Bringing science to bear on coastal decision-making

Waves of Change September 4, 2003

David KeeleyMaine State Planning Office

Issue: Society is expecting informed and science-based decision-making

Population pressures cause us to live closer together;

Resources are more finite; Decision-making needs to be more

precise

Today’s Themes

Coastal Management Vignettes Science to Management Needs New Tools for the Coastal Ocean

Setting a National Context -- Patterns of Development in Maine: 1940 - 2050

develop.exe

Part 1 - Coastal Management Vignettes: Bringing science to bear

Coastal Dredging – regional & local Public Access to the Shoreline Marine Protected Areas Working Waterfronts Commercial Fisheries Coastal Water Quality & Shellfish

Coastal Dredging – regional ports

National security, jobs & economic development

Channel maintenance

Side-scan sonar, shoals, buoys & redeployment

Coastal Dredging – local ports

Dredging tidal inlets (e.g., sand budgets, marshes and the sand on adjacent beaches. Beach nourishment/use of dredged materials

Long-term impacts to beaches and dunes from repeated maintenance dredging.

Access to the Shoreline

Changing land ownership patterns

Socio-economic research (e.g. user surveys, willingness to pay)

Environmental research (carrying capacity)

Marine Protected Areas

Effect of dragging on the ocean floor and species

5-year moratorium & call for science and traditional knowledge

Report to Legislature

Working Waterfronts

Public & private access for commercial fishing is diminishing & calls for action

Socio-economic research to preserve working waterfront property

Commercial Fisheries

Available species data & information impedes sound decision-making

Inshore trawl survey & emerging fisheries research

Coastal Water Quality & Shellfish

Bacteria levels exceed standards

Identify specific sources (humans, wildlife, etc.)

Targeted management responses (efficiency, priority)

Part Two: Science to management needs

Improved dissemination of existing knowledge and research;

Research on priority coastal & ocean management issues;

Translation of scientific results into information managers can use;

Building the capacity of local, state and federal managers to manage

Disseminating science

We are not fully capitalizing on previous investments in coastal and marine science

Work with funders, libraries and others to harness the information age

Investing in new research

Local, state and federal coastal managers need to better articulate their leading management issues and corresponding research needs

Sponsors of research (State and federal agencies, industry, foundations) need to integrate these needs into their funding programs

Turning data into information

Managers and scientists need to work collaboratively to synthesize data into information & create products of value to managers and decision-makers

Building capacity (teaching them to fish vs. fishing for them)

Local and state managers need to routinely invest in themselves

Existing mechanisms need to be reinforced

National estuary, coastal, ocean programs need to place a premium on capacity building

Part Three: Investing in new tools for coastal ocean management

National effort to strengthen the monitoring of coastal ocean trends and conditions

Ocean Commission priority on more informed decision-making & making the required investment

Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System (GoMOOS) -- as an example

Coastal Ocean Observing

Purpose -- Facilitate safe and efficient marine operations, ensure national security, ensure sustainable food supply, manage ecosystems, mitigate natural hazards, and protect public health.

Critical Elements

Buoys & other sensors in the water

Land-based radar Satellites Modeling Ships of opportunity

Analysis, synthesis, & products

Why make this investment?

To provide data and information that serve public and private sector needs to: Solve practical problems, Predict events, Increase public awareness, Further understand natural systems

A Coastal Oceanic Analog of……the National Weather Service

User Needs & Payback

Mariners – safety, rescue Shipping – safety & efficiency Mammals – endangered species assessment Aquaculture – site selection & water quality Lobster fishing – recruitment prediction Petroleum Industry – spill response Shellfishing – spat collection, site selection Military – national security, operations test bed Coastal Management – eutrophication Commercial & Sport Fishing – stock assessments Research – long-term observations, infrastructure

Ocean Observing Summary

It will inspire and facilitate research Users will justify the investment Users need a 24/7 operational system

that provides useful, timely information…and drives research

GoMOOS cost/benefit: $(3/30)M/year A national OOS will only come to pass if

Congress hears the same request from all regions!

Closing

Coastal states have many issues in common & a history of cooperation

We understand why & how science can be better applied to coastal management issues & the benefits

We need a consistent and firm statement from the Governors to the Ocean Commission on this matter