1. The Big Picture – 30,000’ View
Public, non-profit and for-profit interests will coalesce to produce a scientifically rigorous, gulf-wide synthesis of how bio-physical and socio-economic conditions are changing and identify the long-term implications of these changes for people working and living around the Gulf. They will then come together in 2010 to devise strategies that will accelerate action on the most pressing issues.
Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment

2. Today’s Objectives Review Council Direction from June 2008 (Justin)
Organizing our people to make this possible (Theresa)
Provide insights to the steering committee on SOE & Indicator Options (Betsy)
Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment

3. Council Direction
When: 2010 (when people can get outside in the GOM – hence April-June or September-October)
Purpose: taking action on key issues identified in SOG/Action Plan/indicators AND celebration of 20-years of regional collaboration
Focus: Is the Gulf getting better or worse? (Distributed in advance -- State of the environment reporting, report-card & indicators); centered on themes in the Action Plan;
Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment

4. Who:
Led by Council with active support from diverse organizations (NGO and for-profits);
Secretariat Team to take leadership role in defining parameters, solicit advice from WG on steering committee prospects from various categories -- Marine-based for-profits, Environmental NGOs (TNC, TOC, WWF, CLF, GOMMEA, NEPs, ACAP, etc.), and Academic Educational (CML, GoMOOS, NEOSEC, BoFEP, RARGOM, WHOI) and then form Committee;
Contributors from within the Council are ESIP, Habitat Monitoring, Gulfwatch, Outreach, EBM ad-hoc group, GOMMI, etc.
Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment

5. Funding: Support for this initiative will need to be fundraised through successful funding proposals and in-kind contributions of staff time and data from partner organizations.
Relation to other events: start dialogue with other organizations ASAP about events they plan and how those events can contribute/inform the SOE report and conference. Key organizations to engage include RARGOM, BoFEP, MOP, Census for Marine Life, NEPs, and ACAPs.
Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment

6. Ad-hoc Group Recommendations Annala, Stephenson, Brooks, Smith, Nicholson, Tilburg, Trowbridge, Russell-Robinson
What product is desirable, possible and practical to assemble before the event? What is the range of options? Can we prepare detailed reports on nutrients, aquatic habitats and climate change to support the needs of ESIP in these three areas? Should we strive to move beyond reporting and produce a synthesis of conditions and a report-card?
Who are the users/target audience for SOG materials? What do we expect them to do with these materials?
Can we describe a path forward to create a SOG report for the Gulf of Maine?
Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment

7. What role might the Census for Marine Life, RARGOM and BoFEP science conferences play in this effort?
How might the DFO/NOAA Ecosystem Overview (literature review) and the TNC Bioregional Assessment contribute to a SOG effort?
Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment

8. Steering Committee Prospects
Category
Canada
United States
Marine-based for profit
Shipping Federation, Maritime Fisherman’s Union, NB Salmon Growers,
NH Commercial Fisherman’s Assoc., Lobsterman’s Assoc., Wind power,
Environmental NGO
WWF, CCNB, ACAP
TNC, TOC, CLF, NEP, Island Institute, NAMA
Academia
Dalhousie, St. Marys Resource Center, Huntsman,
WHOI
Government
BIO, ESSIM, Fed/Province
State & Federal
Consortiums
BoFEP, Fishermen & Scientists Research Society,
GOMMEA, NEOSEC, GoMOOS, RARGOM,
CML,
Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment

9. How to choose & recruit? Mix of Canadian and Americans
Profile of individuals (“wow, he/she is involved)
New perspectives
Able to attract support
Allocation among the five categories
Personal connections with prospects
GOMC to select CA-US co-chairs
Schedule for report and conference (see briefing)
Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment

10. Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment