1. The Gulf of Mexico Regional Research Plan Steve Sempier Sea Grant Gulf of Mexico Regional Research Planning Coordinator

2. Outline Background Background Regional activities in the Gulf of Mexico Regional activities in the Gulf of Mexico Gulf of Mexico Research Plan Gulf of Mexico Research Plan Description and Status of Project Description and Status of Project Stakeholders Stakeholders Planning approach and strategy Planning approach and strategy Next steps Next steps Deliverables Deliverables

3. Gulf of Mexico Regional Activities 1993-1995 1993-1995 Regional marine research planning effort but no work occurred beyond the initial funding period Regional marine research planning effort but no work occurred beyond the initial funding period Example of Current Gulf-wide Activities (with multiple partners) Example of Current Gulf-wide Activities (with multiple partners) Gulf of Mexico Alliance*—State led initiative with substantial NOAA and EPA involvement Gulf of Mexico Alliance*—State led initiative with substantial NOAA and EPA involvement GCOOS—Texas A&M leads but many are participating; linked to the International Ocean Observing System GCOOS—Texas A&M leads but many are participating; linked to the International Ocean Observing System GOM Large Marine Ecosystem Project—United Nations sponsored activity GOM Large Marine Ecosystem Project—United Nations sponsored activity * Will be discussed in more detail later in this session * Will be discussed in more detail later in this session

4. Gulf of Mexico Research Plan Funded by the National Sea Grant office Funded by the National Sea Grant office One of eight regional efforts One of eight regional efforts Purpose is to assist Gulf of Mexico groups that conduct or use marine and coastal research Purpose is to assist Gulf of Mexico groups that conduct or use marine and coastal research It is Not a Sea Grant Plan It is Not a Sea Grant Plan It is Not a NOAA Plan It is Not a NOAA Plan Leadership Leadership Gulf of Mexico Sea Grant Directors are the PI’s Gulf of Mexico Sea Grant Directors are the PI’s Planning and Review Council Planning and Review Council Multidisciplinary, multi-institutional membership Multidisciplinary, multi-institutional membership Geographically balanced Geographically balanced

5. Objectives Determine regional research priorities based on stakeholder input and using the Ocean Research Priorities Plan framework Determine regional research priorities based on stakeholder input and using the Ocean Research Priorities Plan framework Identify opportunities for organizations to collaboratively address needs, reduce overlap of effort, and fill research gaps Identify opportunities for organizations to collaboratively address needs, reduce overlap of effort, and fill research gaps

6. Stakeholders Federal agencies Federal agencies State agencies State agencies Academia and laboratories Academia and laboratories Multi-entity efforts Multi-entity efforts Non-governmental organizations Non-governmental organizations Others Others Image: Avmed.org

7. Example of Federal Efforts in the Gulf NOAA NOAA National Ocean Service National Ocean Service Gulf Services Center* Gulf Services Center* OCRM*/NERR (5 reserves) OCRM*/NERR (5 reserves) Nat’l Marine Sanctuaries (2) Nat’l Marine Sanctuaries (2) NESDIS NESDIS National Coastal Data Development Center National Coastal Data Development Center NMFS* NMFS* Numerous labs Numerous labs NWS NWS National Hurricane Center National Hurricane Center OAR OAR National Sea Grant National Sea Grant Cooperative Institute* Cooperative Institute* Environmental Protection Agency Gulf of Mexico Program National Estuary Program (7) Naval Oceanographic Office Army Corps of Engineers Dept. of Agriculture Fish and Wildlife Dept. of Interior US Geological Survey Minerals Management Service Dept. of Homeland Security*

8. Example of State Agencies and Mexico AL, FL, LA, MS, TX NOAA Coastal Management Programs AL, FL, LA, MS, TX NOAA Coastal Management Programs Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Alabama Department of Environmental Management Alabama Department of Environmental Management Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Florida DEP Florida DEP Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Mississippi Dept. of Marine Resources Mississippi DEQ Texas General Land Office Texas Commission on Environ. Quality Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. Texas Water Development Board Texas Railroad Commission Texas Soil and Water Conserv. Board Texas Department of Transportation Instituto de Ecología A.C. (INECOL) Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados Unidad Mérida (CINVESTAV) Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnologia

9. Academia and Laboratories Northern Gulf Institute* Northern Gulf Institute* Harte Research Institute Harte Research Institute Universities and Labs Universities and Labs Alabama (5) Alabama (5) Florida (8) Florida (8) Louisiana (9) Louisiana (9) Mississippi (4) Mississippi (4) Texas (15) Texas (15) Southern Association of Marine Labs Southern Association of Marine Labs

10. Multi-entity Efforts Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Gulf of Mexico States Accord Gulf of Mexico States Accord Gulf of Mexico Alliance* Gulf of Mexico Alliance* GCOOS GCOOS MEXUS-Gulf Program MEXUS-Gulf Program White Water to Blue Water White Water to Blue Water

