Home Home Overview About Guidance HomeThe Ocean ...Marine Scientific Research hide Marine Scientific Research Announcement All applications for U.S. scientists to conduct marine scientific research in foreign waters must be submitted 6 or more months in advance of the start of research. Applications submitted under this timeframe will not be accepted or processed. For all planned marine scientific research related port calls, please refer to the State Department travel advisories. If you are planning to make a port call as part of your marine scientific research cruise, please contact MarineScience@state.gov. OPA promotes science and diplomacy, improves maritime domain awareness, and safeguards the interests of the U.S. scientific community through the marine scientific research consent program. Annually, OPA facilitates diplomatic marine scientific research consent for U.S. scientists to conduct more than 300 research cruises in over 70 coastal States. OPA manages the review process which issues consent to dozens of foreign scientists a year to conduct research in U.S. waters. Discover More Marine Scientific Research Consent Overview Read more About the Research Application Tracking System Read more Guidance on Supporting Documentation Read more Research Application Tracking System Login Read more Key Topics Read more Useful References Antiquities Act Endangered Species Act Law of the Sea Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Marine Mammal Protection Act Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (aka the Ocean Dumping Act) National Marine Sanctuaries Act Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act