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exemplified by the ongoing GLOBEC (Global Ocean Ecosystems Dynamics) 

 program on Georges Bank. 



As many of you know, Georges Bank is an extremely valuable and endangered fishery In a 

 normal year, the US catch from this region is valued at about $800M, most of it flowing into 

 coastal communities in southern New England Further, the total economic impact of this fishery 

 is enhanced by a multiplier of about 4-8 The loss of this fishery is therefore devastating in the 

 coastal commimities that are the home to New England's fishing industry This fisher>' lias been 

 in a severe decline over the last five years, and parts of it have been closed Intelligent 

 management decisions about how to manage fisheries on the Bank require knowledge of what 

 went wrong and how the physical-biological system operates. 



This is where GLOBEC research enters the picture Woods Hole scientists are teaming up 

 with government researchers, as well as scientists from other academic institutions, to gain a basic 

 understanding of how flow patterns over the Bank act to support the high biological productivity 

 and productive fishery normally found in this region This is a major, ongoing program, but it is 

 already producing important insights that will be of use to fisheries managers 



• Individual Woods Hole scientists are carrying out important fundamental research 

 on the toxic chemicals in the marine environment This includes work on where 

 the chemicals come from how they are removed from the system and what damage 

 they might do Some of this work has concentrated in the new Bedford harbor, 

 providing a definite local benefit 



• Wood Hole Oceanographic Institution is a host institution for the Massachusetts 

 Sea Grant program This ongoing program, involving funds jointly froir, the 

 federal government, the state and local institutions, has specialized in research 

 focused on practical benefits for the local environment and economy A good 

 example of Sea Grant Research at Woods Hole is that by Drs Stegeman and 

 Moore on flounder tumors a problem that is both good science and of practical 

 importance 



• Woods Hole scientists are among the world leaders in research on "red tides", the 

 blooms of microscopic toxic marine plants that lead to human health hazards and 

 closing of valuable shellfish fisheries Naturally enough, much of this work has 

 taken place along the coasts of the New England region, and has led to a far better 

 understanding of how toxic blooms are caused and spread 



• Woods Hole ocean engineers have developed close ties with nearby Navy 

 laboratories, such as the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) here in 

 Newport This work involved undersea autonomous vehicles that can be used for 

 mine countermeasures, a critical area in the newly-defined missions of the United 

 States Navy In addition, our engineers are providing important contributions to 

 local Navy laboratories in problems involving undersea communications and 

 acoustics 



