Judith Pederson MIT Sea Grant Regional Ocean Science Council An initiative to coordinate research and monitoring in the Gulf of Maine Judith Pederson MIT Sea Grant

The Gulf of Maine and southern New England region Bay of Fundy Gulf of Maine The Gulf of Maine and southern New England region Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bay Buzzards Bay Georges Bank Narragansett Bay Long Island Sound

The role of the Council is to act as a stimulus to develop regional research that supports national initiatives Develop a regional ocean science plan Focus on integrated ecosystem management Facilitate collaboration in the region Develop an outreach plan to support management Develop a funding strategy for implementation The goal is to have a resilient and sustainable Gulf of Maine ecosystems that supports fisheries, tourism, and economic development for future generations.

Council Members Northeast Sea Grant Directors: Appointed US members: Paul Anderson, MESG Chrys Chryssostomidis, MA (MITSG) Barry Costa-Pierce, RISG Sylvain de Guise, CTSG James Ammerman, NYSGCP Judy McDowell, MA (WHOISG) Jonathan Pennock, NHSG Appointed US members: John Annala, GOMRI Ames Colt, RIDEP Rob Johnson, Clark U William Schwab, USGS Deerin Babb-Brott , MCZ Edwin Tiffany, CambridgeSoft Jerald Ambrose, NOAA NMFS Pete Jumars, U Maine Appointed Canadian members: Rob Stevenson, DFO Ronald O’Dor Dalhousie University The membership as it is currently constituted. (Note that Pomeroy, Berrien, and Yoder have not said yes and one Canadian position is open, so they are not included until these are resolved).

Regional Ocean Science Initiative: Gulf of Maine Regional Ocean Science Plan Responded to the National Sea Grant Office Initiative Funding to prepare a GOM Regional Ocean Science Plan Process: solicited input, ~ 350 stakeholders, reviewed historical and current documents, surveyed regional priorities, and conducted a survey Five Priority Areas generic and consistent with national, NOAA, and Sea Grant priorities Ecosystem Health GOM and Climate Science of Management and Governance - Human Health - Hazards Cross-cutting issues (modeling, outreach, technology) Photo: G. Lambert

Management and Governance focus on science of management Evaluation of regulations in meeting goal of sustaining healthy ecosystem Socio-economic data and scientific data support decisions Lag time between funding and research results Availability of technical and scientific information New paradigms are needed to meet challenge of climate change adaptation

Cross-Cutting Issues Touches on all societal concerns http://seagrant Technology development Scalar issues Model (conceptual, empirical, and numerical Integrated and accessible data Mapping Coordination and Collaboration forming partnerships with agencies, industry, academia, and non-government organization Outreach includes technology transfer, raising awareness, changing behaviors Education affects all ages K-12, college, and graduate students, post-docs, and the public

Outcomes, Accomplishments, and Products Adopted Regional Ocean Science Plan Distributed to key mangers and policy makers NESG Consortium formed to fund regional projects Funded 4 regional projects Salt marsh die-back Testing an acoustic sensor to find Didemnum Testing a radiometer to find Didemnum Seeking to minimize impacts of lobster fishing on whales

Current Activities and Future Plans Developing an implementation plan Partnered with CSCOR to identify critical science to address issues (develop an RFP) Used regional meetings to refine science to address priority issues (~400 attendees) Partnering with several regional organizations , e.g., NERACOOS LOOKING FORWARD Seeking MOU with Governor’s Council (Currently under revision) Developing a tool for using the FVCOM model (useful in nearshore areas) Seek partners and explore funding opportunities

Didemnum vexillum: An aggressive sea squirt Photo: P. Valentine Funded Regional Research Didemnum vexillum: An aggressive sea squirt Problem: Impacts communities and covering sea floor in Georges Bank Challenge: Document impacts on fisheries Approach: Use mobile platforms to test acoustic and optical equipment to identify patches quickly and combine with biological data Status: Pilot phase testing of a radiometer L. Harris P. Valentine

Next steps Develop an Implementation Plan that will evolve with priority issues Regional funding for next year addressing socio-economic issues coming from the New York Bight program New funding will be limited – will be seeking to form partnerships and share priorities with ongoing efforts Facilitating development of projects to address priority issues Identifying partners As appropriate seeking funding for peer-reviewed funding

Contact us http://seagrantdev.mit.edu/rosi/ jpederso@mit.edu