11. Research Universities Labs GOM Alliance Public GMRP (regional) State Agencies GOM Alliance Other Federal GOM Sea Grants Other NOAA Other Research Users Aquaria NERRs NEPs Outreach National SG GOM Sea Grants ORPP (national) Collaboration and Input Mexico

12. Bridging Plans Ocean Research Priorities Plan Gulf of Mexico Research Plan Gulf of Mexico Alliance Action Plan More research emphasis More regional focus

13. Ocean Research Priorities Plan Societal Themes Stewardship of Natural and Cultural Ocean Resources Stewardship of Natural and Cultural Ocean Resources Increasing Resilience to Natural Hazards Increasing Resilience to Natural Hazards Enabling Marine Operations Enabling Marine Operations The Ocean's Role in Climate The Ocean's Role in Climate Improving Ecosystem Health Improving Ecosystem Health Enhancing Human Health Enhancing Human Health Images: NOAA

14. Identifying Priorities Review of Strategic Plans Review of Strategic Plans 117 plans to date 117 plans to date Web-based Survey Web-based Survey Primary way to collect broad input Primary way to collect broad input Workshops and Interviews Workshops and Interviews Refine research topics/priorities Refine research topics/priorities One workshop in each state One workshop in each state Images: EPA and Florida Sea Grant

15. Synthesis of Strategic Plans Read plans and identify research-related goals and themes for the Gulf of Mexico Read plans and identify research-related goals and themes for the Gulf of Mexico Connect goals to ORPP-defined research priorities in a matrix Connect goals to ORPP-defined research priorities in a matrix Examine number of matches between strategic plans and ORPP research priorities Examine number of matches between strategic plans and ORPP research priorities

16. Web-based Survey Use the 20 ORPP research priorities to frame questions and rate the importance of the priorities on a regional level Use the 20 ORPP research priorities to frame questions and rate the importance of the priorities on a regional level Responses Responses 1,582 responses 1,582 responses ~1,201 individuals rated the research priorities ~1,201 individuals rated the research priorities 571 comments to open-ended questions 571 comments to open-ended questions

17. Survey Respondent’s Relationship to Gulf of Mexico Research

18. Survey Respondent’s Affiliation

19. Preliminary Matrix and Survey Results Ocean Research Priorities Plan Societal Theme % of strategic plan goals with link Survey ranking Improving Ecosystem Health 34.8%1 Stewardship of Natural and Cultural Resources 32.9%2 Increase Resilience to Natural Hazards 8.7%4 Enhancing Human Health 8.7%6 Enabling Marine Operations 8.4%5 The Ocean's Role in Climate 6.6%3

20. Preliminary Survey Results: County Relative Ranking of “Improving Ecosystem Health” Ranking 1 (High) 2 3 4 5 6 (Low)

21. Preliminary Survey Results: County Relative Ranking of “Increasing Resilience to Natural Hazards” Ranking 1 (High) 2 3 4 5 6 (Low)

22. Workshops Primary workshop partners: National and GoM Sea Grant College Programs (sponsors) NOAA Gulf Service Center (co-facilitators) ALDCNR, LSU, MSU, NOAA Fisheries, USGS (hosts) Primary goal: Identify highest priority research topics for the region and link to the ORPP Invitees: Individuals that conduct, sponsor, or use Gulf of Mexico research Results: Will combine survey and workshop results to identify regional research needs

23. Workshop Dates and Locations Alabama Jan. 15, 2008 Mississippi Jan. 17, 2008 Florida Feb. 19, 2008 Louisiana Feb. 26, 2008 Texas Feb. 28, 2008 Register at: masgc.org/gmrp

24. Project fills a niche Identifies current research activities in the region Identifies current research activities in the region Determines regional research priorities Determines regional research priorities Fosters collaboration between groups Fosters collaboration between groups Reduces overlap of effort Reduces overlap of effort Discovers research gaps Discovers research gaps Produces a more unified approach to address research needs Produces a more unified approach to address research needs Assists agencies/organizations when updating or revising own strategic plans Assists agencies/organizations when updating or revising own strategic plans Complements other efforts Complements other efforts

25. Deliverables Gulf of Mexico Research Plan Gulf of Mexico Research Plan Strategic Plan Strategic Plan Implementation Plan Implementation Plan Clearly defined research priorities Clearly defined research priorities Increased collaboration between research-based programs in the Gulf Increased collaboration between research-based programs in the Gulf Leveraged funds resulting in more effective use of limited research dollars Leveraged funds resulting in more effective use of limited research dollars

26. Thank you This presentation was supported by the National Sea Grant College Program of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under NOAA Grant NA06OAR4170078 and the Florida Sea Grant Program, Louisiana Sea Grant Program, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, and Texas Sea Grant Program. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of those organizations. More information available at: http://masgc.org/gmrp Or contact Steve Sempier at stephen.sempier@usm.edu Images: NPS and FWS