Oceans and Health: A Prescription for the Future Paul Sandifer Chief Scientist, NOAA’s Oceans and Human Health Initiative

Primary Drivers for Establishment of a National OHH Initiative National Academy Reports: –From Monsoons to Microbes: Understanding the Role of the Oceans in Human Health –Under the Weather: Climate, Ecology and Infectious Disease –Marine Biotechnology –Grand Environmental Challenges U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy Program Implementation by NSF & NIEHS Congressional Appropriations NOAA Strategic Plan Oceans and Human Health Act of 2004

An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century

Human Threats to Ocean Health Ballast water, invasive species Overfishing, ecosystem collapse NPS pollution, stormwater runoff Coastal development, wetland loss

more impervious surfaces Impacts of Coastal Development on Ocean and Human Health bacterial/viral contamination of seafood & beaches decreased biodiversity and natural habitat increased flooding

Ocean Threats to Human Health

Role of OHHI within NOAA Historical Focus of NOAA Focus of OHH Initiative

NOAA OHHI Scientific Goals Support an ecosystems approach to understanding causal relationships among humans, ocean processes, marine ecosystem health, and human health outcomes; Predict ocean-related impacts on human health and identify emerging marine-related human health threats; Promote the ecologically sound discovery of marine organisms and bioactive agents for human health benefit; and Provide useful information for public health and natural resource decision makers

NOAA Centers of Excellence in Oceans & Human Health Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) –predicting the formation of toxic algal blooms, beach closings, and water quality Hollings Marine Laboratory (HML) –quality and safety of coastal waters and seafood and development of tools to characterize chemical and microbial threats to marine ecosystems and humans. Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) –infectious diseases, toxins, and chemicals that directly impact human health, and the use of marine organisms as sentinel species.

OHHI Competitive External Grants FY04: 104 proposals received, 17 grants awarded ($6.8 million) FY05: proposals under review (~$7 million, including continuing projects): ~ 150 proposals received

Speakers Dr. Dan Baden, Director, Center for Marine Science, University of NC at Wilmington Ms. Sarah Chasis, Director of Water and Coastal Programs, Natural Resources Defense Council Dr. Lora Fleming, Professor, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Miami Dr. Don Perkins, Director, Gulf of Maine Research Institute Ms. Kathleen Frith, Director,Communications and Outreach, Center for Health and the Global Environment, Harvard Medical School