Ecosystem Management Workshops Michael Jepson, Ph.D. Facilitator

Workshop Overview Review of Ecosystems Management Approach Gulf Council Ecosystem Plan Approach Discussion of Stakeholder Concerns Review Stakeholder Comments and Consensus

Why Ecosystems Management? Over half of the U.S. population lives on the coast Human activities on land, along the coast and in the ocean are affecting marine ecosystems by –altering marine food web –changing the climate –damaging habitat –eroding coastlines –introducing invasive species –and polluting coastal waters

NOAA has reorganized to better position itself to work under an ecosystem approach. In FY04, Congress allocated $2 million for NOAA- Fisheries to conduct ecosystem management pilot projects in four regions: –New England –Mid-Atlantic –South Atlantic –Gulf of Mexico Why Ecosystems Management?

Development of the Generic Essential Fish Habitat Amendment (1998) Linkages between different habitats and life cycles Relationships between terrestrial and marine habitats Species interactions

What is the definition of an ecosystem approach to management? NOAA defines an ecosystem approach to management as one that is: –Adaptive –Regionally directed –Takes account of ecosystem knowledge –Takes account of uncertainty –Considers multiple external influences –Strives to balance diverse societal objectives

What is an Ecosystem An ecosystem is a geographically specified system of organisms (including humans), the environment, and the processes that control its dynamics. –Humans are an integral part of marine and terrestrial ecosystems –Ecosystems come in many sizes, often with smaller systems embedded within larger ones.

What is different? Ecosystem approach to management considers the cumulative impacts of different sectors and differs from current approaches that usually focus on a single species, sector, activity or concern Present species oriented management incorporates many aspects of ecosystem management, but not always in the same context Ecosystems approach to management will not replace current management, but will supplement and enhance it

Issues of Importance to the Gulf Bycatch or Fishery Interactions –Bycatch and fishery interactions including mortalities of non-target species when multiple fisheries encounter the same species. Indirect Effects of Harvesting –Indirect effects of harvesting through trophic interactions, and indirect effects through habitat-alteration, e.g. by fishing gear. Interactions between Biological, Physical and Human Components of Ecosystems –Trends in environmental variables (e.g. temperature, other oceanographic attributes) may result in long-term changes of ecosystems

Fishery Issues in the Gulf Shrimp trawls  Red Snapper  Vermilion Snapper LNG Terminals  Estuarine dependent species Shallow-water grouper  Deep-water grouper Offshore Aquaculture

Fishery Issues in the Gulf

Environmental Events in the Gulf Tropical storm/Hurricane effects Red tide effects Hypoxic (Dead) Zone effects

Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Zone

Gulf Council Ecosystem Plan Approach Step 1: Collect information –Task 1: Public Meetings with Stakeholder Groups –Task 2: Attitudes/Values Survey –Task 3: Identification of Technical Needs and Inventory of Existing Information –Task 4: Synthesis of Public Input on Ecosystem Goals and Objectives Step 2: Develop Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) Step 3: Modify Species Oriented Approach to incorporate the components of the FEP

Topic Areas for Workshops (1) Adequacy of current approaches for addressing ecosystem considerations (2) Nature of ecosystem-based management and the goals to be achieved in addressing ecosystem issues (3) Nature of the public decision making processes for addressing management tradeoffs, consistent with identified goals (4) Mechanisms for considering activities outside the Gulf Council’s purview (5) Boundaries of sub-regional ecosystems within the Gulf of Mexico

(6) Types of management measures that would be incorporated into ecosystem approaches for fishery management, consistent with the identified goals (7) Specific regional issues that need to be addressed in a FEP (8) Techniques for determining success of ecosystem-based management (9) Other issues considered important to the stakeholders in any particular region. Topic Areas for Workshops