The Fish Stock Sustainability Index (FSSI) is comprised of 175 stocks (down from 199 beginning in FY 2020) selected for their economic, ecological, and social importance, that represent 83% of total catch. Each stock is given a score between 0 and 4 (0=status unknown; 4=meets all sustainable fishing criteria). The index (scored on a 1,000 point scale) increases when NMFS determines that a stock is either no longer subject to overfishing, no longer overfished, or its biomass has rebuilt or increased to at least 80 percent of target.

This measure captures a range of efforts by NOAA’s Aquaculture Program that together will lead to a more efficient federal permitting process. These efforts include: working with federal partners under the White House/OSTP's Subcommittee on Aquaculture to coordinate and streamline inter-agency permitting, working with industry partners to establish and manage offshore aquaculture pilot projects, conducting spatial analysis and developing siting tools, developing engineering solutions, efforts to assess and reduce risk (e.g., entanglement) from aquaculture operations, conducting programmatic environmental reviews to reduce burden on individual applicants, and drafting/revising guidance to permit applicants to improve application quality. We will also continue to support, as requested, any Congressional initiative to develop aquaculture legislation.

This measure tracks cumulative progress of NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey toward completing gravity observations for the Redefinition of the American Vertical Datum (GRAV-D) initiative and implementation of a new National Vertical Datum. The measure indicates the percentage of the U.S. for which NOAA has airborne gravity data necessary to support the new National Vertical Datum. This improved vertical reference system is critical for all observing systems and activities requiring accurate heights. For example, this system is important for helping determine where water flows in order to make accurate inundation models and assessments.

This measure shows the number of environmental reviews (ESA Section 7 formal consultation, MMPA incidental harassment authorization, EFH consultation) that exceed regulatory, statutory, or otherwise agreed-upon deadlines. Under the ESA and MSA, Federal agencies must consult with NOAA when any project or action might affect an ESA-listed marine species or a critical habitat. Under the MMPA, NMFS issues incidental harassment authorizations, which allow for the otherwise prohibited incidental “take” of marine mammals resulting from lawful activities (such as military readiness training, seismic surveys, or coastal construction).

This indicator's milestones/targets will complete the development of an OMAO DEI Implementation Plan as a critical step in establishing DEI awareness and activities within the entire OMAO organization. OMAO established its DEI Advisory Council, chaired by the OMAO DAA for Programs and Administration, comprising twelve (12) individuals across OMAO’s centers and divisions. All members are currently enrolled in the e-Cornell Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion certification program and are on track to complete their certifications. The DEI Implementation Plan will be monitored and updated to ensure OMAO leadership can identify successes, target areas for improvement and adjust the Plan's contents to better scope and emphasize it's direction.

This network provides the capacity to track long-term changes in ocean chemistry and to alert stakeholders and industry partners about corrosive events impacting the Nation’s blue economy. This indicator reflects the number of National Ocean Acidification - Observing Network (NOA-ON) observations that are successfully transmitted to NOAA. This occurs when a NOA-ON sensor asset successfully transmits a minimum of 8 observations within a 24 hour day. Ideally, the number of transmitted observations should equal 100% of observations collected.

This measure tracks the progress of ongoing or completed recovery actions included in NMFS approved recovery plans for species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Recovery plans include a list of actions necessary to de-list the species. These include actions that may be completed in a year or that may take many years to complete or are ongoing. Recovery of a species may take decades. Completed recovery actions shows incremental progress.

The National Ocean Acidification Observing Network (NOA-ON) is comprised of a suite of sensor assets. Each sensor tracks the daily cycle of ocean carbonate chemistry, which allows us to characterize Ocean Acidification in accordance with the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring (FOARAM) Act. This network provides the capacity to track long-term changes in ocean chemistry and to alert stakeholders and industry partners about corrosive events impacting the Nation’s blue economy.

A winter storm warning provides NOAA customers and partners advanced notice of a hazardous winter weather event that endangers life or property, or provides an impediment to commerce. Winter storm warnings are issued for winter weather phenomena like blizzards, ice storms, heavy sleet, and heavy snow. This performance indicator measures the advance warning lead time in hours of winter storm events. Improving the accuracy and advance warnings of winter storms enables the public to take the necessary steps to prepare for disruptive winter weather conditions.

This measure tracks the percentage of fish stocks that are below their annual catch limit (ACL) in a given year. In 2007, Congress enacted a requirement to use ACLs to end and prevent overfishing. The use of ACLs has been successful in ending and preventing overfishing, as stock assessments have shown the number of stocks subject to overfishing continuing to decline. Performance is measured by comparing the final annual catch estimate to the ACL for each stock that has an ACL. If the final annual catch estimate for the stock is less than the ACL, NOAA will report that the stock did not exceed its ACL.