• Detecting and predicting climate variability and consequences,
• Preserving and restoring healthy marine ecosystems,
• Ensuring human health,
• Managing resources,
• Facilitating safe and efficient marine transportation,
• Enhancing national security, and
• Predicting and mitigating against coastal hazards.

We envision sharing of data, models, and products via the internet for the common benefit of all participants, including industry, NGOs, academia, and federal, state, regional, and local government agencies. It is understood that this Gulf of Mexico observing system will be integrated with other regional coastal ocean observing systems, in particular to create an integrated and sustained U.S. component of the ocean observing system