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been weak (3% of the UNOLS budget). In his testimony before you, Jim Baker stated 

 the willingness of NOAA to work cooperatively with UNOLS. I am encouraged by 

 his statement and urge you to continue to encourage NOAA to use the UNOLS fleet 

 for its unmet research ship needs, optimizing previous federal investment and 

 cutting costs. 



Anotiier issue that threatens the academic fleet is the addition of new ships without 

 a corresponding increase in support for operations and maintenance. The 

 impending shortfall of funding to support fleet operations would be exacerbated 

 with the addition of "unplanned" ships. The size of the academic fleet is decreasing. 

 As a result, some institutions will lose ships. It is very important that new ships be 

 acquired only when tliere is a funded research need. The commvmity must work 

 together to ensure that capital construction, vessel operations, and research 

 programs grow in logical proportion to one another. We also need your help to 

 encourage the use of the peer review system if new ships are added to the fleet. Peer 

 review allocates resources where they are likely to produce the greatest return on 

 public investments and the broadest-based benefits. 



The academic research fleet faces many challenges in coming years. The health of 

 oceanography and the growing integration of oceanography into global programs 

 requires that the capabilities be maintained and constantiy modernized to meet new 

 research challenges. I encourage you to play a leading role in developing and 

 maintaining effective communications betv/een ship operators, users, and the 

 government on the many relevant issues associated with the academic fleet and 

 futvire research needs. 



A NATIONAL OCEAN PARTNERSHIP 



New scientific opportunities coupled with major changes in organizations 

 responsible for ocean monitoring and research demand that there be more effective 

 communications between academia and government on ocean priorities. The best 

 approach to ensure this coopjeration is through a carefully constructed partnership 

 that takes advantages of the strengths of each sector. A National Ocean Partnership 

 must be develof)ed and funded to take advantage of modem opportimities so that 

 the futvire impact of climate change, tectonics, and past and future ocean and 

 riverine dumping can be gauged with greater certainty. I look forward to working 

 with you on the development and implementation of such a partnership. 



Thank you for your attention. I would be happy to answer any questions you might 

 have. 



