to the significance of exotic bacteria from submarine hydrothermal vents, the ocean has many depths left to explore. Table of Contents Front Matter Executive Summary Introduction 1 Climate and Weather, Coastal Hazards, and Public Health 2 Oceans and Infectious Diseases 3 Harmful Algal Blooms 4 Marine-Derived Pharmaceuticals and Related Bioactive Agents 5 Marine Organisms as Models for Biomedical Research Literature Cited Appendix A: Committee Biographies Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations Appendix C: Workshop Program Index Color Plates

U.S. mariculture production of bivalve molluscs-those cultivated in the marine environment-has roughly doubled over the last 25 years. Although mariculture operations may expand the production of seafood without additional exploitation of wild populations, they still depend upon and affect natural ecosystems and ecosystem services. Every additional animal has an incremental effect arising from food extraction and waste excretion. Increasing domestic seafood production in the United States in an environmentally and socially responsible way will likely require the use of policy tools, such as best management practices (BMPs) and performance standards.
BMPs represent one approach to protecting against undesirable consequences of mariculture. An alternative approach to voluntary or mandatory BMPs is the establishment of performance standards for mariculture. Variability in environmental conditions makes it difficult to develop BMPs that are sufficiently flexible and adaptable to protect ecosystem integrity across a broad range of locations and conditions. An alternative that measures performance in sustaining key indicators of ecosystem state and function may be more effective. Because BMPs address mariculture methods rather than monitoring actual ecosystem responses, they do not guarantee that detrimental ecosystem impacts will be controlled or that unacceptable impact will be avoided.
Ecosystem Concepts for Sustainable Bivalve Mariculture finds that while performance standards can be applied for some broad ecosystem indicators, BMPs may be more appropriate for addressing parameters that change from site to site, such as the species being cultured, different culture methods, and various environmental conditions. This book takes an in-depth look at the environmental, social, and economic issues to present recommendations for sustainable bivalve mariculture.

The North Pacific Research Board (NPRB) was established by Congress in 1997 to recommend marine research activities to the Secretary of Commerce on or relating to the fisheries or marine ecosystem in the North Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, Arctic Ocean, and related bodies of water. NPRB called on the National Academies to develop a comprehensive long range science plan pertaining to its research activities. This assistance has been provided in two phases. In phase one, beginning in early 2003, a National Academies committee worked to understand the purpose of the NPRB, gather information to help identify research needs, and provide advice on the components of a sound science plan. The committee's assessment is contained in a report released in early 2004, Elements of a Science Plan for the North Pacific Research Board. With this guidance as a tool, the NPRB staff, Science Panel, and Advisory Panel worked together to write a draft science plan to steer the program in the coming decade. During the second phase, the same committee reviewed the NPRB's draft science plan and provided final feedback to the NPRB. It is a focused review, generally following the organization of the NPRB document. This report is intended primarily as a direct communication from the committee to those planning the NPRB's programs, to help them improve the science plan and ensure successful implementation. Table of Contents Front Matter Introduction to the North Pacific Research Board and the Purpose of this Report General Committee Comments on the NPRB Draft Science Plan Comments on NPRB Draft Science Plan - Chapter 1 Comments on NPRB Draft Science Plan - Chapter 2 Comments on NPRB Draft Science Plan - Chapter 3 Comments on NPRB Draft Science Plan - Chapter 4 Comments on NPRB Draft Science Plan - Chapter 5 References A Committee on a Science Plan for the North Pacific Research Board Statement of Task difficulties and pitfalls. B Elements of a Science Plan for the North Pacific Research Board: Interim Report Executive Summary C Committee and Staff Biographies