UNH gets $38.5 million federal grant for coastal mapping center

DURHAM - A $38.5 million grant over five years from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was awarded to the University of New Hampshire to continue coastal mapping operations at the Joint Hydrographic Center.

The funding was announced Thursday by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., ranking member on the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations subcommittee, along with the rest of the state's congressional delegation: Sen. Maggie Hassan and Reps. Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas.

The JHC has made UNH an international leader in coastal mapping, according to Shaheen's office. Its research addresses the integrated use of ocean and mapping technologies for safe navigation, sound fisheries management, national security, environmental and habitat studies and continental shelf mapping.

"The center is making significant contributions to education, research and technological advances in ocean mapping and hydrographic sciences, and it’s important that this work continue to be funded," Shaheen said. "I’m very pleased that these federal funds have been awarded, which will allow JHC to continue its ocean mapping work that is so crucial to protecting our coastal communities, environment and supporting our regional and national economies."

"We look forward to helping define the next generation of ocean mapping technologies that will support the nation in its efforts to conserve and manage the critical ocean resources that support and sustain us," said said Larry Mayer, founding director of the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping and co-director of the JHC.