To advocate through education and outreach for the regional, national, and global ocean observing system and the application of scientific assessments using environmental data to meet societal needs. NERACOOS was incorporated as a non-profit organization in November, 2008. Since then, the organization has grown and developed a significant number of partner institutions in academia, industry, federal, state, and local governments, and NGOs. NERACOOS-sponsored DFO research is centered at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography (BIO) and consists of three separate activities:

• Development, testing, and application of a nested surface wave forecast model for the North Atlantic, with a focus on the Gulf of Maine, Scotian and New England Shelves. The ultimate intent is to run these forecasts in conjunction with circulation forecast for the same region to benefit NERACOOS stakeholders and the general public.
• Routine sampling of hydrographic properties and nutrients on a line of ten stations across the mouth of the Northeast Channel as part of the biannual AZMP missions.
• Routine sampling of hydrographic properties and nutrients on a line across the Gulf of Maine from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia to Portsmouth, New Hampshire on annual basis as part of the biannual AZMP missions.