Update: Ad-Hoc Working Group on Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning in the Gulf of Maine Bioregion

1. Update: Ad-Hoc Working Group on Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning in the Gulf of Maine Bioregion • Background and mandate • Working group activities • Bilateral information sharing • Working paper • Preliminary findings • Next steps

2. Background on Ad-Hoc Working Group • Portland CMSP Forum in December 2010 demonstrated Council interest in CMSP • Ad-Hoc Working Group was established to investigate and make recommendations on roles/activities for the Council, including content for the 2012-17 Action Plan • WG members are Tim H., Betsy N., Priscilla B., Jack W. and Rob S., with support from Shannon D., Glen H. and Scott C-S.; but suggestion is to add state and provincial members • WG has held 4 teleconferences, is mid-way through a comparative working paper and gap analysis, and on track to make recommendations for the June Council meeting

3. Bi-Lateral Information Sharing • Regular CMSP updates from both sides of the boundary

4. Working Paper • Analysis is being advanced through a working paper that includes: • Comparative summary of CMSP in Canada and the US, including definitions, legislative basis, key elements, and current and planned implementation activities • Identification of common elements and differences between the two countries to determine minimum criteria for CMSP approaches • Gap analysis to determine missing elements and priority needs for CMSP in the Gulf of Maine bioregion • Identification of Council roles and activities to support and advance CMSP, focusing on those things that the Council is uniquely best able to accomplish

5. Preliminary Considerations • Using criteria of (a) bioregional in scope; (b) beyond capacity or scope of single organizations; and (c) likely to benefit from a bilateral approach, the WG has identified a set of potential activities for the Council and 2012-17 Action Plan: • Identification of bioregional considerations in marine spatial planning and development of bioregional objectives/priorities • Identification and comparison of existing efforts, approaches etc. • Identification, engagement or informing stakeholders or the public • Identification, engagement or consultation with scientific or technical experts • Evaluation of potential management scenarios on a bioregional basis

6. Preliminary Considerations cont’d • Communication and evaluation of processes, plans or products • Bioregional level assessments (including data gathering) and data sharing products • Garnering and/or demonstrating bioregional support from federal, state and provincial governments, non-governmental partners and stakeholders • Prioritization and communication of specific shared data and research needs in bioregion (e.g., seafloor mapping) • Recommend how existing transboundary groups (e.g., NERACOOS, GOMMI, RARGOM) could contribute to advancing MSP in bioregion

7. Next Steps • WG will complete its analysis and prepare recommendations for the June Council meeting • Recommendations will focus on two inter-related aspects: • Roles and activities to respond to and/or support current developments in the Gulf of Maine bioregion • Content for inclusion in Council’s 2012-17 Action Plan