NROC News - July 2013 - Northeast Regional Ocean Council (NROC)

NROC News – monthly news and updates from NROC, its member agencies and partners.

NROC would like you to know –

Thank you to all for attending the ten regional ocean planning meetings held over the last two months across New England. Your interest and feedback on the draft regional ocean planning goals and potential actions over the next few years is appreciated. In response to multiple requests, the public comment period is being extended until July 26. As a reminder, comments can be submitted on-line, via e-mail, or traditional mail; see the public comment page for additional information (including links to the draft goals under discussion).
The Ocean and Coastal Ecosystem Health Committees for NROC and the Northeast Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems (NERACOOS) joined forces to hold a workshop on June 27 at the Seacoast Science Center in Rye, NH to begin developing an “Integrated Sentinel Monitoring Network for Climate Change in New England Marine and Estuarine Waters.” Over 40 scientists, resource managers, and policy experts from Maine to Connecticut met to begin preparing a science and implementation plan for how to conduct an integrated sentinel monitoring system, building on several established and ongoing programs.

NROC Partners would like you to know –

Now available: Practitioners Guide to Managing Ocean Resources Through Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning: This new guide is intended to help marine resources managers navigate coastal and marine spatial planning efforts in their states or regions. This guide shares lessons learned through the development of the R.I. Ocean Special Area Management Plan about managing the many components of a major spatial planning effort, including fundraising, developing a research agenda, identifying experts, working with stakeholders, implementing the plan, and assessing the outcomes. To download a free copy click here: http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/oceansamp/pdf/Practitioner_Guide.pdf  To request a hard copy please e-mail oceansamp@etal.uri.edu with your full name and address (limited quantities available). Via Grover Fugate (RI CRMC)
Homeowner’s Handbook: MIT and Woods Hole Sea Grant programs have released “The Massachusetts Homeowner’s Handbook to Prepare for Coastal Hazards”. This handbook is designed to help homeowners prepare for coastal hazards to reduce risks to family and property and promote community resilience. The resource provides information about coastal storms in addition to guiding residents on practical measures that can keep them safe and minimize damage to homes and property. Free hard copies are being distributed to town halls throughout coastal Massachusetts, and a limited number of books can be ordered by emailing seagrant@whoi.edu. Also available as a free download at http://www.whoi.edu/seagrant and seagrant.mit.edu. Via Julia Knisel (MA CZM)
Joint Initiative releases report: Charting the Course: The Joint Ocean Commission Initiative Leadership Council has released a new report, “Charting the Course: Securing the Future of America’s Oceans,” that calls on President Obama and Congress to improve the management of our ocean resources. The report describes specific recommendations for the Administration and Congress that prioritize areas where short-term progress can be readily achieved. The report details measures for immediate implementation that focus on four action areas: 1) Enhance the resiliency of coastal communities and ocean ecosystems to dramatic changes underway in our oceans and on our coasts; 2) Promote ocean renewable energy development and reinvest in our oceans; 3) Support state and regional ocean and coastal priorities; and 4) Improve Arctic research and management. If implemented, these measures will strengthen ocean-dependent economies, protect coastal communities, and provide new opportunities for growth in thriving oceans. The Joint Initiative also urges that the Administration and Congress build off of the blueprint set by the National Ocean Policy and make oceans a priority. The report and press release are available at: www.jointoceancommission.org and you can follow on Twitter at: @JointOceanCI.  Via Laura Cantral (Meridian Institute)
Northeast Regional Planning Body: The Northeast Regional Planning Body will spend the summer reviewing results from the public meetings and other public comments received to help revise and refine the draft goals document, and develop a draft work plan specifying necessary steps to accomplish our work. These two important aspects of this regional ocean planning effort—revised goals and the draft work plan—will be discussed at the next Regional Planning Body meeting to be schedule for this Fall, and will be available prior to that meeting. Via Betsy Nicholson (NOAA)