Northeast Ocean PlanNEFMC MeetingMystic, CT4.21.16

Major Points

NEFMC is full member of Northeast Regional Planning Body

Plan chapters include: Discussion of federal agency commitments to use of data (e.g., marine life and habitat, VMS) Early engagement and coordination, including with NEFMC, on future proposed projects, and Identification of science and research priorities, with the RPB intent of serving a coordinating role

Upcoming calendar: 60-day comment period from late May-late July

Northeast Ocean Planning

• The formal ocean planning process in the Northeast began in November 2012 with the first meeting of the Regional Planning Body (RPB)

• The RPB is comprised of representatives from:– 6 New England states– 10 federally-recognized tribes– 9 federal agencies– New England Fishery Management Council

• Over a 4 year period, the RPB has engaged with many stakeholders through numerous public meetings, workshops, forums, and industry-specific projects to gather information and input

GOAL: EFFECTIVE DECISION MAKING

GOAL: HEALTHY OCEAN AND COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS

GOAL: COMPATIBILITY AMONG OCEAN USES

Principles

• Meaningful public participation - Reflect the knowledge, perspectives, and needs of ocean stakeholders

• Sound science - Use accurate, up-to-date data and information, from traditional knowledge to innovative mapping technologies

• Comprehensive, ecosystem-based approach - Consider the “big picture” of ecological, economic, cultural, and other needs in our region

• Transparent, efficient government decision-making -Reduce inefficiency; enhance coordination

• Adaptive management - Update as we learn

What Does the Northeast Ocean Plan Do?

Enable more consistent regional characterizations of natural resource conditions and ocean use trends for use in regulatory/environmental reviews and other management applications (Chapter 3)

Support identification of potential conflicts (and compatibility) and affected resources (Chapter 3)

Employ best practices for regulatory/management processes through interagency coordination, stakeholder engagement, use of data (Chapter 4)

Identify future priority science and research needs (Chapter 5)

Marine Life Base Products: Building Blocks

• Stakeholder and scientist-vetted process

• Products for 150 marine mammal, bird, fish species

• These are the building blocks of other products

• Level of review: work plans and methods reviewed by Expert Work Groups, ~80 members

Common tern,Annual average relative abundance

Work Group participants and meeting materials available here: http://neoceanplanning.org/projects/marine-life

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Fish Base Products

• 82 fish species

• 4 datasets mapped individually: NEFSC, NEAMAP, MDMF, ME/NH

• 2 time periods: ~1970-2014; 2005-2014

• These are the building blocks of other Ocean Plan products

• Level of review: work plans and methods reviewed by Expert Work Groups, ~80 members

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Fish: Species-level ViewerFull methodologies and details can be found here

Observed biomass of fish species caught in four separate trawl surveys (tabs across the top of the legend) for the entire length of each trawl survey and for the most recent decade are shown

Data are displayed four different ways for each species (under DATA TYPE)

Only fall data are shown

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Marine Life Species Group Summary Products

• For each group: Maps of total abundance, species richness, diversity, and core abundance area to inform decisions under existing authorities

• Level of review:

– Species groups developed by Duke/NOAA with expert review

– First drafts developed late December 2015, under peer review

Regulatory Ecological Stressor-sensitivity

Mammals All ESA-listed whales Baleen whales Sensitivity to high, medium, low frequency sound

Birds MBTA species Birds grouped by foraging guild

“Higher” collision and displacement risk from offshore energy

Fish NE multispecies FMP Diadromous fish Under development

Some example species groups:

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Example species group product: Demersal fish biomass

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New England’s marine environment and why this approach makes sense

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Approach and process

Chapter 3

Federal agency actions to update and use Plan data and information (within existing

authorities):

• Initial understanding of potential issues

• Identify stakeholders• Support required impact assessments• Available to public

Chapter 3

2013 Tug/Tow 2013 Cargo

2012 Boating 2011-2014 Scallop

Marine transportation, fishing, recreation

• Assess potential for conflicts between new and existing uses

• Identify specific stakeholders to engage

www.northeastoceandata.org

Chapter 3

Humpbacks Shearwaters

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

All VMS 2011-2014

VMS Less Than 5 Knots

NMFS

Chapter 3 - Commercial and Recreational Fishing

“The NEFMC will use the plan data, as appropriate, to supplement traditional internal, state and NOAA data sources to conduct analyses related to FMP development, and to satisfy the requirements of NEPA, MSA and other applicable laws.“

“The Portal may also inform NEFMC when considering climate change impacts to fisheries, developing and implementing ecosystem-based fisheries management, and resolving use conflicts.”

Chapter 4

Plan Implementation:

• Best practices for coordination (agencies and stakeholders)

• Plan administration and oversight

• Monitoring and evaluation Adding in ASMFC

Chapter 4

Best practices provide flexible but consistent guidance to help enhance value of agency coordination by supporting:• Broad understanding across agencies of early use of relevant info from portal, plan, stakeholders,

other sources,

• Clear and efficient direction for the applicant,

• Initial understanding of proposed project among and between agencies and initial broad understanding of issues,

• Informed stakeholders engagement, and

• Coordinated federal, state, tribal review as appropriate.

-> Early agency coordination includes NEFMC/MAFMC/ASMFC

Chapter 5

Science and research priorities:• Improve understanding of

marine life, cultural resources, human activities

• Characterize changing conditions (climate change)

• Continue to advance overall management in ecosystem context

Relevant Science & Research Priorities

• Marine life and habitat surveys

• Habitat classification and ocean mapping

• Marine life vulnerability to specific stressors

• Benthic and pelagic habitat vulnerability to specific stressors

• Marine life and habitat vulnerability to climate change

• Species and habitat relationships

• Science and data to advance the identification of Important Ecological Areas

Work underway now

Longer term

Where do we go from here?

• Public draft release - Late-May

• Comment period – 60 days

– At least one public meeting in each State

– Briefings for regulated community

– Press outreach

• Revise plan - August

• Submit final regional plan - Sept

• National Ocean Council certification – Nov

For more information:Neoceanplanning.org Northeastoceandata.org (Northeast Ocean Data Portal)

Contacts: Betsy.Nicholson@noaa.govjweber@northeastoceancouncil.org