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National Ocean Survey (1970–1983) National Ocean Service (1983–present) | |
Agency overview | |
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Formed | October 9, 1970 |
Jurisdiction | Federal government of the United States |
Headquarters | 1305 East-West Highway Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S. 38°59′30″N 77°01′48″W / 38.99167°N 77.03000°W |
Employees | 1,259 (FY 2012)[1] |
Annual budget | US $559.6 million (FY 2012)[2] |
Agency executive | |
Parent agency | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Website | oceanservice |
The National Ocean Service (NOS) is an office within the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It is the responsible for preserving and enhancing the nation's coastal resources and ecosystems along approximately 95,000 miles (153,000 km) of shoreline, that is bordering 3,500,000 square miles (9,100,000 km2) of coastal, Great Lakes, and ocean waters. Its mission is to "provide science-based solutions through collaborative partnerships to address the evolving economic, environmental, and social pressures on our oceans and coasts." Its projects focus on working to ensure the safe and efficient marine transportation, promoting the protection of coastal communities, conserving marine and coastal places. NOS employs 1,700 scientists, natural resource managers, and specialists in many different fields. The National Ocean Service was previously also known as the National Ocean Survey until it was renamed in 1983.[5]