The Skimmer on Marine Ecosystems and Management
Preparing data and maps for a regional MSP process: Interview with Nick Napoli
In the US, marine spatial planning is a central component of the national ocean policy, and is being carried out on a phased basis across nine regional planning areas (MEAM 4:1). The planning process for the northeast region of the US is underway (https://www.openchannels.org/node/3300).
Nick Napoli is the Ocean Planning Project Manager for the Northeast Regional Ocean Council, which covers the US states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Much of his work involves ensuring that a wide array of data sets is available to the Northeast regional planning process. The data-gathering work grew from a multi-institutional partnership that formed in 2011 – the Northeast Ocean Data Working Group, consisting of government agencies, NGOs, research institutes, and others. MEAM spoke with Napoli about the challenges involved in this and how he anticipates the data needs may change over time.
Global Ocean Commission: “Need to act swiftly” on high seas governance
The Global Ocean Commission is an independent body of world leaders with the goal of reversing degradation of the high seas – areas of the ocean beyond national jurisdiction (www.globaloceancommission.org). Chaired by former Costa Rican President José María Figueres, South African cabinet minister Trevor Manuel, and former UK Foreign Secretary…
Notes & News: Red List for Ecosystems – PNCIMA – Arctic strategy – Ocean Frontiers – Community-based fisheries management
Study analyzes IUCN Red List for Ecosystems The IUCN Red List of Ecosystems, a global standard that is being developed to assess environmental risk, has now been trialed on 20 ecosystems spanning six continents and three oceans. An article in the May 2013 edition of PLoS ONE journal documents the…
The EBM Toolbox: “In-the-water” tools for MSP
By Sarah Carr [Editor's note: The goal of The EBM Toolbox is to promote awareness of tools for facilitating EBM. It is brought to you by the EBM Tools Network, an alliance of tool users, developers, and training providers.] A number of my previous EBM Toolbox columns have covered tools…
Can Any and All Marine Activities Be Compatible with EBM, or Are There Limits? Experts Respond
When MEAM published an article four years ago that complimented Namibia on its marine EBM efforts – including new protected areas, a regional ecosystem management project, and an emerging coastal policy (MEAM 3:1) – we received a letter from a frustrated reader. “How can you suggest Namibia is practicing ecosystem-based…
Tundi’s Take: We must consider not only what we take out of the sea, but also what we put into it
Honest dialogue about what are acceptable uses of the sea and coasts can only be good. It forces us to take stock of what we know, and likewise forces us – as users and as nations – to put our desires and needs on the table. While those desires and needs vary from sector to sector and from place to place, we all share a global ambition to use marine resources and space wisely so as not to risk ecological imbalance, economic and environmental vulnerability, and conflict.
But for far too long the focus has been on resource extraction – especially fisheries – while the myriad other ways we run those aforementioned risks are seemingly ignored.
Notes & News: US ocean plan – Climate adaptation strategy – Global MPA coverage – Spatial conservation priorities – Blue carbon – ABNJ – Risk management and EBM – Triple-bottom-line outcomes – Marine ecosystem services
US releases implementation plan for ocean policy; emphasizes regional priorities in MSP In April, the Obama Administration released its final plan to translate the US national ocean policy into specific actions. Together the actions involve: Supporting and promoting the ocean economy; Enhancing maritime safety and security; Improving coastal and coastal…
The EBM Toolbox: So many tools! How do I choose?
Editor's note: The goal of The EBM Toolbox is to promote awareness of tools for facilitating EBM. It is brought to you by the EBM Tools Network, an alliance of tool users, developers, and training providers. By Sarah Carr There are several software- and web-based tools available to help coastal…
Communications and Marine Spatial Planning: Engaging Stakeholders and Building Public Support
At a recent meeting of ocean planners in North America, the question was asked:
"How do you make the concept of marine spatial planning interesting?"
The fact is, unless there is an immediate need for MSP in a particular region – like when offshore wind projects move into an area with other existing uses – the concept can seem abstract or even irrelevant to current user groups. ("Why do we need to plan the ocean if things are fine as they are?") In such cases, it may even seem easier for opponents to build a constituency against MSP – "The government is trying to zone the oceans and take away your use rights!" – than for proponents to build one for it.
The EBM Toolbox: Finding the right tool(s) to assess coastal climate change vulnerability and to plan for adaptation
Coastal natural resource managers and communities have begun to plan for the impacts of climate change on their local ecosystems and infrastructure. However, many practitioners are finding it difficult to select tools suited to their needs and capacities. This is because of the wide variety of tools, the difficulty of finding clear information about tool functions, and the lack of ways to compare different tools (e.g., their functionality, data and training requirements, and strengths and limitations).