Oregon Sea Grant

Established at Oregon State University in 1971, Oregon Sea Grant is one of 32 state programs within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's  Sea Grant College Program, authorized by Congress in 1968. We receive funding from federal and state appropriations, as well as contributions from local governments and industry. 

Integrated program

Through an integrated program of research, public engagement and education, we address several interdependent key issue areas:

• Community resilience to coastal hazards and climate change
• Coastal learning and decision making
• Fisheries and seafood
• Multiple uses and marine spatial planning
• Oceans and human health
• Watersheds and water resources

Competitive research

Oregon Sea Grant’s highly competitive, rigorously reviewed grants program makes us the pre-eminent organization funding marine research in academic institutions in Oregon. We support research that addresses issues of high importance and social relevance, giving priority to work that emphasizes prediction and meaningful collaboration with industry, agencies, communities and othr stakeholders. Learn more ...

Engagement and education

Our research program is matched with the professional and technical expertise of our Sea Grant Extension, Education and Communications faculty and staff, who provide public outreach, engagement and education on ocean and coastal issues important to Oregonians. We support undergraduate and graduate students as Sea Grant Scholars to study and gain practical experience in important marine and coastal problems. Learn more ...

An ethic of service

Everything Sea Grant does, ultimately, is driven by an ethic of public service, and we use a range of approaches to engage our constituents. The users of Oregon’s marine resources are key contributors to the program. An advisory council of marine industry and coastal community leaders provides external review of program directions and progress. We are highly collaborative, working with community and industry groups, teachers and their students,  resource managers and political leaders to develop and provide the public with information based on sound research and cutting-edge science. 

Reaching across institutional boundaries

Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary in operation, Oregon Sea Grant reaches beyond OSU, supporting research conducted at other institutions of higher learning, including the University of Oregon, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland State University, and Eastern Oregon University. We also maintain close working relationships with coastal research facilities, including the OSU Seafood Laboratory in Astoria, the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center/Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station, ODFW and NOAA labs in Newport, and the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology in Charleston. Sea Grant manages the Visitor Center at the Hatfield Marine Science Center as a public science learning facility and learning laboratory. Learn more ...