NCCOS Beaufort Laboratory
The Beaufort Laboratory is operated by the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) under NOAA’s National Ocean Service (NOS). NCCOS staff in Beaufort conduct research on harmful algal blooms, habitat mapping, aquaculture siting and impacts, ecology of marshes and coral reefs, and coastal resilience and restoration. Facility infrastructure includes seawater/culture facilities, analytical laboratories, scientific diving and small boats programs, and NCCOS business management functions.
Areas of Focus
About the Lab
The Beaufort Lab began as a U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries field station in 1899. The Lab moved to its current location on Pivers Island in 1902 and was made part of NCCOS in 1999. The Beaufort Lab is also home to the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center and Southeast Regional Office, as well as the North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR). The NERR is managed through a federal-state partnership between the NOAA/NOS Office of Coastal Management and the NC Division of Coastal Management.
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