January 11, 2004

1

NOAA’s Ecosystem Approach and Plans John H. Dunnigan, Ecosystem Goal Lead

Presentation to Marine Fisheries Advisory CommitteeJanuary 11, 2005

January 11, 2004

2

The Ultimate Ecosystem

January 11, 2004

3

Overview of Ecosystem Goal

• The Ecosystem Goal addresses that part of NOAA’s mission to protect, restore and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources.

• 9 programs directly support achieving NOAA’s ecosystem goal:Habitat Corals Coastal and Marine

ResourcesProtected Species Fisheries Management AquacultureEnforcement Ecosystem Observations Ecosystem Research

• U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy recommends a new era in NOAA leadership of the oceans agencies and communities at large.

• NOAA is uniquely positioned, by its mandates and capabilities related to science, stewardship and services, to become the government’s integrated ecosystems leader.

January 11, 2004

4

Ecosystem Mission Goal Programs

9 Programs, 7 Matrix

Ecosystem Research Program

- NURP

- Ocean Exploration

- AOML & GLERLManager: Leon Cammen

Ecosystem Observations Program

without COTS

- NODCManager: Steve Murawski

Protected Species Program

Manager: Laurie Allen

Coastal & Marine Resources

Program

- CRM

- NMSP, NERRS, MPA Center

- Ecological Forecasting (e.g.,

HABs)

- Place-based Approaches

Manager: Doug Brown

Fisheries Management Program

Manager: Galen Tromble

Aquaculture Program

Manager: Michael Rubino

Enforcement Program

- NMSP Enforcement

Manager: Dale Jones

Habitat Program

- Habitat Conservation

- Essential Fish Habitat

- Invasive Species

Manager: Rolland Schmitten

Corals Program

with Cold Water Corals

Manager: Dave Kennedy

matrix programs

January 11, 2004

5

NOAA Strategic Plan FY05 - FY10

2005 to 2010 Strategic Plan

The Ecosystem Goal: “Protect, restore and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources through an

ecosystem approach to management.”

Outcomes: • Healthy and productive coastal and marine ecosystems that benefit society• A well informed public that acts as a steward of coastal and marine ecosystems

Strategy to achieve this goal:“Engage and collaborate with our partners to achieve regional objectives by

delineating regional ecosystems, forming regional ecosystem councils, and implementing cooperative strategies to improve regional ecosystem health.”

January 11, 2004

6

NOAA Definitions

What is an ecosystem?• An ecosystem is a geographically specified system

of organisms (including humans), the environment, and the processes that control its dynamics.

What is an ecosystem approach to management?

• An ecosystem approach to management is geographically specified, adaptive, takes account of ecosystem knowledge and uncertainties, considers multiple external influences, and strives to balance diverse societal objectives. Implementation needs to be incremental and collaborative.

January 11, 2004

7

CaliforniaCurrent

Gulf of Mexico

Great Lakes

South Atlantic

North Atlantic

Distribution of the Population (by region) in 2000

Population Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2000

Gulf of Mexico13%

Great Lakes15%

North Atlantic 37%

California Current

25%

South Atlantic10%

Regional Ecosystem

CDA and EDA Population in 2000

Gulf of Mexico 16621632

Great Lakes 18723701

North Atlantic 47348802

California Current 32405675

South Atlantic 12175118

Total 127274928

Humans are part of ecosystems

January 11, 2004

8

Ecosystem Management: A Paradigm Shift

FROM TO

Individual Issues Ecosystems

Small spatial scale Multiple scales

Short-term perspective Long-term perspective

Humans: independent of ecosystem

Humans: integral part of ecosystems

Management divorced from research Adaptive management

Managing commodities Sustaining production potential for goods and services

January 11, 2004

9

Ecosystem Management: A Paradigm Shift

FROM TO

January 11, 2004

10

NOAA Delineationof Regional Ecosystems

• August 31- Sept 1 Workshop in Charleston, SC

• Co-chaired by Paul Sandifer (USCOP) and Doug DeMaster (Ecosystem Goal)

• Key Federal Agencies (e.g. EPA, FWS, USGS, FS, NRCS, COE, Navy, MMS, etc.)

• Academics and NGOs, (e.g., Heinz, USCOP, South Atlantic/

Caribbean and Western Pacific FMCs, Atlantic Inter. Comm., TNC, etc.)

• States (SC, MS, MN, AK, HI)

January 11, 2004

11

Background:Large Marine Ecosystems

What are Large Marine Ecosystems (LME)? Regions of the coast/ocean defined by: • bathymetry, • hydrography, • productivity, and

• trophic interactions.

Who uses LMEs and the LME approach? • EPA/NOAA US Coastal Condition Report• United Nations Environmental Programs (UNEP)• Global Environment Facility/World Bank (GEF)• World Conservation Union (IUCN) • University of British Columbia - The Sea Around Us project

January 11, 2004

12

U.S. Regional Ecosystems

January 11, 2004

13

IOOS Regional Association

January 11, 2004

14

Inland Boundaries

438 Estuarine Drainage Areas (EDA)

67 Fluvial Drainage Areas (FDAs)

11 Interior watershed areas*

Area in km2

EDAs 942,792 (12%)FDAs 5,373,130 (69%)Interior 1,463,348 (19%)

Coastal Assessment Framework (CAF)

Estuarine Drainage Area = component of a watershed that drains directly to estuarine or ocean waters.Fluvial Drainage Area = upstream component of a watershed (i.e., downstream boundary defined by head of tide).Interior watershed = self contained, groundwater-contributing only, or draining to outside the U.S.

January 11, 2004

15

Diadromous Fish Habitat

January 11, 2004

16

Potential alternatives to further delineation of regional ecosystems

NERRS TNC

NACEC MRC

January 11, 2004

17

NOAA Plan to Move Forward

• Delineate Regional Ecosystems based on Large Marine Ecosystems

• Further sub-division based on scientific and programmatic regional needs in coordination with stakeholders

• Initial inland boundary = coastal watershed and inland diadromous fish habitat with further coordination at regional level

January 11, 2004

18

Next Steps, continued

The NOAA Ecosystems Goal Team is moving forward to elaborate a strategy for continuing to move forward

• Refine and articulate the definition and vision for Ecosystems

• Lead by Example -- Emphasize collaboration among NOAA activities within ecosystems

• Engage Partners and Stakeholders • Case studies

January 11, 2004

19

Conclusion/Discussion

• Adaptive ecosystem approach clearly will be incremental and must be collaborative

• NOAA’s Programs will need to be re-engineered to fit the regional needs for each ecosystem

• NOAA must move forward as quickly as possible to begin taking steps toward the ecosystem approach

January 11, 2004

20

The Ultimate Ecosystem

January 11, 2004

21

NOAA’s Ecosystem Approach and Plans John H. Dunnigan, Ecosystem Goal Lead

Presentation to Marine Fisheries Advisory CommitteeJanuary 11, 2005