CAPT Craig McLean Director, Office of Ocean Exploration

U.S. Navy, The Mariners’ Museum, USS Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, National Geographic Society, East Carolina University, National Undersea Research Center at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Sustainable Seas Expeditions, Government of Belize, Government of Mexico, Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Institute for Exploration, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve, State of Michigan, National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska Fisheries Science Center (RACE Division), NOAA-University of New Hampshire Center for Coastal Ocean Mapping/Joint Hydrographic Center, NOAA Ship WHITING, NOAA Ship RUDE, National Marine Fisheries Service Northwest and Southwest Fisheries Science Centers, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Washington State University Vancouver, Oregon State University, Los Angeles County Museum, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, University of Washington, San Francisco State University, National Undersea Research Center at University of Connecticut, University of Maine, College of William and Mary, Georgia Institute of Technology, Louisiana State University, University of South Carolina, College of Charleston, National Undersea Research Center at Rutgers University, SUNY-Stony Brook, U.S. Geological Survey, Ecology Communications, National Marine Sanctuaries System, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, National Undersea Research Center at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Monterey Bay Aquarium, National Ocean Service, NASA Office of Earth Science, National Undersea Research Center at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, University of Alaska Fairbanks Institute for Marine Studies, US Navy Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Keyport, Klein Associates, Inc., Triton-Elics International, Quality Positioning Services, Groundfish Forum, B&N Fisheries, Charleston Math and Science Hub, Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, University of Maine/Darling Center Collaborators

Chronology of NOAA Ocean Exploration President’s budget requests $14M for Ocean Exploration in FY2002 February 2001: NOAA launches $4M Ocean Exploration Program October 2000: A U.S. Panel on Ocean ExplorationOctober 2000: A U.S. Panel on Ocean Exploration October 1970: The Stratton CommissionOctober 1970: The Stratton Commission FY2001:Office of Ocean Exploration funds 8 expeditions and projects, launches website

2001 Expeditions Continuing the Lewis and Clark Legacy 22 ROV dives (7 Astoria Canyon, 15 Heceta Bank) 22 ROV dives (7 Astoria Canyon, 15 Heceta Bank) Surveyed 600 sq. nm. with multibeam sonar Surveyed 600 sq. nm. with multibeam sonar thousands of specimens, some previous unknowns thousands of specimens, some previous unknowns Intertidal mussel found, dated ca. 14,000 years old Intertidal mussel found, dated ca. 14,000 years old USS Monitor Recovery of 30-ton steam engine Recovery of 30-ton steam engine 10-year conservation process has begun 10-year conservation process has begun Preparations for gun turret recovery in 2002 Preparations for gun turret recovery in 2002

342 sq. mi. mapped with side scan sonar Imaged 11 known shipwrecks Large sinkholes discovered - some 20m deep Approx. 70 more “targets” Targets will be further explored with ROVs in 2002.

2001 Expeditions

Islands in the Stream >30 Clelia and Johnson-Sea-Link submersible dives>30 Clelia and Johnson-Sea-Link submersible dives Exploring underwater habitats from Belize to Cape HatterasExploring underwater habitats from Belize to Cape Hatteras Thousands of specimens collected and tagged for further researchThousands of specimens collected and tagged for further research Students and teachers-at-sea and daily web updatesStudents and teachers-at-sea and daily web updates 2001 Expeditions Deep East 11 ALVIN dives from Maine to Georgia to depths of 3000m11 ALVIN dives from Maine to Georgia to depths of 3000m Exploration of deep corals, Hudson Canyon, gas hydratesExploration of deep corals, Hudson Canyon, gas hydrates First observation of gas hydrate formation in a natural settingFirst observation of gas hydrate formation in a natural setting New animal behaviors observedNew animal behaviors observed New anemone depth recordNew anemone depth record Teachers-at-Sea and daily web updatesTeachers-at-Sea and daily web updates

More bang for the buck: Additional Expeditions S-5S-5 JunoJuno TitanicTitanic Gorda RidgeGorda Ridge

Growth since site launch in April: 30,000%

Ocean Exploration 2002 Polar regionsPolar regions Gulf of MaineGulf of Maine Baja to BeringBaja to Bering South AtlanticSouth Atlantic BightBight Northwest Hawaiian IslandsNorthwest Hawaiian Islands Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico Understanding Ocean AcousticsUnderstanding Ocean Acoustics Exploring Ocean FrontiersExploring Ocean Frontiers Finding New ResourcesFinding New Resources Protecting America’s Maritime HeritageProtecting America’s Maritime Heritage The Census of Marine LifeThe Census of Marine Life