NOAA’s Ecosystem Approach and Plans John H. Dunnigan, Ecosystem Goal Lead

1. NOAA’s Ecosystem Approach and PlansJohn H. Dunnigan, Ecosystem Goal Lead Presentation to Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee January 11, 2005

2. The Ultimate Ecosystem

3. Overview of Ecosystem Goal • The Ecosystem Goal addresses that part of NOAA’s mission to protect, restore and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources. • 9 programs directly support achieving NOAA’s ecosystem goal: • Habitat Corals Coastal and Marine Resources • Protected Species Fisheries Management Aquaculture • Enforcement Ecosystem Observations Ecosystem Research • U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy recommends a new era in NOAA leadership of the oceans agencies and communities at large. • NOAA is uniquely positioned, by its mandates and capabilities related to science, stewardship and services, to become the government’s integrated ecosystems leader.

4. Ecosystem Mission Goal Programs Coastal & Marine Resources Program - CRM - NMSP, NERRS, MPA Center - Ecological Forecasting (e.g., HABs) - Place-based Approaches Manager: Doug Brown Protected Species Program Manager: Laurie Allen Ecosystem Research Program - NURP - Ocean Exploration - AOML & GLERL Manager: Leon Cammen Fisheries Management Program Manager: Galen Tromble Aquaculture Program Manager: Michael Rubino Ecosystem Observations Program without COTS - NODC Manager: Steve Murawski Habitat Program - Habitat Conservation - Essential Fish Habitat - Invasive Species Manager: Rolland Schmitten Enforcement Program - NMSP Enforcement Manager: Dale Jones Corals Program with Cold Water Corals Manager: Dave Kennedy matrix programs 9 Programs, 7 Matrix

5. NOAA Strategic Plan FY05 - FY10 2005 to 2010 Strategic Plan The Ecosystem Goal: “Protect, restore and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources through an ecosystem approach to management.” Outcomes: • Healthy and productive coastal and marine ecosystems that benefit society • A well informed public that acts as a steward of coastal and marine ecosystems Strategy to achieve this goal: “Engage and collaborate with our partners to achieve regional objectives by delineating regional ecosystems, forming regional ecosystem councils, and implementing cooperative strategies to improve regional ecosystem health.”

6. NOAA Definitions What is an ecosystem? • An ecosystem is a geographically specified system of organisms (including humans), the environment, and the processes that control its dynamics. What is an ecosystem approach to management? • An ecosystem approach to management is geographically specified, adaptive, takes account of ecosystem knowledge and uncertainties, considers multiple external influences, and strives to balance diverse societal objectives. Implementation needs to be incremental and collaborative.

7. Humans are part of ecosystems Distribution of the Population (by region) in 2000 Great Lakes North Atlantic California Current South Atlantic Gulf of Mexico South Atlantic Gulf of Mexico 10% 13% California Great Lakes Current 15% 25% Population Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2000 North Atlantic 37%

8. FROM TO Ecosystem Management: A Paradigm Shift Ecosystems Individual Issues Small spatial scale Multiple scales Long-term perspective Short-term perspective Humans: integral part of ecosystems Humans: independent of ecosystem Adaptive management Management divorced from research Sustaining production potential for goods and services Managing commodities

9. FROM TO Ecosystem Management: A Paradigm Shift

10. NOAA Delineationof Regional Ecosystems • August 31- Sept 1 Workshop in Charleston, SC • Co-chaired by Paul Sandifer (USCOP) and Doug DeMaster (Ecosystem Goal) • Key Federal Agencies (e.g. EPA, FWS, USGS, FS, NRCS, COE, Navy, MMS, etc.) • Academics and NGOs, (e.g., Heinz, USCOP, South Atlantic/ Caribbean and Western Pacific FMCs, Atlantic Inter. Comm., TNC, etc.) • States (SC, MS, MN, AK, HI)

11. Background:Large Marine Ecosystems What are Large Marine Ecosystems (LME)? Regions of the coast/ocean defined by: • bathymetry, • hydrography, • productivity, and • trophic interactions. Who uses LMEs and the LME approach? • EPA/NOAA US Coastal Condition Report • United Nations Environmental Programs (UNEP) • Global Environment Facility/World Bank (GEF) • World Conservation Union (IUCN) • University of British Columbia - The Sea Around Us project

12. U.S. Regional Ecosystems

13. IOOS Regional Association

14. 438 Estuarine Drainage Areas (EDA) 67 Fluvial Drainage Areas (FDAs) 11 Interior watershed areas* Inland Boundaries Coastal Assessment Framework (CAF) Area in km2 EDAs 942,792 (12%) FDAs 5,373,130 (69%) Interior 1,463,348 (19%) Estuarine Drainage Area = component of a watershed that drains directly to estuarine or ocean waters. Fluvial Drainage Area = upstream component of a watershed (i.e., downstream boundary defined by head of tide). Interior watershed = self contained, groundwater-contributing only, or draining to outside the U.S.

15. Diadromous Fish Habitat

16. Potential alternatives to further delineation of regional ecosystems NERRS TNC NACEC MRC

17. NOAA Plan to Move Forward • Delineate Regional Ecosystems based on Large Marine Ecosystems • Further sub-division based on scientific and programmatic regional needs in coordination with stakeholders • Initial inland boundary = coastal watershed and inland diadromous fish habitat with further coordination at regional level

18. Next Steps, continued The NOAA Ecosystems Goal Team is moving forward to elaborate a strategy for continuing to move forward • Refine and articulate the definition and vision for Ecosystems • Lead by Example -- Emphasize collaboration among NOAA activities within ecosystems • Engage Partners and Stakeholders • Case studies

19. Conclusion/Discussion • Adaptive ecosystem approach clearly will be incremental and must be collaborative • NOAA’s Programs will need to be re-engineered to fit the regional needs for each ecosystem • NOAA must move forward as quickly as possible to begin taking steps toward the ecosystem approach

20. The Ultimate Ecosystem

21. NOAA’s Ecosystem Approach and PlansJohn H. Dunnigan, Ecosystem Goal Lead Presentation to Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee January 11, 2005