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NOAA Ecosystem Approach to Management

An ecosystem approach to management provides a comprehensive framework for living marine resource decision making that considers ecological, environmental, and human factors.



In its 2005-2010 Strategic Plan, NOAA set a goal to protect, restore, and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources through an Ecosystem Approach to Management. The Ecosystem Approach to Management is a holistic, evolutionary management strategy designed to improve collaboration among NOAA; other federal, state, tribal, and local agencies; nongovernmental organizations; and academic and business communities.

The Ecosystem Approach to Management goal integrates NOAA resources to make progress on two key strategic outcomes:

■ A healthy and productive coastal and marine ecosystem that benefits society.

■ A well-informed public that acts as a steward of coastal and marine ecosystems.


NOAA Ecosystem Goal Team Ecosystem Observation Program

The Ecosystem Goal Team (EGT) contains nine programs that directly support NOAA’s Ecosystem Goal:  Ecosystem Goals

  • Aquaculture
  • Coastal & Marine Resources
  • Corals
  • Ecosystem Observation
  • Ecosystem Research
  • Enforcement
  • Fisheries Management
  • Habitat
  • Protected Species 


The National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC) forms part of the Ecosystem Observation Program (EOP), designed as a coastal and oceanic ecological observing system.  The EOP provides information on the status of living marine resources and distributes this information to NOAA’s clients. Specifically, NCDDC comprises one part of NOAA's capability in Data Management, Technology Transfer, and Education and Outreach within the EOP. NCDDC provides data stewardship and management services of NOAA’s vast observations and measurements, which are collected and stored in many facilities across the country. Included in NCDDC's mission activities are data archiving; Internet-based services for data discovery and access using GIS techniques; metadata creation and data catalog maintenance, compilation, and reprocessing of long-term historical data sets; and monitoring of operational observing systems.


NCDDC staff involvement within EGT/EOP: 


NCDDC Director─NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, & Information Service (NESDIS) Representative

Northeast Shelf Liaison─NOAA's NCDDC Representative