Dear Sea Grant Stakeholders,

As we welcome the new year, I am pleased to present the first issue of NOAA Sea Grant's revitalized E-Currents - a brief news update highlighting Sea Grant accomplishments and information of national significance. This issue features the first State of Sea Grant 2010: Impacts, Challenges and Opportunities biennial report to the United States Congress. Here are several highlights: 

•  Last year alone, Sea Grant:  
  • Was instrumental in creating or retaining over 3,500 jobs and 650 businesses
  • Assisted 160 coastal communities in adopting or implementing hazard resiliency practices
  • Supported nearly 1,700 undergraduate and graduate students to develop a diverse, highly qualified workforce
• In a two-year period, Sea Grant efforts ensured that more than 3,000 fish producers learned about control of invasive species
• Since the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Sea Grant has organized more than 60 meetings involving over 5,000 participants in Gulf states to provide science-based information to communities and to facilitate communications among stakeholders.

In addition to these highlights, we invite you to review impacts and achievements from each of the 32 state Sea Grant programs. We look forward to sharing the myriad ways Sea Grant is bringing expertise and solutions to bear on many of our nation's most pressing coastal issues. We hope you will share E-Currents with your friends and that you will enjoy our new Facebook and Twitter pages.  

Regards,

Leon M. Cammen,

Director, National Sea Grant College Program

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration