Our ocean is an integral part of the American fabric, lining thousands of miles of coastline and touching millions of people and businesses every day. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) plays an integral role in conserving and managing our coastal and marine resources. NOAA’s services are important for the nation as a whole because they provide tangible local benefits, supporting:

• Healthy Beaches & Coasts
• Science & Conservation
• Sustainable Fisheries
• Coastal Economies
• Coastal & Maritime Safety

America relies on the team of world-class professionals and scientists at NOAA to do essential work to sustain our ocean’s resources for continued use and expand our understanding of the ocean through important scientific research.  As communities and economies along our nation’s coasts continue to grow, NOAA’s services and the benefits they provide are more important now than ever before.

The services that NOAA provides aren’t theoretical. They are very real. To help bring to life the importance of NOAA, we’ve pulled together stories from across the country, directly from the people and communities that NOAA serves. Click below to read more and hear these stories.