Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Forum
Challenges and Opportunities
December 1-2, 2008
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Forum took place on December 1st and 2nd of 2008 at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore Maryland. The forum was attended by 149 participants from a variety of governmental organizations, environmental groups, industry representatives, and academic institutions. The forum was organized to address a number of pressing issues in the Mid-Atlantic region and to facilitate new multi-stakeholder dialogue and regional collaboration regarding present and future ocean issues in this region.
The Mid-Atlantic region is characterized by a great variety of industries, coastal communities, and aquatic ecosystems. However, there are a number of issues and threats common to the region. The forum sought to address important issues and common threats to the region as a whole, as well as to begin to establish lines of communication among various entities affected by these issues. Forum panels focused on first characterizing the Mid-Atlantic seascape and threats to its aquatic health, then presenting and examining options for addressing these issues. Breakout sessions then discussed these options and how to further develop regional approaches to Mid-Atlantic ocean issues.
The main objectives of the forum were as follows:
- Promote dialogue and exchange of information among state, federal, industry, academic, and nongovernmental participants about regional ocean issues
- Clarify issues and stakeholder perspectives regarding potential benefits from coordinated actions and regional approaches
- Assess the status of regional ocean research, mapping, and information systems and tools
- Share lessons learned from other regional initiatives and pilot projects and identify avenues for continued dialogue, future information sharing, and cooperation among Mid-Atlantic entities and stakeholders
FORUM REPORT
FORUM AGENDA 
PRESENTATIONS
Welcome and Forum Overview
- Mr. John R. Griffin, Secretary, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (Forthcoming)
Panel 1- Setting the Stage: The Economic and Ecosystem Values of the Mid-Atlantic Region
- Setting the Stage: Economics of Shared Environmental Ocean Resources in the Mid-Atlantic, Dr. Doug Lipton, Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Maryland and Coordinator, University of Maryland Sea Grant Extension Program
- Mid-Atlantic Ocean Forum, Ms. Mary Glackin, Deputy Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Challenges and Opportunities for Cooperation: Working towards healthy, self-sustaining populations for all Atlantic coast fish species or successful restoration well in progress by 2015, Mr. John V. O'Shea, Executive Director, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
- The Mid-Atlantic Seascape, Ms. Lynne Hale, Director of Global Marine Initiative, The Nature Conservancy
Panel 2- Applying Ecosystem-Based Approaches and Marine Spatial Planning Tools in the Mid-Atlantic Region
- Marine Spatial Planning Tools, Ms. Cindy Fowler, GIS Integration and Development Program Manager, NOAA Coastal Services Center
- Mapping the Mid-Atlantic, Mr. Jay Odell, Mid-Atlantic Marine Program Director, The Nature Conservancy
- Marine Spatial Planning Tools in Virginia, Ms. Laura McKay, Director, Virginia Coastal Management Program
- Use of Marine Spatial Planning by the Massachusetts Ocean Plan, Mr. Deerin Babb-Brott, Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Coastal Zone Management, Massachusetts
Panel 3- Regional Ocean Collaboration in Practice
- Regional Ocean Collaboration in the Northeast, Ms. Kathleen Leyden, Director, Maine Coastal Program, Northeast Regional Ocean Council and Coastal States Organization Regional Ocean Governance Workgroup
- West Coast Governor's Agreement on Ocean Health, Ms. Jessica S. Hamilton, Natural Resources Policy Advisor to Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski and Representative, West Coast Governors' Agreement on Ocean Health
- Gulf of Mexico Alliance, Dr. William W. Walker, Executive Director, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and Representative, Gulf of Mexico Alliance
- The Governor's South Atlantic Alliance: Methods for Success, Mr. Chris Russo, Organizational Engineer, North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, South Atlantic Governor's Agreement
Panel 4- Climate Change in the Mid-Atlantic: Impacts and Next Steps
- Climate Change: Coastal and Ocean Response Planning, Ms. Zoe Johnson, Program Manager, Climate Change Planning and Policy, Office for a Sustainable Future, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Panel 5- Regional Offshore Energy: Balancing Needs, Cumulative Impacts and Ecosystem Sustainability
- Regional Offshore Energy, Dr. Walter Cruickshank, Deputy Director, Minerals Management Service
- Virginia's Offshore Wind and Marine Biomass Energy Resources, Mr. George Hagerman, Director of Research, Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium
- Developing an Offshore Industry, Mr. Tom Fry, President, National Ocean Industries Association
- Offshore Wind Energy: A Developer's Perspective, Mr. Douglas Pfeister, Bluewater Wind Company(link)
- Offshore Energy Development: Balancing Needs, Cumulative Impacts and Ecosystem Sustainability, Mr. Tim Dillingham, Executive Director, The American Littoral Society
Panel 6- Sustainability of Living Marine Resources and Habitats
- Common Mid-Atlantic Seafloor Habitats, Captain Monty Hawkins, Morning Star Charters, Ocean City Maryland (link to mpeg video)
- Sustainability of Living Marine Resources and Habitats, Dr. Timothy Targett, Professor of Marine Biosciences, University of Delaware College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment
- Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management, Dr. Jason Link, Ecosystem Assessment Program Leader, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Science Center
- Management Challenges and Opportunities, Mr. Rick Robins, Chesapeake Packing LLC; Member, Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council and Associate Member Virginia Marine Resources Commission
Panel 7- Development of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean and Coastal Research Plan
- Development of a Regional Research Plan for the Mid-Atlantic: Context and Overview, Dr. Nancy Targett, Director, Delaware Sea Grant and Dean, College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment, University of Delaware
BREAKOUT SESSION DISCUSSION
- Breakout Discussion Summaries (Forthcoming)
CONFERENCE ATTENDEES
CONFERENCE ORGANIZERS
Mr. Jay Odell
The Nature Conservancy
Virginia Program
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Dr. Biliana Cicin-Sain
Gerard J. Mangone Center for Marine Policy
University of Delaware
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Mr. Tony MacDonald
Urban Coast Institute
Monmouth University
New Jersey
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Ms. Kristen Fletcher
Coastal States Organization
Washington D.C.
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Ms. Laura Cantral
Joint Ocean Commission Initiative
Washington D.C.
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Dr. Kathryn Mengerink
Environmental Law Institute
Washington D.C.
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CONTACT
For further inquiries about the forum, please contact:
Ms. Shelby M. Hockenberry
Coordinator
Gerard J. Mangone Center for Marine Policy
University of Delaware
smhocken@udel.edu
Tel. +1-302-831-8086
Fax: +1-302-831-3668
PHOTO SOURCES
The Nature Conservancy Virginia Program
Maryland Sea Grant and Pennsylvania Sea Grant
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