The Friends of NOAA are supporters, stakeholders and partners of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and exist to encourage Congress to provide appropriate support for the agency as it carries out its mission of saving lives and livelihoods.

NOAA is also one of the premier science agencies in the Federal Government, providing decision makers with critically important data, products and services that promote and enhance the nation's economy, security, environment, and quality of life.  For example, it was NOAA -- and its underlying science enterprise -- that enabled the delivery of accurate and timely information regarding the impending landfall of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, a forecast that saved tens of thousands of lives.  A better understanding of the oceans not only benefits coastal communities.  In fact, economists have estimated that altering planting decisions based on improved El Nino and La Nina forecasts would save U.S. farmers $265-$300 million.

Given NOAA's role as the lead federal agency for our oceans and atmosphere, and our increasing appreciation and understanding of the human health, national security, and economic impacts associated with the oceanic and atmospheric physical and biological processes, we firmly believe that an increased investment in NOAA is needed now.

For information about joining the Friends of NOAA, please contact Kevin Wheeler 202 448-1219.

Latest News From NOAA

• Hurricane Forecasters Bring Preparedness Message to Atlantic, Mexico and Caribbean
  NOAA and the U.S. Air Force Reserve will host a series of public events from March 18 to 27 in six coastal communities in Bermuda, Mexico and the Caribbean to urge residents to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season. 
• NOAA and Gloucester Seafood Display Auction Settle Three Cases
  NOAA and Gloucester Fish Exchange, Inc. (owner of the Gloucester Seafood Display Auction) agreed late yesterday to settle three pending enforcement cases that involved allegations of handling illegally caught fish and maintaining false records.
• NOAA Provides $10 Million to Support New England Groundfish Fishery
  NOAA announced today an additional $10 million to preserve fishing opportunities for the New England fishing industry and continue the development of a new sector program in the groundfish fishery. Over the last two years, a total of $47.2 million has been committed to the groundfish fishery and the transition to sectors.
• Researchers Issue Outlook for a Significant New England "Red Tide"; in 2010
  Today, scientists from the NOAA-funded Gulf of Maine Toxicity project issued an outlook for a significant regional bloom of a toxic alga that causes ‘red tides’ in the spring and summer of this year, potentially threatening the New England shellfish industry.
• Commerce Department Proposes Establishment of NOAA Climate Service
  Individuals and decision-makers across widely diverse sectors – from agriculture to energy to transportation – increasingly are asking NOAA for information about climate change in order to make the best choices for their families, communities and businesses. To meet the rising tide of these requests, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke today announced the intent to create a NOAA Climate Service line office dedicated to bringing together the agency’s strong climate science and service delivery capabilities.
• Statement From Dr. Jane Lubchenco on the Death of Sam D. Hamilton, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  I was deeply saddened to learn of Sam Hamilton’s untimely death this weekend. Sam was a wonderful colleague for whom we at NOAA had deep admiration. The NOAA family shares in this great loss to the conservation community, and we extend our sincere condolences to Sam’s family and to all of our colleagues at the Department of the Interior.
• Caribbean Surface Current Data Now Available to Rescuers, Hazmat Crews
  A new NOAA data feed will streamline search and rescue efforts and hazardous material cleanups in the Caribbean. Measurements of surface current speed and direction off the west coast of Puerto Rico are now feeding into a single Web site, making the information easily accessible and understandable to a broad user community of ocean rescuers and responders for the first time.
• Statement by Dr. Lubchenco, NOAA administrator, on Voluntary Remand of Hydropower Biological Opinion
  We’re pleased that the court views the Adaptive Management Implementation Plan as a positive development. We’re ready to proceed with the voluntary three-month remand as the court outlined in its proposed order so the court may consider the AMIP in evaluating the 2008 Biological Opinion.
• Newest NOAA Geostationary Satellite Reaches Orbit
  NOAA and NASA officials announced a new Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES), launched tonight, successfully reached its initial orbit, joining four other GOES spacecraft that help NOAA forecasters track life-threatening weather and solar activity.
• Dolphins’ Health Shed Light on Human and Ocean Health
  Scientists Discover Clues into Human Diseases by Studying Dolphins in a Changing Ocean