1. 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

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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).

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Contact us