FIRST SHELLFISH FARM IN ATLANTIC FEDERAL WATERS FACILITATED BY NORTHEAST OCEAN DATA PORTAL
“A lot of restaurants are interested in having a local, sustainable, stable supply of shellfish and this is something that this site could provide. It’s a means to revitalize the local waterfront communities, especially the fishing-based communities.” Ted Maney
In 2013, the Northeastern Massachusetts Aquaculture Center (NEMAC) at Salem State University proposed a submerged mussel farm in federal waters off Cape Ann, Massachusetts. NEMAC biologists Ted Maney and Mark Fregeau sought to develop offshore mussel culture as an alternative industry for economically struggling fishing communities.
Because of the potential impacts on other ocean uses and marine life, the proposal for the farm was required to undergo review and approval by multiple federal and state agencies. In its application, NEMAC showed that the farm would have little or no negative impact on fishing activity, commercial and recreational vessel traffic, and protected marine resources.
To do this, NEMAC turned to data and information from the Northeast Ocean Data Portal, using these maps from the portal:
- Oceanographic parameters
- Fishing activity in the area
- Vessel traffic
- Fishing closures
- Essential Fish Habitat (EFH)
- Endangered Species Act (ESA) species
Read more about it in the case study on the Northeast Ocean Data Portal.
We met with Ted Maney while filming for Ocean Frontiers III. Watch this short clip of our interview with him.
SEVENSEAS OCTOBER ISSUE
If you haven’t come across SEVENSEAS yet, a beautiful online magazine, you have a treat in store for yourself. Bold photography and engaging articles on marine conservation and sustainable travel await you. For the October issue, the editor set his sights on the Great Bear Sea in British Columbia, making it their feature destination. Read articles about:
- Our Great Bear Sea marine stewardship curriculum
- Keys to success in creating B.C.’s marine plans
- Indigenous stewardship of the Great Bear Sea
- Spirit Bears bring international tourists to remote B.C.
Distributed for free in 174 countries, we encourage you to share this amazing resource with friends and colleagues. Thanks to Giacomo Abrusci, Editor of SEVENSEAS, for promoting scientific discussion and shining a spotlight on the good work of global partners in conservation.
TAKE ACTION
Save Menhaden
Atlantic menhaden is a critical food source for nearly every major marine predator up and down the Atlantic coast. These predators – and the balance of the entire ecosystem – can only thrive when every part of the food web thrives. If populations of menhaden drop too low, everything from striped bass and bluefish to humpback whales and seabirds will have a harder time finding food. We need menhaden managers to know that it’s unacceptable to allow populations of menhaden to drop to risky levels. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is accepting public comments through October 24. So take action today:
Tell the Commission to protect the most important fish in the sea!
Defending NOAA’s Budget: The Window of Opportunity is Now!
Last month Congress passed a ‘Continuing Resolution’ to keep the government open for the next two months while they negotiate final FY 2018 funding for NOAA (and everything else). The Senate’s budget proposal has much better funding numbers for NOAA than the House’s does, so the message we need to relay to Congress this month is “support Senate funding levels for NOAA in Fiscal Year 2018.” Now is the time for those of you who value the role that NOAA plays to share your concerns and voice your support for robust funding, including local anecdotes where possible. If you’re in an area affected by the recent hurricanes, be sure to mention how NOAA programs help communities prepare for and respond to natural disasters.
Our friends at Ocean Conservancy have made reaching out to your Congressional members easy! Their newly updated NOAA Appropriations toolkit outlines key messages, along with three specific ways for you to weigh in:
1. Call or email your Member of Congress
2. Write something public
3. Leverage social media
Take action now, our oceans and coastlines depend on it!
BRING OCEAN FRONTIERS III TO THE OFFICE
In addition to being shown publicly, the Ocean Frontiers films are used internally by decision-makers, agency staffers, industry leaders and conservation groups to enlighten their colleagues on the complex subject of ocean planning. Our films have been shown in conference rooms at every level of government – federal, state, tribal, regional, and local. Those of you engaged in ocean-related work can share our latest film, Ocean Frontiers III, with your work colleagues as well. Lunch and learn screenings of the full-length film are common, and we also have shorter versions available to show in meetings. Sign up to order the full-length film (55-min) and 10-minute excerpt, or contact Eva Barnett for links to additional versions.
An upcoming agency screening of Ocean Frontiers III takes place November 7th at the NOAA offices in Silver Spring, Maryland. NOAA Fisheries staff will be in attendance at this lunch and learn session, and the film’s producer, Karen Meyer, will introduce the film and take questions afterwards. Thanks to the NOAA staff who have been instrumental in presenting our films at this vital ocean agency!
UPCOMING SCREENINGS
Check out our calendar of upcoming screenings for more information on these dates!
October 19 – Wells, ME – Ocean Frontiers III
October 19 – Long Beach, NY – Ocean Frontiers III with panel discussion
October 19 – Staten Island, NY – Ocean Frontiers III with panel discussion
October 28 – Brigantine, NJ – Ocean Frontiers III
November 6 – Providence, RI – Ocean Frontiers III at CERF Conference
November 8 – Farmingdale, NY – Ocean Frontiers III with panel discussion
November 14 & 16 – Wayne, NJ – Ocean Frontiers I
Don’t see a screening near you? Plan one!OCEAN PLANNING NEWS
Northeast
Keep up with the Northeast Regional Planning Body (RPB) at neoceanplanning.org.
- November 15 – Workshop at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH to review and obtain input on updated human use and marine life data products, including revised draft products for each of the five Components of Ecological Importance. Open to the public. Register
- November 16 – In-person RPB meeting at the Exeter Town Hall in Exeter, NH to review progress implementing the Plan in 2017 and look forward to 2018. Open to the public. Register
Mid-Atlantic
The Mid-Atlantic RPB events and updates can be found at www.boem.gov/MidA-New.
- November 2 – Mid-Atlantic RPB Ecologically Rich Areas Workshop in Crownsville, MD. Hosted by MARCO to engage scientists, Traditional Knowledge holders, key stakeholders and the public in the development of marine life and habitat data. Details / register
- November 8 – Mid-Atlantic Non-Consumptive Recreation Workshop in Virginia Beach, VA. Engage in a discussion on the value of important non-consumptive recreational areas and the activities they sustain. Details / register
West Coast
Keep up with the West Coast RPB’s news and events at www.westcoastmarineplanning.org.
- December 5 – The West Coast Regional Planning Body Annual Meeting takes place on board the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA. Register
- Washington State – The public is invited to comment on the newly-released draft Marine Spatial Plan for Washington’s Pacific Ocean coast.
- Submit comments online by December 12, 2017.
- November 1, 7, 8 and 9 – A series of public meetings about the plan takes place. See the fact sheet for details.
Pacific Islands
Stay up to date with the Pacific Islands RPB by visiting pacificislandsrpb.org.
Thanks for all you do for the oceans!
Karen Anspacher-Meyer
Executive Director, Green Fire Productions
