April 2025

The Eyes on the Ocean™ Newsletter is an informal way of keeping you up-to-date on U.S. IOOS® activities.

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The new high-frequency radar at Popham Beach State Park in Maine will capture surface current data in the Gulf of Maine to support IOOS and fisheries-related research and monitoring in the region. Photo Credit: Anthony Kirincich, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Dear IOOS Community,

Last week, the IOOS Association, directors and staff from the eleven IOOS Regional Associations, and IOOS Program Office staff all came together here in Washington, DC for our annual spring meeting. National Ocean Service Assistant Administrator, Nicole LeBoeuf, kicked off the two day meeting with remarks, and I also provided an update on IOOS Office activities to begin day one. The agenda included discussions on strategic communications, updates on implementation of IOOS National and Pan-Regional efforts, a deep dive on Service Delivery & Communications project needs and next steps, overviews from each of the RAs on ecosystem change activities, and an update on Water level, Waves, and Webcam (WWW) coordination. 

We also had the opportunity to celebrate 25 years of U.S. IOOS last week. This milestone event highlighted IOOS’s achievements, its impact on society, and its vision for the future of this vital national program. As part of the celebration, the IOOS Association was proud to recognize Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) with the inaugural IOOS Association Congressional Award for Bipartisan Leadership in Ocean Observing. Their leadership, vision, and steadfast support have been instrumental in advancing ocean observation initiatives and ensuring the success of IOOS. 

I am also pleased to note that on March 24, the Bipartisan 2025 IOOS Reauthorization Bill to Strengthen Ocean Monitoring was introduced in the House by Representatives Mike Ezell (R-MS-04), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Randy Weber (R-TX-14), Debbie Dingell (R-MI-06), Amata Radewagen (R-AS), and Danny Davis (D-IL-07) to reauthorize the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) for the next five fiscal years, maintaining its authorized funding level at $56 million annually. The bill ensures continued support for critical ocean monitoring efforts that benefit maritime industries, fisheries, and communities.

Thanks,
Carl

From the
IOOS Office

  • IOOS Spring Meeting: The IOOS Association hosted the annual IOOS Spring Meeting in Washington, DC. The two day meeting brought together the IOOS Association, IOOS Office, and IOOS Regional Associations to discuss priorities, strategies, and system requirements. This year's topics included service delivery; water level, wave and webcam coordination; strategic communications; and updates on national and regional activities.

  • Welcome Ryan Jones! Ryan has joined the IOOS Office supporting the Ocean Enterprise Portfolio. Before joining IOOS, Ryan was a Knauss Fellow on the NOS Policy Team, and he is very excited about staying in the NOS family. Prior to his fellowship, he earned his Ph.D. and Master’s degrees from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa where he studied coral reef ecology (and used PacIOOS products every time he was in the field!).

Observing Systems, Data, and Modeling

  • Backyard Buoys App: Accessing ocean data from the Backyard Buoys spotter network just got easier — check out the new free mobile app! This app provides real-time oceanographic data from Sofar spotter buoys deployed by coastal communities across the Pacific and Arctic oceans. Android Download |  iOS Download

  • Registration is now open for the 2025 IOOS DMAC Annual Meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, April 29 to Thursday, May 1, 2025, at the Silver Spring Civic Building in Silver Spring, MD. To register, please complete this registration form by April 24. The draft agenda is available on the IOOS website. More details can be found at: https://groups.google.com/g/ioos_tech/c/H90QesvXQ9Y/m/17I7v_k6AwAJ 

  • WebCOOS Network Expands In Mid-Atlantic: The WebCOOS network, which leverages low-cost web cameras for coastal observation, has expanded its reach with two new installations in Camden and Hoboken, NJ. These additions enhance flood monitoring capabilities in the Mid-Atlantic, improving public safety and environmental monitoring in coastal communities. https://maracoos.org/2025/03/20/webcoos-expands-in-midatlantic/

  • New HF-radars in Maine at Popham Beach State Park and Two Lights State Park were developed in partnership between the University of Maine and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The medium-range array delivers surface currents data along mid-coast Maine, supporting research and monitoring in the region. Funding came from the State of Maine Dept. of Marine Resources with NERACOOS contributing additional support and equipment. The sites are jointly maintained by the University of Maine and WHOI.

  • SCCOOS releases new HAB 2-pager: Check out this flyer SCCOOS put together to explain the ongoing Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) event(s) and communicate the importance of HAB observing! Includes new observations from the Southern CA HAB that began late February 2025, and is still ongoing. https://sccoos.org/started-feb-2025-algal-bloom-effects-hundreds-of-marine-mammals-seabirds/

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