BOEM: New OceanReports tool brings ocean data to the masses

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A new, web-based interactive tool for ocean mapping and planning created by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will give everyone from ocean industries to coastal managers, students, as well as the general public, the opportunity to be an ocean explorer right from their own computer.

The new OceanReports web tool provides users specialized “ocean neighborhood analyses” including maps and graphics by analyzing more than 100 ocean datasets instantaneously.

U.S. ocean waters comprise nearly four million square miles and are one of the largest Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) in the world. Now, when you outline any area in the U.S. EEZ using the OceanReports app, you can get detailed information about habitats and species, industries at work, potential hazards such as undersea cables or shipwrecks, economic value of ocean commerce, and detailed oceanographic information.

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“The world’s largest collection of ‘ocean intelligence’ can now be accessed to help sustain and grow one of the world’s largest blue economies,” said Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., acting NOAA administrator. “Whether it’s aquaculture siting, marine transportation, or offshore energy, OceanReports puts this data at our fingertips and gives us an edge as we continue to grow our national economy.”

OceanReports builds on more than a decade of data collection to transform how seemingly disparate ocean information can be delivered to the nation’s ocean and coastal industries, which add $320 billion in gross domestic product to the nation’s economy.

And while OceanReports provides a fountain of data for use by industry and science, it is still easy enough to use in the classroom to help students studying biology, chemistry, geography and even other disciplines like economics.

“With such a diverse range of ocean uses and stakeholders, the OceanReports tool greatly increases one’s ability to understand and manage the resources in the complex ocean environment,” said BOEM acting director Walter Cruickshank.

“Our team worked diligently with NOAA to create this tool, which benefits the ocean community in addition to helping BOEM carry out its mission -- the responsible development of ocean energy and marine mineral resources for the nation.”

“OceanReports is a monumental advancement for all ocean industries,” said James Morris, NOAA marine ecologist and member of the OceanReports development team. “New industries such as aquaculture and existing industries such as energy and shipping will all benefit from having easy access to this unprecedented volume of ocean intelligence. Everyone will now be better informed and positioned to conserve marine resources and grow ocean commerce to new levels.”

OceanReports is an example of strong federal interagency coordination and cooperation on ocean policy, as put forward by the President’s Ocean Policy to Advance the Economic, Security and Environmental Interests of the United States (Executive Order 13840), signed June 19, 2018.