National Ocean Service

The National Ocean Service (NOS) is on the front lines in understanding, predicting, and responding to the challenges facing our oceans and coasts.

More than 156 million people—over half of the U.S. population—live in coastal areas, including the Great Lakes. Coastal areas contribute $7.9 trillion to the U.S. economy.

To keep coastal communities, economies, and environments safe, NOS is protecting and restoring coastal habitats, reducing impacts associated with coastal development and other uses, and protecting coastal water quality and quantity to prevent illness and sustain ecosystems. We are working to enhance coastal resiliency and reduce impacts from coastal hazards such as spills, storms, and climate change.