1. GOM Symposium’09 Overview and Synthesis for GoMC (10 Dec/09)
Rob Stephenson and John Annala – Co-convenors

2. Gulf of Maine Symposium – Advancing Ecosystem
Research for the Future of the Gulf
St. Andrews, N.B. October 4-9, 2009

3. Landscape of management is changing
Considerable advance in understanding
Need to update, evaluate capacity
to manage, establish priorities

4. RARGOM 2009 GOM Symposium 240 participants 141 presentations
Combination of concurrent technical sessions, oral plenary sessions and posters
Council WG meeting
Wide array of sponsors and partners

5. Changes since RARGOM Symposium in 1996
International context for EBM (and IM)
Legislative changes in both USA and Canada
Major realizations regarding climate change and the need for management and stewardship in the face of change
Public interest leading to marketplace pressure
Rapid developments in ocean energy

6. Broad goals of the 2009 Symposium
Inform participants about current objectives, constraints, and future influences on management of marine resources,
Share new developments in the state of scientific knowledge in the Gulf of Maine, and
Identify scientific requirements and directions to meet future needs from an ecosystem-based approach.

7. Challenge of this Symposium…
review the developments re EBM (esp of the past decade)
evaluate how well we are placed to manage using EBM
make recommendations that will help shape the direction of research regarding EBM for the next few years.

8. Opening Perspectives Rob Stephenson – Context of EBM
Need for Objectives, Tradeoffs, Cumulative Effects
Sally McGee – Can we get there? YES
Call for Joint Canada / US EBM
Jean-Guy D’Entremont – Fishermen without Borders
Pragmatic EBM Plans focused on Specific Stocks / Issues
Bonnie McCay – Where are the People?
Incorporate People into EBM
Pete Jumars – Stalked – Eye View
How is GOM different? Light – Depth interactions
Mike Fogarty – Options for EBM
Placed – based EBM & Multispecies MSYs

9. Program Theme Sessions Technical Workshops
Tools for Integrated Management
Ecosystem Structure & Function
Anthropogenic & External Influences
Monitoring & Observation
Technical Workshops
Ecosystem services
Biodiversity
Seafloor Mapping
Life Histories
Assessment
141 presentations / sessions / posters covering wide range of EBM – related issues
Impressive knowledge growth on Gulf of Maine ecosystem & impacts

10. Results vs Objectives of Symposium
Review developments towards Ecosystem – Based Management
Evaluate how well placed we are to undertake EBM
Recommend research to move towards EBM

11. 1) Recent Developments
Increased knowledge in many areas e.g. high resolution seafloor mapping, ocean modelling, and development of approaches to characterize habitat
Recognition that EAM includes ecological and social/economic considerations and that it demands an interdisciplinary approach
Better understanding of the lessons of past management and long-term effects of exploitation

12. 1) Recent Developments
Legislation (in both Canada and USA) to address more holistic approaches and multiple uses
Development/evolution of tools for marine spatial planning and state of the environment reporting
Evolution of concepts and framework for essential habitat and for ecosystem-based approach

13. 2) How well placed to implement EBM?
There is a range of approaches to the ecosystem approach at present…from evolutionary to revolutionary
There is a challenge in implementing the ecosystem approach in the GoM because of the complexity in jurisdiction and increasingly litigious environment
There remains the problem of ecosystem complexity

14. 2) How well placed to implement EBM?
There is an issue of need for enhanced monitoring and information to support evolving management landscape
Need for institutional (governance) to support cross disciplinary and inter-jurisdictional considerations
There is a way to go…the time for action is now

15. 3) Priorities for EBM Two categories:
3a) Appropriate governance structures and improved institutional capacity for implementation of an ecosystem approach
3b) Increased basic understanding related to environmental and governance change

16. 3a) Priorities re governance structure
A common vision of goals and objectives
Interdisciplinary participation,
Legislative basis and development of appropriate governance structures
Consistency among jurisdictions
Participatory structures (engagement of users)
More comprehensive approach to ocean use planning
Enhanced collaboration in evaluations and assessments

17. 3b) Increased basic understanding
Evaluation of models of climate and flow (are flows changing?)
Enhanced understanding of coastal processes and life histories in relation to environmental change
Knowledge of benthic, and especially microbial processes
Strengthened science and monitoring of aspects of relevance to EBM decisions in management
Strong link among those with science, management, social and legal expertise

18. 3b) Increased basic understanding
Institutional ‘bridges’ to link information and research to management
Requirement for greater general ocean literacy
Clarification of terminology, and consistency of use
Enhanced understanding of cumulative impacts
Metrics of progress and of success (how will we know when we are there?)
Continued mapping for marine spatial planning

19. Three statement(s) of need:
‘Development of an operating framework for managing the Gulf of Maine using an ecosystem-based approach and in the face of ecosystem change’
‘Development of a comprehensive, interdisciplinary, approach to management and a framework for the evaluation of management (management strategy evaluation)’
‘Development of an organized approach to adaptation throughout the region (perhaps through GoM Council)’

20. How Well Placed to Undertake EBM? Elements of Management System
Operational Module
Control Module
Ecosystem
Monitoring
Assessment
Decision
Making
Control
Rules
Implementation
From McAllister et. al. 1999

21. O’Boyle’s Musings on Research Needs
Decision Support
Ecosystem – level modeling that allows exploration of alternative management strategies & tradeoffs
Institutions of complementary US / Canada management
Ecosystem Structure & Function
Productivity – habitat link
Biodiversity & resilience
Assessment
Cumulative impacts

22. Stephenson’s slide of context:
Ecosystem
Assessment
Ecoregion/planning area (umbrella plan)
Nested plans for Managed activities
Fisheries
Aquaculture
Energy
Transport
Conservation
- Productivity
- Biodiversity
- Habitat
Economic
Social/cultural
Methods for evaluation of cumulative impacts
(Acts and desired attributes/services)
Common Objectives/strategies
Audit of cumulative performance
Plans with diverse objectives;
Market audit (certification)
Human activities (fisheries, Aquaculture, energy, transportation, etc) are managed in relation to a suite of objectives (Conservation, social and economic)
Objectives of management plans are expanding to include more explicit objectives (of EBM)
The science required for EBM includes support of an expanding suite of objectives (reference points, performance indicators, etc) and cumulative effects
The audit of cumulative performance for an area (ecoregion) leads to and Ecosystem Assessment
Metrics (indicators and refs)
Decision support tools

23. Next Steps Symposium proceedings:
Technical report (near completion)
Volume of peer reviewed papers (to be published by AFS)
RARGOM plans for continued leadership and meetings:
Series of smaller workshops (each year)
Future Symposia
Request GoMC input