UOG Sea Grant’s mission is to integrate and apply research, extension, and education activities to sustain and develop island environments while integrating knowledge and cultural perspectives of the island’s people.
Within the Mariana Islands Archipelago, coastal environments are dynamic ecosystems with fluctuating water levels, many species of fish, birds, plants and other wildlife, and diverse habitat types.
Recreational and commercial use of coastal resources–our watersheds, beaches, reefs, and open ocean–all present challenges to maintaining our ecosystem’s health. UOG Sea Grant addresses issues that can pose ecosystem challenges through research, education, and outreach. Our strategic plan provides an overview of the types of issues we are looking at.
Research, education, and outreach means:
- Supporting research about pressing issues related to local and regional environmental health and economic well-being of Guam’s coastal areas,
- Supporting formal education practitioners such as K-12 teachers, in implementing science-based activities and lessons in classrooms,
- Providing science-based information to the public about current coastal issues, in accessible formats like fact sheets and workshops,
- Bridging connections between government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, educators, business owners, and other citizens on responsible and sustainable shared resource use.
Download or view the UOGSG Strategic Plan for 2018-2021 here: UOGSG 2018-2021 Strategic Plan
Download or view the UOGSG Strategic Plan for 2013-2016 here: UOGSG 2013-2016 Strategic Plan
On August 30, UOGSG convened a Stakeholder Listening Session. Find the notes from the meeting here: UOGSG Stakeholder Listening Session Notes_083016
About the National Sea Grant College Program
The National Sea Grant College Program is a partnership between universities and the federal government’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an agency within the Department of Commerce. The Sea Grant network includes more than 3,000 scientists, engineers, public outreach experts, educators, and students from over 300 institutions, representing 33 programs in states and territories.
Sea Grant’s mission is to provide integrated research, communication, education, extension and legal programs to coastal communities that lead to the responsible use of the nation’s ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources through informed personal, policy, and management decisions.
Examples of research that Sea Grant helps to fund include: population growth and development on the coasts; preparation and response to tsunamis; human interactions with the marine environment; fish and shellfish farming; seafood safety; and fisheries management. Communication, education, and extension professionals then share the research with stakeholders in a way that is understandable and meaningful.
Sea Grant is a national initiative, but is managed and implemented locally. Hence, a program in the Great Lakes region will be very different than one in Puerto Rico, Louisiana, California, or the Western Pacific.