Managing Marine Pollution Data and Information

An Ocean Pollution Data and Information Network (OPDIN), composed of a central office in Washington, D.C. and five regional offices in key coastal locations, has been proposed to ensure timely and useful availability of marine pollution data and information. The National Oceanographic Data Center recently convened the Workshop on Marine Pollution Information Management as a first step in defining system requirements and to initialize OPDIN design. Important features of the Network include regional access (for input and distribution of data and information), a system of cost recovery, and a means of facilitating data synthesis. The use of existing resources to the maximum extent is emphasized. The publication, Coastal Ocean Pollution Assessment (COPAS) News, is now available for data and information dissemination.