WHY IS OCEAN AND COASTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT IMPORTANT?
• Pollution from land- and water-based activities adversely affects marine resources. It can cause outbreaks of harmful algal blooms, hypoxia, beach and shellfish bed closures, and seafood consumption advisories. • Ocean and coastal monitoring allows scientists to assess physical, chemical and/or biological effects from human activities. • Policymakers use information gained from ocean and coastal surveys to implement programs so that they protect our ocean and coastal environments.
