Cuts to NOAA Cast Science Adrift

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is well known for its weather-related work, which for decades has included studying the science of climate change. Less familiar to the general public are the functions of NOAA Fisheries, also known as the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), which is dedicated to the protection of marine wildlife, fisheries management and bycatch issues, and ecosystem and habitat conservation. NMFS is responsible for implementing numerous environmental laws, and its programs range from domestic and regionally focused efforts to international wildlife protection.

The issues that NOAA regulates reside at the heart of AWI’s Marine Wildlife Program, and under the Trump administration, the agency is in trouble. Reports indicate plans to slash NOAA’s workforce by at least 20 percent and its budget by 30 percent, in line with broader efforts to dismantle climate-related agencies and privatize weather data. These forces are already in motion despite the administration’s failure to follow appropriate legal procedures. Further complicating matters, NOAA staff have been directed to halt international engagements, including routine collaborations with foreign scientists.

Diminishing or dismantling NOAA will have staggering effects not only on marine wildlife, but also on the American public. Heightened vulnerability to extreme weather and increased threats to marine ecosystems through overfishing and weakened oversight of ocean conservation would pose major risks to our communities, economies, and public safety. Undermining important ocean research, international conservation initiatives, and scientific cooperation, meanwhile, would have global ramifications. Federal lawmakers have called for an investigation into the potential repercussions of such cuts on coastal resiliency and public safety.

Program Terms: Marine Wildlife

AWI Quarterly Terms: Government/Legal, Quick Read