Mission Statement

OpenOcean Research creates partnerships among experts from industry, government, academia, and conservation organizations to develop open-source science solutions to the problems of ocean resource use. One of its primary goals is to integrate the practical knowledge of fisherman who engage daily with ecosystems with the knowledge of academic scientists to improve the timeliness and accuracy of science used to support assessments of the resources in marine systems that are rapidly changing with climate change.

The oceans are our last great wilderness; remote to most humans on the planet. They provide critical life support; supplying the human population with 25% of its protein requirements, over 50% of the oxygen in the atmosphere, and serving as the reservoir of heat moderating the earth’s climate. Responsible stewardship of ocean commons is crucial for human survival.

What OpenOcean research does.

OpenOcean Research assists in the development of diverse collaborative research partnerships focusing on increasing the accuracy and timeliness of scientific information used to design sustainable human use of marine resources. John P. Manderson Ph’d leads OpenOcean Research. Current projects include work to facilitate industry-science collaborations improving the accuracy and timeliness of population assessments of northern shortfin squid, and the development of a Fishery Knowledge Trust with the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance and Concitor LLC. Prior to forming OpenOpen Research Dr. Manderson worked as a research fisheries oceanographer, habitat ecologist, and expert in industry-science collaborative fisheries research for more than 20 years at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration/National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA/NMFS). While at NOAA, he successfully formed and led transdisciplinary groups of experts from the fishing industry, government, academia, and environmental NGOs that integrated ecosystem considerations into fish population assessments. These working groups made significant contributions to benchmark assessments of Butterfish in 2014 and North West Atlantic Mackerel in 2017 that resulted in changes in population status from unknown to known f. He also worked with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to develop of fishery management plan for Chubb Mackerel that integrated collaborative research and ecosystem considerations, including human food security.