1 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

2 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

3 Principal Investigators in the regional project Sylvain De Guise, CT Sea Grant Paul Anderson, Maine Sea Grant Chryssostomos Chryssostomidis, MIT Sea Grant Barry Costa-Pierce, RI Sea Grant Judith McDowell, WHOI Sea Grant Program Jonathan Pennock, NH Sea Grant James Ammerman, NY Sea Grant Peter Rowe, NJ Sea Grant

4 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.

5 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.

6 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

7 Approach & Time Frame 1.Appointment of Regional Ocean Science Council (Year 1) DONE 2.Review of existing Plans and Documents (Year 1) – In Progress 3.Identification and Prioritization of Issues (Year 1) – In Progress 4.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 Progress 7.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)

8 Regional Ocean Science Council

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10 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 11

Main Issue Topics Living Resource Management Habitat Management & Restoration, Ecosystem Health, Invasive/Nuisance Species, Threatened Wildlife, Public Health, Wetlands, Fisheries & Aquaculture Water Quality Hypoxia/Eutrophication, Toxic Contaminants, Pathogens, Floatables/Marine Debris, Non-point Source Pollution, Brown Tide/Harmful Algal Blooms, Public Health Coastal & Land Use Hazards Land Use & Development, Public Access & Recreational Use, Natural & Coastal Hazards, Public Health, Wetlands Energy & Marine Infrastructure Marine Operations & Transportation, Dredging, Aquaculture, Renewable Sources of Energy Cross-Cutting/Overarching Themes - Climate Change & Economic Sustainability

13 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/

Please indicate your agency’s or organization’s top two issues concerning Living Resource Management for the New York Bight region. 15

Please indicate your agency’s or organization’s top two issues concerning Water Quality for the New York Bight region. 16

Please indicate your agency’s or organization’s top two priorities concerning Coastal Land Use & Hazards for the New York Bight region. 17

Please indicate your agency’s or organization’s top two issues concerning Energy & Marine Infrastructure for the New York Bight region. 18

Workshop 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 19

20 Questions & Discussion

21 Contact Info Connecticut Sea Grant College Program University of Connecticut 1080 Shennecossett Rd. Groton, CT Tel Contact. Nancy Balcom