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Developing a Regional Ocean Research and Information Plan in

Support of Ecosystem-based Management for the New York Bight

(Presentation to Stakeholders)

Jenna Castle

UConn Graduate Assistant

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Scope of the New York Bight

• From Cape Cod, MA to Cape May, NJ

• Including Buzzard’s Bay, Long Island Sound, New York Harbor and the New Jersey shore

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Principal Investigators in the regional project

Sylvain De Guise, CT Sea GrantPaul Anderson, Maine Sea Grant

Chryssostomos Chryssostomidis, MIT Sea Grant Barry Costa-Pierce, RI Sea Grant

Judith McDowell, WHOI Sea Grant ProgramJonathan Pennock, NH Sea GrantJames Ammerman, NY Sea Grant

Peter Rowe, NJ Sea Grant

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What is ecosystem-based management?

The goal of ecosystem-based management is to maintain ecosystem (both natural and human) health, integrity and sustainability

for the benefit of present and future generations.

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Objective

Establish a Regional Ocean Science Council to develop a research and information plan in support of ecosystem-based management that coordinates and integrates regional research activities and priorities within the New York Bight Region.

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Sea Grant programs are facilitating regional discussions to :

• identify and rank critical resource management issues, and associated research and information needs necessary for practical solutions and

• identify priorities that can be universally addressed and create a comprehensive plan NOT just for use by Sea Grant

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Approach & Time Frame1. Appointment of Regional Ocean Science Council (Year 1) DONE2. Review of existing Plans and Documents (Year 1) – In Progress3. Identification and Prioritization of Issues (Year 1) – In Progress4. Regional Website (Year 1) – In Progress 5. Ecosystem-based Thematic Workshops (Years 1 & 2)6. Regional Ocean Research and Information Plan in support of

Ecosystem-based Management (Years 2 & 3) – In Progress7. Design a Plan to Secure Funding (Years 1-5)8. Implementation of the RORI Plan (Years 3-5)9. Outreach and Training Programs (Years 3-5)10. Reporting (Years 1-5)11. Evaluation & Review (Year 5)

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Regional Ocean Science Council Council voting members

Paul Anderson ME Sea GrantJonathan Pennock NH Sea GrantChrys Chryssostomidis MIT Sea GrantJudy McDowell WHOI Sea GrantBarry Costa-Pierce RI Sea GrantSylvain De Guise CT Sea GrantJames Ammerman NY Sea GrantPeter Rowe NJ Sea GrantMario Del Vicario EPA Region 2David Conover SUNY/New York Ocean and Great Lakes Ecosystem Conservation CouncilJim O'Donnell UConn/LISICOS/NERACOOS/MACOORAPat Augustine Atlantic States Marine Fisheries CommissionGrover Fugate RI Coastal Resources Management CouncilAdam Whelchel The Nature ConservancyEllen Mecray NOAA North Atlantic Regional TeamAndrew Voros New York/New Jersey Clean Ocean & Shore TrustSharon Marino Fish & Wildlife Service, NY Bight OfficeChris Zeppie NY NJ Port Authority

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Project managersNancy Balcom CT Sea GrantRobert Pomeroy CT Sea GrantChester Arnold Jr. UConn/CLEAR

Graduate AssistantJenna Castle UConn/CT Sea Grant

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Results of review of existing plans and documents

• Nearly 100 documents reviewed and quantified

• Narrowed focus to a regional level and grouped them in broad categories

• Council reviewed a summary of the identified priorities from these documents and used them to develop the main issue topics in the survey

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Main Issue Topics • Living Resource Management

Habitat Management & Restoration, Ecosystem Health, Invasive/Nuisance Species, Threatened Wildlife, Public Health, Wetlands, Fisheries & Aquaculture

• Water QualityHypoxia/Eutrophication, Toxic Contaminants, Pathogens, Floatables/Marine Debris, Non-point Source Pollution, Brown Tide/Harmful Algal Blooms, Public Health

• Coastal & Land Use HazardsLand Use & Development, Public Access & Recreational Use, Natural & Coastal Hazards, Public Health, Wetlands

• Energy & Marine InfrastructureMarine Operations & Transportation, Dredging, Aquaculture, Renewable Sources of Energy

• Cross-Cutting/Overarching Themes - Climate

Change & Economic Sustainability

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Survey Process

• To gather input on regional research needs and priorities from a broad spectrum of “stakeholders” – using an iterative survey process through Survey Monkey

• Link on SurveyMonkey.com was advertised and written surveys were available

• Issues of Concern on the New York Bight• Interested individuals were encouraged to go to

the survey link and complete the survey or complete a written survey via mail

Survey Results

As of 04/06/2009

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Please indicate your agency’s or organization’s top two issues concerning Living Resource

Management for the New York Bight region.

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Please indicate your agency’s or organization’s top two issues concerning Water Quality for the New

York Bight region.

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Please indicate your agency’s or organization’s top two priorities concerning Coastal Land Use &

Hazards for the New York Bight region.

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Please indicate your agency’s or organization’s top two issues concerning Energy & Marine

Infrastructure for the New York Bight region.

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Workshop Concept One-pagersWorkshop Concept One-pagers• Living Resource Management: Living Resource Management: How does the NY Bight

work, and how can changes in ecosystems be quantified and connected mechanistically to management actions?

• Water Quality: Water Quality: What are the results and impacts of nutrient control on hypoxia in different systems?

• Coastal Land Use and Hazards: Coastal Land Use and Hazards: What are the science and education needs to address the threats of climate change and sea level rise on local land use from the global to the local scale, including implications on forecasting, advice to towns, and storm surge strategies?

• Energy and Marine Infrastructure: Energy and Marine Infrastructure: Planning for renewable energy infrastructure, environmental impacts and impacts on other sectors

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Questions & Discussion

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Contact Info

www.seagrant.uconn.eduConnecticut Sea Grant College Program

University of Connecticut1080 Shennecossett Rd. Groton, CT 06340-6048

Tel. 860-405-9128 Contact. Nancy Balcom nancy.balcom@uconn.edu