V1, 7/18/05 13 be best dealt with in coordination with SECOORA, and this interaction needs to be initiated within the next few months. Progress in establishing what level of product development is appropriate for an RA/RCOOS versus what is best carried out by private interests requires an ongoing dialogue with industry partners.  SEACOOS has begun to engage in this dialogue with a variety of value-added industries and will continue to do so to help understand the concerns of all parties in this regard.  We view any progress in this sensitive area to be a significant contribution. · In the current developmental stage of IOOS regional observing systems it is necessary for a regional IM system to be both the definitive regional distributor of data and the definitive regional provider of value-added information products for end users.  It is important to recognize these two functions as distinct.   The SEACOOS IM system currently emphasizes the production of GIS visualizations (information products for end users) – a task at which it has succeeded admirably.   The Committee recommends that in its next phase of development the SEACOOS address its more limited successes as a distributor of (“raw”) data.    Enhanced access to data and the development of appropriate user interfaces is a priority for the coming project year.  Associated with this is the identification of appropriate data formats and protocols for various users access.  This process is underway and will be a focus of discussion at the fall SEACOOS workshop. · Expand data access strategies to embrace a 4-dimensional view of data. In addition to “maps” (lat-long views of data) ocean observations and model outputs should be made available in the structures that are natural for the data types: time series, vertical profiles, vertical sections, depth-time (ADCP) grids, 3D and 4D model outputs, etc.  On-line browse (visualization) services should be included for these structures; This is a sound recommendation, which must be addressed in coordination with the Modeling and Observations WGs.  This will be interactively addressed in the coming project year. · Expand the data access mechanisms provided for users to include other data transport protocols (e.g. WFS, WCS, as appropriate); formatted files (e.g. geoTIFF, netCDF, tab-delimited ASCII for spreadsheets, etc.); and OPeNDAP with appropriate conventions; Optimization of data access mechanisms is an identified priority, which is addressed above.   · The on-line Web documentation to support new users of SEACOOS data via the GIS portal is of extraordinary quality and thoroughness. Apply the same standard