"The Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) and the Alaska Regional Office (AKRO) were tasked to identify National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) priorities for ocean mapping in the Alaska region. The overall process to prioritize mapping activities in the Alaska EEZ consisted of a widely distributed standardized survey to obtain technical recommendations, strategic prioritizations based on the AFSC Science Plan and other mission-related considerations, and transferring the prioritized geospatial information into an online portal managed by IOCM. National results will be analyzed using clustering and other spatial statistical techniques to identify significant relationships between priorities, issues, and ranking criteria. NOAA Fisheries can use this information to 1) better understand how priorities align with the needs of other NOAA and Federal offices, 2) allow for more efficient coordination of projects and funding, and 3) enable partners to leverage assets and resources to fill the most pressing information gaps"--Background.

https://doi.org/10.25923/ctfy-5c83

Technical Report