Strategic assessment of multiple resource-use conflicts in the US exclusive economic zone

The 1983 Presidential proclamation establishing the US Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) has prompted new interest in the exploration and development of the resources of this vast oceanic area. Due to the incomplete nature of available information and the resultant uncertain decisionmaking context, decisions that maximize net national benefits from the EEZ will be difficult to identify and make. Since 1979, NOAA's Ocean Assessments Division has been organizing and synthesizing the best available information on selected characteristics of important regions of the EEZ and conducting comprehensive, "strategic" assessments useful for reducing potential conflicts in the multiple use of resources. Recent activities to develop data bases, publish data atlases, develop innovative approaches for identifying and assessing issues, and applying all of these tools to actual and real EEZ-related problems are described.