The Ocean Planning and Governance Geographic Information System (Ocean
GIS) is a prototype online regional marine GIS covering the vast ocean
area bounded by the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, the exclusive economic
zone, and various maritime boundaries. The Ocean GIS was developed to
provide coastal and ocean resource managers in the Southeast access to
regional digital geographic mapping information and technologies to
facilitate coordinated decision making within and across the multi-
layered U.S. ocean management framework. Special emphasis is placed on the
federal ocean and coastal management and governance framework, and efforts
are ongoing to develop similar data sets for state and local level policy
frameworks.
The Southeast Ocean GIS is an ongoing project that has and continues to
rely on the vision, dedication, helpfulness, and energy of individuals
from partner agencies and numerous other organizations. The Ocean GIS
partnership includes: North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural
Resources - Division of Coastal Management, South Carolina Department of
Health and Environmental Control, Florida Coastal Management Program,
Georgia Department of Natural Resources - Coastal Resources Division, NOAA
Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, U.S. Department of
Interior - Minerals Management Service, Florida Marine Research Institute,
and NOAA Coastal Services Center.