NOAA Southeast Regional Office

NOAA Southeast Regional Office
Name	NOAA Southeast Regional Office
Parent organization	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Contents

NOAA Southeast Regional Office

Overview and Mission

The office's mission centers on sustaining marine ecosystems, supporting commercial and recreational sectors represented by organizations such as the National Fisheries Institute and the American Sportfishing Association, and enhancing coastal resilience in regions affected by events like Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Michael (2018), and Hurricane Ian (2022). Core objectives draw upon guidance from the National Ocean Policy, collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and scientific frameworks advanced by the Southeast Fisheries Science Center and the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory.

Jurisdiction extends across state and territorial waters adjacent to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands. The office coordinates regional offices of the National Marine Fisheries Service, the National Ocean Service, and the Office for Coastal Management and works with multi-jurisdictional bodies such as the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, and regional planning entities established under the America’s Coastal Resilience initiatives. Leadership typically includes directors and program managers who liaise with committees like the Regional Fishery Management Councils and advisory groups such as the Protected Resources Division panels.

Programs include fishery management support under the Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, protected species recovery actions under the Endangered Species Act, and coastal mapping and charting services aligned with the National Ocean Service. Services provided involve navigation assistance through cooperation with the United States Coast Guard, climate and weather forecasting contributions from the National Weather Service and Climate Program Office, and habitat restoration projects funded through mechanisms like the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program and coordination with the National Fish Habitat Partnership.

Research initiatives link to laboratories and programs such as the Southeast Fisheries Science Center, the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, and university partners including the University of Florida, Florida State University, University of Miami, Duke University, and North Carolina State University. Conservation projects address coral reef decline associated with events like Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease and work with the Coral Reef Conservation Program and the Coral Restoration Foundation. Stock assessments and marine mammal research engage experts from the Marine Mammal Commission and collaborate with rehabilitators such as the Dolphin Research Center. Monitoring and modeling efforts incorporate tools from the Integrated Ocean Observing System and the Sea Grant network.

The office partners with state agencies including the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and municipal stakeholders such as the City of Miami and Charleston, South Carolina. It engages tribal and territorial entities like the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico through outreach programs tied to the NOAA Marine Protected Areas Center and educational initiatives with organizations such as the National Marine Educators Association and the Sea Education Association. Disaster preparedness collaborations involve the Federal Emergency Management Agency, regional Coast Guard units, and non-governmental organizations like the Nature Conservancy and the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership.

Regional facilities include laboratories and field stations affiliated with the Southeast Fisheries Science Center, the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, and regional offices colocated near ports such as Miami, Jacksonville, Charleston, and San Juan. Infrastructure assets managed in coordination include research vessels like those operated by the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster program, observational networks of the National Data Buoy Center, and coastal mapping platforms used by the Office for Coastal Management and the National Geodetic Survey.