Lead institution:
Scripps Institution of Oceanography – United States of America (USA)
The West Coast Ocean Biomolecular Observing Network seeks to revolutionize marine management by promoting the integration of biomolecular technologies to address critical issues such as ocean acidification, harmful algal blooms, and fisheries assessments in Southern California.
Biomolecular technologies offer significant potential to transform marine management, but the development and application of molecular tools in marine ecosystems have been siloed within disciplines, over space, and across sectors. This has led to isolated advances and slow adoption of molecular tools for marine biomonitoring in support of sustainable marine management.
To break down these barriers and advance the implementation of these tools, we propose the creation of the West Coast Ocean Biomolecular Observing Network. The Network will be a cooperative of marine observation platforms and regional stakeholders that work to promote the integration and standardization of molecular approaches regional biomonitoring efforts to address key ecosystem management and public health priorities. Example topics include the impacts of ocean acidification and hypoxia, detection and forecasting of harmful algal blooms (HABs), and fisheries and protected species assessments.
Start Date: 01/09/2022
End Date: 01/01/2030
Lead Contacts: Erin Satterthwaite, UCSD (esatterthwaite@ucsd.edu); Nastassia Patin, NOAA (nastassia.patin@noaa.gov); Zachary Gold, PMEL/NOAA (zachary.gold@noaa.gov); Susanna Theroux, SCCWRP (susannat@sccwrp.org)