With the 2006 efforts by the U.S. Congress to renew the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the 2004 U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy report,issues regarding the management of living marine resources and the use of ocean observing systems are receiving significant attention. Internationally, the Group on Earth Observations (GEO; httpc//www.earthobservations.org) is highlighting efforts by national governments, including those of the U.S. government, to use Earth science measurements to support decision-making for societal benefits. In addition, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is placing greater emphasis on ecosystem-based approaches to addressing its management responsibilities.