Role of CSMP Collaborators*

CSMP Sponsors- California Ocean Protection Council The mission of the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) is to ensure that California maintains healthy, resilient, and productive ocean and coastal ecosystems for the benefit of current and future generations. The groups current priorities are focused around six areas of interest, including: governance, research and mapping, ocean and coastal water quality, physical processes and habitat structure, ocean and coastal ecosystems, and education and outreach.

- California Coastal Conservancy The California Coastal Conservancy (CCC) is a state agency that uses entrepreneurial techniques to purchase, protect, restore, and enhance coastal resources, and to provide access to the shore. We work in partnership with local governments, other public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private landowners.

- NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries The mission of NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries (NMS) is to serve as the trustee for the nation's system of marine protected areas, to conserve, protect, and enhance their biodiversity, ecological integrity and cultural legacy.

- NOAA Office of Coast Survey NOAA's Office of Coast Survey (OCS) is responsible for producing the suite of nautical charts that covers the coastal waters of the U.S. and its territories.

CSMP Partnering Institutions- Seafloor Mapping Lab at CSUMB The Seafloor Mapping Lab (SFML) specializes in high-resolution acoustic remote sensing for coastal habitats. Combining research and education with state-of-the-art geospatial technology, the SFML offers unique hands-on, field-to-finish experience to students while conducting professional habitat mapping surveys for resource management and basic research along the continental margins.

- Fugro Pelagos, Inc., San Diego Office Fugro Pelagos (FPI) is a premier provider of high resolution hydrographic and seabed mapping services. Their technical expertise and operational experience stem from an experienced team of hydrographic surveyors, ocean engineers, geomatics engineers, engineering geologists, geophysicists, physical oceanographers, geographers, computer scientists and divers.

- US Geological Survey, Western Coastal & Marine Geology The Western Coastal and Marine Geology Team of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) studies the coasts of the western United States, including Alaska and Hawai`i. Team scientists conduct research, monitor processes, and develop information about coastal and marine geologic hazards, environmental conditions, habitats, and energy and mineral resources. This information helps managers at all levels of government and in the private sector make informed decisions about the use and protection of national coastal and marine resources.

- Moss Landing Marine Lab, Center for Habitat Studies The Center for Habitat Studies (CHS) was established as a geophysical institute of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML) in 1994 to characterize and map marine benthic habitats and marine and coastal geohazards. The primary focus of the Center is to distinguish and map marine deep-water habitats for the purpose of managing commercially important fish stocks and sustaining demersal fisheries, and to characterize seafloor morphology and geology.

*The text presented here was taken from the individual web sites of participating CSMP partners.