Nation’s First Regional Ocean Planning Body Meets & National Ocean Policy Workshop

The Northeast Regional Planning Body at the Big Table (Photo credit: Robin Just)

Last month regional ocean planning got underway in the Northeast United States. The Northeast Regional Planning Body met for the first time in Portland, Maine, on Nov. 19-20. “I’ve often heard the phrase ‘everyone has a seat at the table,’ but this is the first time I’ve seen it,” said National Marine Fisheries Service Regional Administrator John Bullard. His keynote statement pretty well summed up the sense of opportunity voiced by everyone attending the meeting.

We are pleased to report that there was clear agreement at the meeting that they will create an open and transparent process, ensure stakeholders are involved and the critical role of science and data in decision making – all key elements of successful ocean planning as you will recall from Ocean Frontiers.

As established by the (US) National Ocean Policy, the regional planning body (RPB) consists of representatives from federal and state agencies, regional tribes, the New England Fishery Management Council, and an ex officio member from Canada. The RPB was brought together to design the process for the first regional ocean plan to be developed in the United States.

“This is the first time that all of these representatives from various levels of the government have gotten together to begin this work,” said John Weber, the ocean planning director for the Northeast Regional Ocean Council. The fact that this collaboration is taking place, which allows for transparency as all sides are present, is looking promising for the future of our oceans and the economies that rely on them. As reported by E&E News, the regional planning body will strive to create ocean plans that reach across state and federal boundaries in an effort to reduce conflicts among fishing, offshore energy, shipping, conservation and recreation, as more users make demands on the sea.

“What it means for us is greater predictability, lower risk, lower cost. In our view, when you can identify the right places to do ocean energy, you can do everything better — you can do conservation better and can do energy development better,” said Markian Melnyk, president of Atlantic Grid Development, a group working on a proposal for a 300-mile offshore transmission network in the mid-Atlantic.

“It doesn’t have to be a fight over siting; this type of collaborative siting work helps makes it more about science and more about sound economics than about fighting,” he added.

Effective ocean planning portal tools have been launched online at by Northeast and mid-Atlantic groups. The portal is a place for compiled data and interactive maps, which allows all different types of ocean users to view ocean features such as fishing grounds, critical habitat, shipping corridors and even wind speeds. View one of the portals here.

“It is a lot easier to look at a variety of maps than to try to look through [environmental impact statement] reports,” said Tony MacDonald, Urban Coast Institute at Monmouth University director, who has helped lead these effort. “You can see areas where conflicts might be and compatibilities might be. At the end of this discussion, it should put everybody on the same base line and hopefully screen out conflicts earlier in the process.”

As this was the RPB’s first meeting, there is much work to be done, however this first step is huge and worth congratulating. To learn more about the RPB and its inaugural meeting check out Open Channels blog post here.

LEARN MORE, TAKE ACTION: National Ocean Policy Briefing 

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Pacific City, OR — A proposed wave energy site in Oregon (Photo credit: Nastassja Pace) 

On Thursday, December 13th, 6-9pm, at the Leftbank Annex (101 North Weidler St., Portland, OR) you are invited to a free briefing on the National Ocean Policy and ocean conservation efforts in Oregon—a great way to learn how to take action in support of our oceans and coasts!

Guests attending will include the Oregon Governor’s office and Congressional staff. Presentations from Surfrider, Our Ocean, American Littoral Society will be given as well as a screening of excerpts from  Ocean Frontiers. Sandwiches and refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP here.

Thanks for all you do!

Karen Meyer
Executive Director, Green Fire Productions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ocean Frontiers Kicks Off National Tour & Guests Governor Kitzhaber & First Lady Cylvia Hayes Join the Celebration

Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber and First Lady Cylvia Hayes join Leesa Cobb, executive director of Port Orford Ocean Resource Team, on boat tour of Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve (seen in background) on February 12, 2012

On February 11, 2012, the Savoy Theatre in Port Orford, Oregon, the western most point in the continental United States, was filled to capacity when Oregon First Lady Cylvia Hayes took the stage to declare, “I’m proud to be an Oregonian.” Hayes went on to say, “It doesn’t surprise me at all that Oregon is one of the states featured in this film, because we have an incredible story to tell.”

