The University's Sea Grant College Program has earned high honors from a national review team, which concludes that the program is "in all respects considered excellent."

UD's program is "unique and one-of-a-kind in terms of its administrative structure within the University, its management, its high level of research, its outreach and its translation of science to its constituents," according to the team's report, which it issued in December following a campus visit.

Citing the program's "exceptionally high quality," the final report includes no formal recommendations for improvement.

Since the University was named the nation's ninth Sea Grant College in 1976, the program has conducted research on issues ranging from beach erosion to fisheries decline, educated hundreds of graduate students in marine science and extended research-based information to the public through the Marine Advisory Service and Marine Public Education Office.

"We were honored to earn such high marks, which testify to the hard work and dedication of our researchers and outreach staff, as well as the staunch support provided by the state of Delaware, our Sea Grant Advisory Council and the many citizens, agencies and industries that work with us," Carolyn Thoroughgood, Sea Grant director and dean of the College of Marine Studies, says. "Sea Grant is indeed a true partnership, aimed at fostering the wise use, conservation and management of marine resources."

The report recognizes Delaware Sea Grant for best management practices in three areas--administration of Sea Grant funding; excellence in education, for its interactive web sites hosted in conjunction with such deep-sea research projects as Extreme 2001; and the annual Coast Day festival, which informs more than 10,000 visitors each year about ocean issues.

Concerning funding, the report notes that Delaware Sea Grant strongly encourages the pursuit of matching grants from industry and the establishment of partnerships. The program sets aside federal money that can be accessed only if a researcher has an industry partner willing to match the funds dollar for dollar, in either cash or in-kind services.

Delaware Sea Grant also has used its web site "very effectively" in reaching the public with marine information, the report says.

The review team report also recognizes Delaware Sea Grant for its Coast Day open house, held annually at the Lewes campus. The event serves as an important forum for the dissemination of marine information and has earned state and national awards for environmental education.

Also according to the report, Delaware Sea Grant has developed an aggressive and effective strategic plan, which lists 50 goals and objectives in the research priority areas of coastal ocean studies, coastal engineering, environmental technology, marine biotechnology and fisheries.

The team notes that Delaware Sea Grant "is producing significant results in all aspects of their stated strategic goals. This is evidenced by the number and quality of peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, significant partnerships and outreach."

In reviewing each research priority area, the team comments on the program's success in pursuing "sound research to solve practical problems."

Members of the review team point out that a current marine biotechnology project exploring the potential for microscopic organisms to naturally clean up toxic pollutants (polyaromatic hydrocarbons) in the Delaware River could have "significant" national economic benefit.

They also note the "clever and efficient use" of an existing series of lighthouses in Delaware Bay as a novel environmental monitoring network. The evolving Delaware Bay Observing System is aimed at collecting real-time oceanographic and atmospheric data needed by scientists and resource managers.

The report recognizes Delaware Sea Grant's historically important contributions to fisheries research on blue crabs and weakfish and points to "especially noteworthy" research on essential fish habitat and on oyster genetics. Reviewers also say that "biochemical research to develop an artificial bait for replacement of horseshoe crabs in trap fisheries seems destined for success and may assure conservation of the ecologically and economically valuable horseshoe crab resource."

Concerning coastal engineering, the team notes that "the University of Delaware has one of the most highly respected programs in coastal engineering in the country."

The review team also acknowledges the "highly complimentary" feedback from Delaware Sea Grant constituents.

A member of a national network of 30 Sea Grant programs, based in each coastal state, Delaware Sea Grant is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the state of Delaware and the University.