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During the development of strategies associated with the programmatic goals, three cross-cutting issues consistently arose – a need for research that provides resource managers, decision makers, citizens and industry with objective scientific information; a need for education and outreach programs that result in an informed citizenry that takes actions consistent with environmental and economic sustainability; and support for an effective decision making process, particularly at the community level. These same cross-cutting issues were identified in the 2009-2013 strategic plan of National Sea Grant, and are presented here as cross-cutting goals of the Florida Sea Grant College Program.
Florida Sea Grant has a long history of supporting cutting-edge science and technology to better understand and sustain the state’s ocean and coastal resources. The program will continue to support research that generates the scientific, technical, legal and socio-political information that is needed to protect coastal and ocean resources, to foster the development of new businesses, products, tools and technologies, and to answer the most pressing questions about use and sustainability of coastal resources.
GOAL: Sound scientific information to advance understanding of the nature and value of coastal and marine resources, to identify new ways to conserve and use the resources, and to support and evaluate the environmental impacts and socio-economic trade-offs involved in coastal decision-making.
Strategies:
- Support research to produce the scientific, technical and legal information and the new tools and technologies needed to increase understanding of coastal and marine processes.
- Enhance the amount of socio-economic research available to help decision-makers evaluate trade-offs and assess risks to the future health and productivity of coastal and marine resources.
- Integrate, translate and disseminate research findings and technological discoveries to resource managers, decision-makers, citizens and industry who need the information to capitalize on opportunities and make wise management decisions.
Restoring and sustaining our marine and coastal resources will require not only sound science, but also an informed and engaged citizenry. Florida Sea Grant must play a lead role in developing a cadre of scientists, planners, developers, engineers and people involved in water-related enterprises who understand the interactions between human activities and ecosystem health, and who will take actions that are consistent with long-sustainability.
GOAL: An informed and engaged public that understands the value and vulnerability of coastal and marine resources, that demands informed science-based decisions about the conservation, use and management of those resources, and a well-trained workforce that will make this a reality.
Strategies:
- Advance coastal and marine literacy across generations and cultures through formal and informal learning opportunities in our schools, museums, aquariums and other educational forums, including web-based and interactive media that will engage all generations.
- Use Florida Sea Grant’s strong university partnerships to create new education opportunities in coastal and marine science for graduate and undergraduate students and develop information products and training opportunities that will help build the workforce capacity for coastal-related jobs and professions.
- Collaborate with state and federal agencies and other partners to build public awareness about critical coastal and marine issues, using the integrated research, education, extension and communication capacities of the Sea Grant network.
Florida Sea Grant also will play a lead role as an honest broker for decision making related to complex coastal and marine issues, based on best available science. There is considerable conflict among the various sectors that depend on Florida’s coasts, and decision making is highly fragmented. Sea Grant’s long-standing relationship with a wide variety of stakeholders and its reputation as a source of unbiased information will enable it to play a leadership role in promoting effective information sharing, consensus building and integration of efforts in the coastal arena. The following strategies will be followed in order to accomplish this goal.
GOAL: Decision-making processes that involve the full range of coastal interests, integrate efforts of public and private partners at regional, state and local levels, and provide mechanisms for establishing a common understanding and outcomes that balance multiple interests.
Strategies:
- Use Sea Grant’s research, education and extension capabilities to encourage and support the creation of public decision making processes that minimize overlap, maximize effectiveness, and provide an integrated response to coastal problems and opportunities.
- Build consensus on such complex issues as coastal land use, energy development, public access and climate change impacts by supporting cutting-edge research, building broader understanding among various constituency groups and convening diverse groups of stakeholders to work together to find common solutions.
- Strengthen partnerships to promote regional, state and issue-related collaboration among government programs and other partners in order to support more effective and integrated coastal decision making.
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