Sea Grant Focus Area: Healthy Coastal Ecosystems

This focus area employs science and policy research and outreach in support of ecosystem-based approaches to managing coastal environments. Emphasis is on ecosystem processes and relationships between coastal stressors and long-term human and ecosystem health and on programs that provide lifelong opportunities to enhance understanding and promote stewardship. Specific areas of interest to Delaware Sea Grant include:

• Research in support of baseline data that informs ecosystem-based planning and management approaches.
• Development of regional coastal observation systems to advance our capability to make predictions about human impacts and environmental changes on coastal resources.
• Development of new technologies, methods, and policies to address water quality degradation.
• Innovation and demonstration of best practices in support of citizens and businesses with specific mitigation and restoration problems.
• Efforts to enhance lifelong learning to promote ecosystem stewardship and informed decision making.

Details of the research projects funded by Delaware Sea Grant for the 2009–2011 period are listed below. For additional information, please also see our latest annual report.