Beyond the Blue Campaign Structure
Beyond the Blue: Illuminating the Pacific was initiated and is being led by NOAA Ocean Exploration in partnership with other U.S. federal agencies. NOAA-funded expeditions on Ocean Exploration Trust’s Exploration Vessel Nautilus and projects with the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute also form key partnerships of the campaign. Moving forward, the priorities of non-federal partners, stakeholders, local communities, and other interested parties will be instrumental in the successful planning and execution of all campaign activities.
The campaign is intended to provide a framework for coordination and collaboration across engaged parties to:
Exchange information about ocean mapping, exploration, and characterization activities and accomplishments in the Pacific Islands region.
Discuss current and future exploration efforts and identify opportunities to align contributions.
Provide comments on effective ways to plan expeditions.
Lead, support, and participate in outreach and communications activities.
Individuals and organizations involved in the campaign meet regularly to share campaign-related activity updates, data, experiences, and products and to provide suggestions to reach campaign goals and objectives.
To learn more about how to become involved in the campaign, contact Beyond the Blue executive secretary Gretchen Spencer (gretchen.spencer@noaa.gov).
Beyond the Blue is envisioned to focus on coastal and deep waters within the Pacific Islands region, from as far north as the Emperor Seamounts, as far east as French Polynesia, as far south as Tonga, and as far west as Palau and the Marianas. Much of the work under the campaign will contribute to the National Strategy for Exploring, Mapping, and Characterizing the United States Exclusive Economic Zone and Seabed 2030.