Long Island Sound

Long Island Sound is a vital estuarine system nestled between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south, supporting more than 8 million people who live, work, and recreate along its shores. As one of the most heavily used and studied estuaries in the United States, the Sound plays a critical role in the regional economy, environmental health, and maritime infrastructure of the Northeast. Its sheltered waters support thriving commercial and recreational fishing industries, a dense maritime transportation network, and numerous coastal communities. According to NOAA’s most recent Fisheries Economics of the United States Report, the commercial seafood industry in Connecticut alone contributed almost $1 billion in sales, $167 million in income, and supported nearly 5,000 jobs, much of which is connected to activity in Long Island Sound. The Sound also faces intense pressure from population growth, urban runoff, and coastal development, making real-time ocean and coastal observing—like the data provided by MARACOOS and its partners—essential to monitoring water quality, tracking hypoxia events, and informing resilience planning across this ecologically and economically significant waterway.