Alaskans will be flying blind after NSF decommissions ocean monitoring network

The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced plans in May to decommission the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), a nearly $368 million network of scientific instruments, triggering significant concern in Alaska. This deep-ocean monitoring system tracks crucial metrics like ocean chemistry, wave action, water temperature, and salinity. The real-time data generated by the OOI is vital for scientists, fishery managers, coastal hazard planners, and the military, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding fish harvesting quotas, anticipating marine heatwaves, and preparing for extreme wave events. Alaska, which experiences ocean warming at twice the global average, relies heavily on this data for its status as the nation's top fish-producing state. The decommissioning of the OOI leaves a critical gap in real-time oceanographic information, potentially impacting resource management and hazard preparedness.