Ocean Matters

A healthy ocean provides us with pleasure, food, and transportation —all of which mean jobs in the growing Blue Economy.

From marine robotics to seaweed and shellfish aquaculture, our research drives innovation—and helps ensure safe, reliable, and sustainably managed ocean resources.

The ocean is an essential part of the Earth’s water cycle, the source of life-giving precipitation for drinking water and crops. It also provides billions of people around the world with a healthy source of protein.

To meet the demands of a hungry, thirsty world, our research enables sustainable fisheries management and increased yields for shellfish and kelp farms. Deeper understanding of the ocean-climate connection supports more accurate predictions of today’s weather––and tomorrow’s climate.

Our technology and expertise improve the accuracy of storm forecasts and tsunami warnings, giving affected communities time to prepare and saving countless lives.

But we’re not just there when disaster strikes. Our long-term studies and satellite-driven models help predict where storms, earthquakes, sea level rise, and permafrost and wetland loss will endanger critical infrastructure, from New England to Alaska. 

Harmful algal blooms can endanger human and marine animal health, with serious consequences for commercial fisheries, subsistence diets, and tourism.

Our monitoring programs help communities from Alaska to the Caribbean prepare for red tide, sargassum, and toxic algae––safeguarding public health and jobs that rely on pristine seafood and beaches.

Oceanographic research is paramount to the nation's security.

WHOI-led innovations in acoustic technology––paired with persistent offshore monitoring and deep understanding of ocean dynamics––provide our military with battlefield awareness, navigational prowess, and stealth communications in the deep sea and even under ice. Our research also helps defend our nation’s strategic assets– from storm surge mitigation to antifouling paints that extend fleet longevity.