State Directors Meeting

1. State Directors Meeting Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., U.S. Navy (Ret.) Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere NOAA Administrator April 13, 2005

2. Outline • U.S. Ocean Action Plan update • Ecosystem approach to management • Observations • Fisheries management • NOAA and the States NOAA: State Directors Meeting

3. U.S. Ocean Action Plan Update • December 17, 2004 • Executive Order: Committee on Ocean Policy • U.S. Ocean Action Plan • High level attention http://ocean.ceq.gov NOAA: State Directors Meeting

4. Ecosystem Definitions • An ecosystem is a geographically specified system of organisms (including humans), the environment, and the processes that control its dynamics • Ecosystem approach to management: • Adaptive • Regionally directed • Takes account of ecosystem knowledge • Takes account of uncertainty • Considers multiple external influences • Strives to balance diverse societal objectives NOAA: State Directors Meeting

5. North Pacific Climate Regimes & Ecosystem Productivity (NPCREP) • Climate change is affecting species distribution, recruitment, harvests and trophic interactions • Supported by a biophysical monitoring network • Provides managers with qualitative and quantitative assessments and predictions • Qualitative – provides general conclusions about the status and trends of the ecosystem • Quantitative – provides specific conclusions on status and trends of populations NOAA: State Directors Meeting

6. Earth Observations & Fisheries • Commercial & recreational catch statistics • Stock assessments • Observer program • Standardized sampling gear • Oceanographic & lower trophic level data NOAA: State Directors Meeting

7. Federal Fisheries Management • Northwest • Southwest • Alaska • Northeast • Southeast • Pacific NEFMC CT, MA, ME, NH, RI PFMC CA, OR, WA MAFMC DE, MD, NC, NJ, NY, PA, VA PSMFC AK, CA, ID, OR, WA ASMFC CT, DE, GA, MA, MD, ME,NC, NH, NJNY, PA, SC, RI, VA , FL SAFMC E. FL, GA, NC, SC NPFMC AK GMFMC AL, LA, MS, TX, FL GSMFC AL, FL, LA, MS, TX CFMC PR, USVI WPFMC Am Samoa, Guam, HI, CNMI = Marine Fishery Commission = Fishery Management Council NOAA: State Directors Meeting

8. Large Marine Ecosystems NOAA: State Directors Meeting

9. Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership (SARP) • Regional effort that moves beyond tradition of individual federal and state responsibilities • 13 states, NOAA, DOI, 2 commissions, 2 councils • Six issue areas: • public use • fishery mitigation • imperiled fish and aquatic species recovery • interjurisdictional fisheries • aquatic habitat conservation • aquatic nuisance species • Aquatic Nuisance Species plans and Aquatic Habitat Plan being developed NOAA: State Directors Meeting

10. Recreational Licenses • U.S. Ocean Action Plan: • make data collection from licenses compatible across U.S. • create draft proposal for completing existing network or propose alternatives • States have extensive experience • NOAA and States must work together on challenges • Licenses will enhance data and improve management NOAA: State Directors Meeting

11. Recreational Fisheries Strategic Plan • February 17, 2005 • Defines a vision for the future of recreational fisheries • Opportunity for States and NOAA to work together • New management techniques • Two consultations per year on data • Data: computerized & comparable • Coordinate joint research projects • Regional implementation teams • Enforcement http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ocs/recfsh/strategy.htm NOAA: State Directors Meeting

12. Enforcement • Cooperative Enforcement Program increases federal patrols and strengthens state resources • Joint Enforcement Agreements with 25 states • .25 M hours of federal patrols conducted by states • States received over $36 million for patrols, infrastructure, and conservation mission • Partnership allows for coordination, communication and protection of living marine resources NOAA: State Directors Meeting

13. Magnuson-Stevens Act • Current system generally works well • Reauthorization • Improvements in some areas • Ecosystem management • Council representation • Reducing overcapacity • IFQs and dedicated access privileges • Improved regional fisheries management NOAA: State Directors Meeting

14. Aquaculture • Opportunities: satisfy rising demand for seafood, reduce trade deficit, enhance food security, replenish depleted species, provide coastal jobs • Challenges: divergent views, balancing multiple uses, lack of regulatory framework • President to propose offshore aquaculture legislation • Grants authority to issue offshore aquaculture permits • Provides environmental and other safeguards • Supports development of offshore aquaculture • Agency will consult with states before issuing permits • Regulatory process will include ample opportunity for participation NOAA: State Directors Meeting

15. Other NOAA Services • NOAA’s Ocean Service • Coastal Zone Management • Marine Navigation • Tides and currents • Spill response • Harmful algal blooms • NOAA’s National Weather Service • Predictions/forecasts: hurricanes, tornadoes, floods • NOAA Research • Sea Grant partnerships • NOAA Satellites and Information Service • SARSAT • Observations NOAA: State Directors Meeting

16. Wrap Up • U.S. Ocean Action Plan—take advantage of high level attention • Ecosystem approach to management—evolutionary and incremental • Observations—science based fisheries management • Fisheries management—State-Federal partnerships important to success NOAA: State Directors Meeting

17. Questions?