Ocean Hazards–Coastal Impacts Network
The Ocean Hazards-Coastal Impacts Network (OHCIN, pronounced “ocean”) is a MARCO-supported initiative designed to strengthen regional coordination on ocean-rooted hazards and resilience needs affecting Mid-Atlantic communities, ecosystems, infrastructure, and economies. The Network brings together state, federal, Tribal, academic, nonprofit, industry, and community partners to share information, identify regional priorities, and develop practical resources that support coastal planning and management.
OHCIN's Scope
- Ocean-Rooted Hazards: Hazards arising from or influenced by ocean conditions and processes that affect coastal and marine environments, communities, infrastructure, and economies.
- Ocean-Facing Resilience Needs: The challenges and adaptation needs associated with ocean-related changes and hazards, as distinct from primarily land-based or inland coastal resilience issues.
Get Connected
Join the Network: Receive updates and participate in activities that align with your interests and expertise.
📅 Network Launch – December 10, 2026
2:30–4:00 p.m. ET · Virtual meeting
Initial focus: Marine species range shifts
Check back soon for registration link.
About OHCIN
Climate-driven changes in ocean systems have cascading impacts across interconnected natural and human systems, affecting systems both offshore and onshore. While onshore resilience initiatives have established strong networks for sharing knowledge and advancing solutions, efforts to address changes in ocean systems remain more fragmented.
A central goal of OHCIN is to bridge this gap by connecting disciplines and sectors that often address different aspects of the same challenges independently. By bringing together ocean science, marine resource management, resilience efforts, and coastal and ocean planning, the Network aims to break down silos, strengthen information sharing, identify shared regional needs, and support more coordinated responses to ocean-driven changes.
Potential focus areas include:
- Changing ocean conditions and their effects on marine species distributions;
- Coastal storm impacts on sediment movement, beaches, tourism, and coastal economies;
- Marine heatwave impacts on marine ecosystems, fisheries, working waterfronts, and coastal economies and communities.
Origins of the Network
OHCIN emerged from discussions at the 2026 Mid-Atlantic Ocean Forum, where participants representing state and federal agencies, Tribal nations, academic and research institutions, NGOs, and industry expressed strong support for a regional network focused on ocean-rooted hazards and their coastal impacts. Participants emphasized the need for stronger coordination, improved access to information, practical decision-support tools, and greater collaboration across sectors.
How the Network Works
OHCIN serves as a collaborative forum for information exchange, peer learning, identification of shared regional priorities, and development of practical decision-support resources.
Network activities may include:
- Convening virtual Network meetings (topic-specific discussions and workshops; peer exchange and lessons learned);
- Identifying regional information needs, research gaps, and opportunities for collaboration;
- Developing or connecting partners with practical resources that support coastal planning and management; and
- Coordinating with existing MARCO work groups and regional partnerships
Participation is flexible. Members may engage broadly across Network activities or participate only in specific topics and projects that align with their expertise, interests, and organizational priorities. Participation does not require a standing commitment to every Network activity.
Year 1 Priorities: What’s Happening Now?
In its first year, the Ocean Hazards-Coastal Impacts Network is focused on building connections across the region, sharing information about emerging ocean-related climate challenges, and identifying opportunities for collaboration.
Initial Focus: Species Range Shifts
As ocean temperatures and conditions change, marine species are shifting their distributions and migration patterns. These changes have implications for fisheries, protected species, coastal economies and communities, and ocean management across the Mid-Atlantic.
The Network is exploring species range shifts as its initial focus, bringing together scientists, resource managers, fishing communities, working waterfronts, and other parties to:
- Share information about changing species distributions and their impacts;
- Learn about existing and emerging research, data products, management approaches, and adaptation efforts;
- Identify shared challenges, information gaps, and opportunities for collaboration; and
- Explore practical applications of science and data to support regional planning and management.
Get Involved
Participation is open to partners interested in coastal hazards resilience across the Mid-Atlantic. OHCIN welcomes participation from Mid-Atlantic Ocean Planning Committee and Mid-Atlantic Tribal Caucus members; state, federal, Tribal, and local government representatives; coastal managers and planners; scientists and researchers; emergency management professionals; non-governmental organizations; industry representatives; community leaders; and others working on ocean hazards and their coastal impacts.
Because ocean hazards and resilience issues cross sectors, disciplines, and jurisdictions, organizations and individuals are encouraged to participate at whatever level aligns with their expertise, interests, and priorities.
Ways to participate:
- Attend Network meetings and topic-specific discussions;
- Contribute to topic-specific projects and collaborative efforts;
- Share expertise, research, data, and resources; or
- Join the mailing list to receive updates and learn about upcoming opportunities.
Ocean Hazards-Coastal Impacts Network Launch – December 10, 2026
Join us virtually from 2:30–4:00 p.m. ET for the inaugural OHCIN All Hands meeting. The meeting will introduce the Network’s purpose and priorities, highlight ongoing work related to marine species range shifts, and invite participants to identify shared needs and opportunities for Year 1 activities.
Ready to join?
Complete the interest form or contact Jes Watts for additional information (jwatts@midatlanticocean.org)