The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing $1,962,800 in federal funding to the coastal states stewardship foundation, serving as fiscal sponsor for the mid-atlantic…

The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing $1,962,800 in federal funding to the coastal states stewardship foundation, serving as fiscal sponsor for the mid-atlantic regional council on the ocean (marco) regional ocean partnership through the bipartisan infrastructure law. The bipartisan infrastructure law provides funding for established regional ocean partnerships (rops) to coordinate the interstate and intertribal management of ocean and coastal resources and to implement their priority actions, including to enhance associated sharing and integration of federal and non-federal data. Specifically the mid-atlantic regional council on the ocean will use these funds to advance inclusive, regional ocean planning through inter-agency coordination and stakeholder engagement with a focus on underrepresented groups and avoidance of conflicts for offshore wind development; build an understanding of coastal climate risks and climate mitigation opportunities through the mid-atlantic coastal acidification network and through a regional blue carbon stock assessment; coordinate regional partners around marine debris prevention and reduction through convenings, community-based social marketing strategies, and outreach; identify policy, process, and regulatory efficiencies where applicable; and provide the best available spatial data and information to public stakeholders and decision-makers on the marco portal.