1. State of the Gulf of Maine Report Action Plan Update, June 2013 Heather Breeze and Rebecca Newhall Co-chairs, State of the Gulf Reporting Committee

2. Background Scoping paper developed – early 2009 Ad hoc task group formed – June 2009 Workplan with list of theme papers approved by Council December 2009 Editorial committee (ad hoc) formed January 2010 Several theme papers released June 2010 Continue to complete the listed theme papers (June 2010 to present) June 2012 – Editorial committee became official committee (State of the Gulf Reporting Committee) – editorial responsibilities – responsibilities for overall direction 2

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4. Action Plan: Goal 2 Environmental conditions support the health of people and the ecosystems of the Gulf of Maine 2.2.2 Identify and assess new and emerging environmental issues in the Gulf of Maine – Emerging Issues – 2010 theme paper completed in 2010 In-kind contribution of Peter Wells, BoFEP, Dalhousie University, Gulfwatch – This paper will be updated in 2014. 4

5. Action Plan: Goal 2 (cont.) 2.2.3 Communicate about environmental conditions through the State of the Gulf of Maine reporting products and services – Several theme papers completed and posted to website in the last two years: Offshore Ecosystems and Habitats Eutrophication Toxic Chemical Contaminants theme paper Toxic Chemical Contaminants literature review Species at Risk – Two others close to completion Coastal Land Use and Development Commercial Fisheries 5

6. Current Committee Members NOAA Mass. CZM Maine Coastal Program New Brunswick DoELG Environment Canada DFO Past members: NS DAAF, NH Coastal Program 6

7. Financial and In-Kind Contributions Fisheries and Oceans Canada (editor, funding, review) Mass. CZM (author, review) EPA (authors, review) Environment Canada (authors, funding, review) NOAA (author, review) USGS (funding, review) NH DES (funding) Maine Coastal Program (funding) NS DFA (funding, review) NS DoE (review) NB DAAF (review) International Joint Commission (author) BoFEP (author, review) Gulfwatch (author, review) ESIP (data, review) Other reviewers: UNH, UNB, U. Mass, Jane Tims, Marine Environmental Research Institute, World Resources Institute, Patuxent Wildlife Research Centre, MIT Sea Grant… 7

8. Future Activities Theme Papers 2014 - Update Emerging Issues Paper 2013 – Complete remaining theme papers on list (Watershed Status, Aquaculture) Identify theme papers that need updating New theme papers? 8

9. Future Activities Communications Plan Need to ensure papers are being used Coordinated effort Working with EIUI (Environmental Information Use and Influence) project at Dalhousie University Seeking support for professional communications (have some support from DFO) 9

10. Future Activities Best Management Practices (BMPs) Link existing examples of BMPs to State of the Gulf themes on website Develop a BMP factsheet prototype Seeking funding to work on this aspect 10

11. Priorities 2013-2014 Complete existing theme papers Update Emerging Issues paper Raise awareness of papers among target audience Encourage participation on Reporting Committee – Work of committee is not just editorial – communications/outreach, direction of State of the Gulf Report Scope “Best Management Practices” project 11