Sitting in the front rows were Governor Kitzhaber and First Lady Hayes, Mayor Jim Auborn and County Commissioner David Itzen. State Representative Wayne Krieger (R-Gold Beach), Co-Speaker Arnie Roblan (D-Coos Bay) and Senator Kruse (R-Roseburg) took a break from the legislative session—traveling four hours from the state capitol to attend this important event.

“Ocean Frontiers” is a documentary that tells the story of people across the country working together to sustain their coastal communities that depend on healthy oceans. Port Orford and the work of the Port Orford Ocean Resource Team is one of the four stories.

As the film came to a close, the audience leaped to its feet giving filmmakers Karen and Ralf Meyer an enthusiastic standing ovation.

While in Port Orford the Governor and First Lady toured the Port Orford Ocean Resource Team’s Marine Science Facility, which is currently under construction. Looking out at one of the most picturesque stretches of the Pacific coast, they learned of the community’s work to keep Port Orford fishing sustainably.

At dawn the next day the Governor and First Lady climbed aboard the fishing vessel Top Gun with Captain Jeff Miles to tour the newly designated Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve.

Jeff Miles, a Port Orford fisherman with thirty-five years of experience said, “We feel very honored that the Governor and First Lady came to Port Orford to learn about what people are doing here. I read people very well, and it was clear that they have a genuine interest about the future of Oregon’s fishing industry.”

Lyle Keeler, a Port Orford fisherman of forty years, said, “I was most impressed that on a cold, stormy February day the Governor and First Lady ventured out with us on a small fishing boat to learn about the science taking place in our new Redfish Rocks marine reserve.”

After the film, the reception at the American Legion Hall featured Port Orford Sustainable Seafood and was packed with Port Orford residents who expressed their unanimous pride in the accomplishments of their local organizations and community.

“This was an amazing event which brought our community together with our elected leaders and natural resource agencies to bring the conversation about ocean health, conservation and ocean literacy to the next level,” said Kelly Sparks, Project Coordinator with the Redfish Rocks Community Team.

Representative Krieger said, “On their own, this community offered up a marine reserve that came to be known as Redfish Rocks. I was of the opinion, and I still am, that the greatest value of marine reserves is the ability to do research, to learn and better understand what actually is happening in the ocean itself. I think that’s very do-able.”

Representative Krieger added, “One thing we haven’t done a good job with is putting money into marine research in this state. Oregon must continue funding marine research if we want to move ahead in the ocean.”

The other three segments of “Ocean Frontiers”—Massachusetts Bay, Florida Keys, Iowa/Gulf of Mexico—tell the story of people from different arenas coming together to find solutions that benefit their economic interests as well as the environment. They recognize that a healthy ocean and coastal ecosystem is the basis for their economic well-being.

Oregon First Lady Cylvia Hayes said, “‘Ocean Frontiers’ presents a starting point to help ensure that these kinds of success stories are told and better understood. We need to illustrate that communities are taking steps to invest in their own economic futures and in the conservation of our shared natural resources. Not only can this garner additional support for these incredible grassroots efforts, but hopefully it will inspire communities across the state and beyond.”

“Ocean Frontiers” will next premiere in Newport, Oregon on February 22nd, in Portland, Oregon on March 7th and will continue to tour the nation. Karen Meyer, producer of “Ocean Frontiers” said, “During the production of ‘Ocean Frontiers’ the United States adopted its first-ever National Ocean Policy. This policy encourages exactly the types of successful projects featured in ‘Ocean Frontiers’ and supports state leadership regarding ocean health.”

Governor Kitzhaber repeated this theme in his address to the crowd at the “Ocean Frontiers” premiere and said, “We all know that the challenges facing coastal communities are not going to be resolved by one or two initiatives, it’s going to take a long, thoughtful approach that brings together good science, strong leadership and a commitment to conserving resources while promoting economic prosperity for all. Now, that may sound like a tall order but I am sure America can do it. What you have done here in Port Orford is truly remarkable and is worth repeating across our state and across the nation.”