Coastal economies rely on NOAA, from Maine to Florida, Texas and Alaska – even if they don’t realize it

U.S. fishing industries, both commercial and recreational, rely on healthy coastal areas. Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images

Healthy coastal ecosystems play crucial roles in the U.S. economy, from supporting multibillion-dollar fisheries and tourism industries to protecting coastlines from storms.

They’re also difficult to manage, requiring specialized knowledge and technology.