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.

The North Pacific Research Board (NPRB) was established in 1997 as custodian to a pool of funds intended for the study of the North Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, and Arctic Ocean. The success of the NRPB is the development of a high quality, long-range science plan that provides a better understanding of ecosystems and their fisheries in the region. This report provides a framework to help the NPRB identify appropriate science themes and mechanisms for administering and distributing the funds. It contains extensive input from residents of Alaskan communities, to help scientists understand and address issues of importance to the local communities. The book makes specific recommendations on long-term research priorities, the NPRB management structure and the development of future programs.

Ocean research offers countless benefits, from improving fisheries management to discovering new drugs to enabling early detection of tsunamis and hurricanes. At the request of the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology (JSOST), the National Research Council convened a committee to review the draft and final versions of the Ocean Research Priorities Plan and Implementation Strategy described in Charting the Course for Ocean Science in the United States: Research Priorities for the Next Decade, which represents the first coordinated national ocean research planning effort involving all federal agencies that support ocean science. The plan presents an ambitious vision for ocean research that will be of great benefit to the ocean sciences community and the nation. This book contains both sets of findings (i.e., the committee's review of the JSOST's draft plan [A Review of the Draft Ocean Research Priorities Plan: Charting the Course for Ocean Science in the United States] and the review of the final plan). This book recommends that JSOST employ a variety of outreach mechanisms to continue to engage nonfederal partners in ocean research planning efforts, such as establishing external committees to provide scientific and technical advice and to review progress on implementation of the research plan.

Partnerships in Marine Research: Case Studies, Lessons Learned, and Policy Implications provides a thorough assessment of this important approach to Marine Research. It starts by looking at the problems faced by scientists as they conduct investigations within Marine Research; it then leads into case studies where partnerships have been successful and concludes with the ultimate intended outcomes for this approach. Through these sections of the book, an experience-based framework for sustainable partnerships and science is introduced, including some key elements identifiable in the case studies presented. Elements of the framework are implicitly present in each of the case studies, including four key elements: flexibility of the partnership system, diversity (of partners and functions), redundancy, and connectivity. These four elements are important aspects of the partnership resilience and crucial to sustain and to achieve its goals. Partnerships in Marine Research guides the sustainable planning and implementation of future ocean science and technology projects, and provides a fundamental tool for researchers, engineers, and decision makers involved in collaborative Marine Research. - Presents chapters from a diverse group of contributors, enabling a broad and deep perspective - Includes case studies to connect the reader to successful marine research partnerships - Provides key elements of resilient and sustainable partnerships throughout different project phases and a framework for supporting research partnerships in the future - Projects lessons learned and conclusions toward a plausible 2050 scenario to advance and reach sustainable development goals while aiming to rebuild marine life in the Global Ocean

Like ocean beaches, sheltered coastal areas experience land loss from erosion and sea level rise. In response, property owners often install hard structures such as bulkheads as a way to prevent further erosion, but these structures cause changes in the coastal environment that alter landscapes, reduce public access and recreational opportunities, diminish natural habitats, and harm species that depend on these habitats for shelter and food. Mitigating Shore Erosion Along Sheltered Coasts recommends coastal planning efforts and permitting policies to encourage landowners to use erosion control alternatives that help retain the natural features of coastal shorelines.

This book addresses critical questions and analyses key issues regarding Indigenous/Aboriginal Peoples and governance of land and protected areas in the Arctic. It brings together contributions from scientists, indigenous and non-indigenous researchers, local leaders, and members of the policy community that: document Indigenous/Aboriginal approaches to governance of land and protected areas at the local, regional and international level; explore new territorial governance models that are emerging as part of the Indigenous/Aboriginal governance within Arctic States, provinces, territories and regions; analyse the recognition or lack thereof concerning indigenous rights to self-determination in the Arctic; and examine how traditional decision-making arrangements and practices can be linked with governments in the process of good governance. The book highlights essential lessons learned, success stories, and remaining issues, all of which are useful to address issues of Arctic governance of land and protected areas today, and which could also be relevant for future governance arrangements.

Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act (FCMA), managers are required to use the "best scientific information available" 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 "best scientific information available" 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.