NOAA Fisheries Protected Resources Strategic Plan: 2016 - 2020 Conserving America’s Marine Protected Species

This plan provides national-level strategic goals for the protected species management programs across National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries (this includes Protected Resources Divisions in NOAA Fisheries’ five Regional Offices), as well as strategic goals specific to the NOAA Fisheries Headquarters Office of Protected Resources. We developed these priorities in consideration of the Office of Protected Resources’ core mission in the context of current fiscal conditions and NOAA Fisheries, NOAA, and Department of Commerce (DOC) strategic plans and priorities.

Over the next five years we will focus on four strategic goals. The goals align with and take advantage of our strengths and unique capabilities, guiding the work of Office of Protected Resources and the NOAA Fisheries protected resources management programs around the country (this includes Protected Resources Divisions in NOAA Fisheries’ five Regional Offices). We have determined our focus on these goals will make the biggest difference to our recovery and conservation mission given our expertise and current and emerging needs. The four goals are:
1. Stabilize the most critically endangered species and improve populations of those species nearing recovery
2. Develop guidelines and tools to make protected species management decisions “Climate Smart”
3. Maximize our effectiveness in implementing the ESA and MMPA
4. Cultivate collaborators to recover and conserve protected species