About the Program - NOAA RESTORE Science Program
An official website of the United States government.
Here's how you know we're official.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
lock
or
means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Skip to content
Mission
The mission of the NOAA RESTORE Science Program is:
To carry out research, observation, and monitoring to support, to the maximum extent practicable, the long term sustainability of the ecosystem, fish stocks, fish habitat, and the recreational, commercial, and charter fishing industry in the Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico).
Outcomes
The NOAA RESTORE Science Program seeks the following outcomes:
The Gulf Ecosystem is understood in an integrative, holistic manner; and
Management of, and restoration activities within, the Gulf ecosystem are guided by this ecosystem understanding.
Administration of the Program
The NOAA RESTORE Science Program is managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in consultation with the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
. In addition, the RESTORE Act directs that the
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
and the
Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission
be consulted as the program is executed.
The Program is housed in the
National Ocean Service
National Center for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)
with a Gulf-based program director to keep the program grounded in the region.
Geographic Scope
The RESTORE Act stipulates that Program funds be expend “with respect to the Gulf of America”. To provide geographic boundaries for the Program, the Gulf ecosystem is defined as the ocean basin bounded by the United States along its northeastern, northern, and northwestern edges; Mexico on its southwestern and southern edges; and Cuba on its southeastern edge. The Gulf is connected to the Caribbean Sea through the Yucatan Channel between Mexico and Cuba and connected to the Atlantic Ocean through the Florida Straits between Cuba and the United States. This definition of the Gulf ecosystem includes the estuarine and marine environments of the basin’s continental shelf and its deep water environments. International, federal, and state waters are encompassed within this defined area. In addition to supporting research conducted in the Gulf, the Program will also support research on processes that impact the Gulf in a direct, significant, and quantifiable way, which includes processes in the watersheds draining into the Gulf and coastal terrestrial areas that provide habitat for important wildlife species.
Scientific Integrity
The NOAA RESTORE Science Program maintains strict adherence to the principles of scientific integrity as defined in the
NOAA Administrative Order on Scientific Integrity
(NAO 202-735D). NOAA RESTORE Science Program staff and scientists funded by the Program are responsible for abiding by the principles contained in the NAO.
Data and Information Sharing
Eligible applicants awarded funding under the NOAA Restore Science Program will be required to comply with
NOAA’s Administrative Order on Management of Environmental Data and Information
(NAO 212-15), which states that environmental data are to be managed based upon a lifecycle that includes developing and following a data management plan. Environmental data and information collected and/or created under an awarded grant/cooperative agreement will be made visible, accessible and independently understandable to users in a timely manner (typically no later than two (2) years after the data are collected or created) free of charge or at minimal cost that is no more than the cost of distribution to the user, except where limited by law, regulation, policy or by security requirements.
Engagement and Coordination
To be successful, the NOAA RESTORE Science Program must harness the expertise of the research community working in the Gulf and link it to the science needs of the region’s resource management community. An engagement process that connects researchers, resource managers, and resource users and allows their collective knowledge to inform the direction of the Program is required. NOAA, working with our
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
partner, have been conducting such a process from the beginning. NOAA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have already held over 200 meetings with stakeholders including representatives from the
Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
, universities, federal and state agencies, and non-governmental organizations. The Program has also engaged with stakeholders at research and resource management conferences and workshops and through virtual engagement sessions on-line. The input captured through this engagement shaped the Program’s science plan
Related Organizations
USA.gov
Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Informational Links
Freedom of Information Act
Information Quality
Website Disclaimer
Survey
Recent Announcements
From Santa Barbara to the Gulf: Scientists synthesize decades of data to protect a changing Texas coast
January 12, 2026
Not on our Email List? Join Now!