Regional Approaches to Ocean & Coastal Management

1. Regional Approaches to Ocean & Coastal Management VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., USN (Ret.) Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere NOAA Administrator May 12, 2006

2. Menu Slide • Regional initiatives: Coordinating natural resource policy and management • Regional approaches already underway • Gulf of Mexico • Great Lakes Regional Collaboration • Governance and Ecosystem Boundaries • Issues of mutual concern • Next Steps 30th New England Governors-Eastern Canadian Premiers Conference

3. Coordinating natural resource policy and management “Support Regional Collaborations on Oceans, Coasts, and Great Lakes Policy in Partnership with States, Localities, and Tribes” US Ocean Action Plan • Ocean and coastal waters transcend state and provincial boundaries Great value in leveraging political and resource capital to efficiently manage ecosystems New England Governors & Eastern Canadian Premiers Conference is a critical forum where issues common to this geographical region can be discussed Several of these issues logically extend to the Northeast Regional Oceans Council (NROC) and the larger Ocean Working Committee As these groups take shape I encourage its members to look at ongoing initiatives • Gulf of Mexico Regional Partnership • Great Lakes Regional Collaboration 30th New England Governors-Eastern Canadian Premiers Conference

4. Regional Models: Gulf of Mexico Regional Partnership • Gulf states agreed to 5 focus areas: • Water Quality for healthy beaches and shellfish beds • Wetland and coastal conservation and restoration • Environmental education • Identification and characterization of Gulf habitats • Reductions in nutrient inputs to coastal ecosystems • Governors’ Action Plan released March 2006 • States defined “success” for each focus area • Action Plan also serves as a bi-national regional collaboration with the six Mexican Gulf States 30th New England Governors-Eastern Canadian Premiers Conference

5. Regional Models: Great Lakes Regional Collaboration (GLRC) • May 2004, President Bush signed Executive Order 13340 establishing Great Lakes Interagency Task Force • The GLRC members: Great Lakes Governors, Mayors, Federal Agencies (9), Tribal leaders, Great Lakes Congressional Delegation • Executive Committee established eight Strategy Teams developed the regional strategy document: • Area of Concern Restoration/Sediments • Coastal Health • Habitat/Species • Indicators and Information • Invasive Species • Nonpoint Source Pollution • Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxics Reduction • Sustainable Development 30th New England Governors-Eastern Canadian Premiers Conference

6. Governance and Ecosystem Boundaries • To be successful ecosystem boundaries must be captured • Eco-regions may need their own governance i.e. Gulf of Maine Council • Can initiate sharing lessons learned to benefit greater region • Political boundaries provide a coordinated voice at the national and international level, and a stronger influence regionally • The region you represent is a political geography • Efficient way to integrate Local-State-Federal; Canadian and U.S. Governments 30th New England Governors-Eastern Canadian Premiers Conference

7. Governance and Ecosystem Boundaries NOAA and its federal partners stand ready to work with the New England states and the region as a whole • NOAA and the Department of the Interior have been asked to lead eight other federal agencies: EPA, NASA, USACE, NSF, State, USDA, DOE and DOD 30th New England Governors-Eastern Canadian Premiers Conference

8. Common Issues of Concern:Ocean Use • Plan and manage the multiple uses that occur in our nearshore and offshore waters • Energy proposals in state and federal waters are the most recent example of an emerging use • Regional approach in siting these facilities: • Site appropriate locations to maximize and efficiently use natural resources • Sustainable use of our benthic habitats, living marine resources, and navigation channels 30th New England Governors-Eastern Canadian Premiers Conference

9. Common Issues of Concern: Improved Understanding of Ecosystems • There is a common need to fill data gaps in ecosystem knowledge • Support region-widemonitoring and data management so we can make informed decisions about where to permit different uses in the ocean environment • Participate in the Gulf of Maine Mapping Initiative or “GOMMI”—a federal-state-industry partnership that enables strategic mapping both offshore and nearshore • Invest in scientific research to support management needs in the Northeast 30th New England Governors-Eastern Canadian Premiers Conference

10. Common Issues of Concern:Integrated Ocean Observing System • NOAA has been supporting coastal and ocean observing systems to: • Provide needed real-time information to mariners, fishermen, researchers, search & rescue users, among many others, that depend on this data for their livelihood and success. • Ocean observing technologies, data management and products are an investment, but a good return on investment • This forum provides our businesses, non-profits and governments a common environment in which to do this. Budding partnership between: • Canadian Centre for Marine Communications (CCMC) • Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System (GoMOOS) • The NEG&ECP forum will allow us to: • Apply our international assets to the Northwest Atlantic • Connect these regions in ways that will bring economic benefit to both sides of the border 30th New England Governors-Eastern Canadian Premiers Conference

11. Next Steps... • The federal government integrates best when there are clear issues and expected outcomes • Continue defining the issues that are most important to the region • Use regional collaborations already in existence to help NROC and the Ocean Working Committee find its value added niche. • Impressed by the leadership and encourage your continued engagement in building the Oceans Working Committee 30th New England Governors-Eastern Canadian Premiers Conference

12. Thank You…Questions? VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., USN (Ret.) Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere NOAA Administrator May 12, 2006

13. Backup Slides VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., USN (Ret.) Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere NOAA Administrator May 12, 2006

14. Gulf of Mexico Regional Partnership Structure U.S. Ocean Action Plan December 2004 Gulf of Mexico Regional Partnership February 2005 Gulf of Mexico Alliance the 5 Gulf states Federal Workgroup 13 federal agencies Alliance White Papers Federal Response Integrated Federal-State Response to Gulf State White Papers DRAFT Gulf of Mexico Plan of Action To be developed at State-Federal work session FINAL Gulf of Mexico Plan of Action To be presented at Gulf of Mexico Summit 30th New England Governors-Eastern Canadian Premiers Conference

15. Current Regional Collaborations • Policy/Management • New England Governors Council • New England Governors/Eastern Canadian Premiers • Coalition of Northeastern Governors • Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment • Coastal America Northeast Regional Implementation Team • New England Regional Dredging Team • National Estuary Program/Association of National Estuary Programs • Northeast Sea Grant 30th New England Governors-Eastern Canadian Premiers Conference

16. Current Regional Collaborations • Research/Monitoring • GOM Ecosystem Indicators Partnership • Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System • Gulf of Maine Ocean Data Partnership • Mid-Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association • Gulf of Maine Mapping Initiative • Seafloor mapping • Northeast Aquatic Nuisance Species Panel • Regional Association for Research in the Gulf of Maine • Long Island Sounds Study • National Estuarine Research Reserve Association (NERRA) 30th New England Governors-Eastern Canadian Premiers Conference