In early 2009, the National Sea Grant College Program finalized a new national strategic action plan, which can be viewed here. The plan is organized around four focus areas:

• Healthy Coastal Ecosystems
• Sustainable Coastal Development
• Safe and Sustainable Seafood Supply
• Hazard Resilience in Coastal Communities

All state Sea Grant programs aligned to the national plan in 2009.

In response to the national plan, the Delaware Sea Grant College Program issued its strategic plan update, which provides an overview of the program and its top priorities in marine research, education, and public outreach for the period 2009–2013. The plan identifies the strategic marine issues of importance to the state of Delaware, the Mid-Atlantic region, and the nation. It also specifies how Delaware Sea Grant’s plan aligns with the National Sea Grant Program’s four focus areas.

Implementation Plan

The 2009–2013 update includes an implementation plan that identifies how components of the Delaware Strategic Plan are to be integrated and executed within the context of the National Sea Grant priorities. The implementation plan articulates expected Delaware Sea Grant outcomes and measurable objectives. Then, the performance measures and targets define how we evaluate and measure program success, as can be seen here.

Outreach and education are integral components of the implementation plan. The formal and informal reporting of the results to program, state, and national decision makers is key to the process. Assessment criteria include those that are standard for university-based research excellence and, because Sea Grant research is programmatic and application-oriented, the criteria also include evidence of societal benefit in the form of external collaborations, technology transfer, and other impacts.