Administration of the Program

The NOAA RESTORE Science Program is managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition, the RESTORE Act directs that the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission be consulted as the program is executed.

The Program is housed in the National Ocean Service, National Center for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) with a Gulf-based program director to keep the program grounded in the region. The program director and associate director are supported by a senior advisor, engagement coordination team, and technical project monitoring working group. Oversight of the NOAA RESTORE Science Program is provided by an executive oversight board which reports to the NOAA Research Council and is made up of Assistant Administrators or their designees from each of the NOAA line offices, a representative from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and an ex officio member from the NOAA Budget Office. The Restoration Science Advisory Working Group, a standing working group of NOAA’s Science Advisory Board serves as a source of external scientific advice to the Program.