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PISCES Workshop 2. The Ecosystem Approach: Case Studies from North America. EBM Implementation in practice. Many ways to achieve ecosystem-based management Consider the time scales required A truly stakeholder-led process is innovative, necessary and challenging. Case Study 1.
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PISCESWorkshop 2 The Ecosystem Approach: Case Studies from North America
EBM Implementation in practice • Many ways to achieve ecosystem-based management • Consider the time scales required • A truly stakeholder-led process is innovative, necessary and challenging
Case Study 1 • Port Orford, Oregon, USA • Community-based EBM • Project started in 1999 • Focus on fisheries management • Geographic focus: nearshore fishing grounds and surrounding watershed (med-small scale)
Port Orford, Oregon Local economy relies heavily on local fishing fleet, and to smaller extent, tourism
Port Orford, Oregon Primary issues that prompted EA: Degrading fish stocks and water quality, compromising fishing and tourism revenues
Port Orford, Oregon • Truly a stakeholder initiative (local fishermen) • Stakeholders involved: fishermen, concerned citizens, local to federal government agencies, tourism office, recreational users, Oregon State University • Goals: promote sustainable fishing practices; restoring healthy fish stocks and water quality; preventing degradation of fish habitat and upland areas; support tourism and recreational activities
A partnership formed: the Port Orford Ocean Resource Team (POORT) A cross-sectoral partnership between local fishermen, environmental organizations, recreational users, government agencies, and concerned members of the community using an integrated approach to management (EA principles)
Milestones • Establishment of the Community Stewardship Area: • 1,400 square miles (oceanic and terrestrial), including 2 river watersheds • Defined using socioeconomic and political considerations • Ecosystem principles and spatial plan based on consensus decisions from stakeholder workshops • Encompasses a variety of habitats, instills ownership
Milestones 2) Influencing state and regional marine policy: • State of Oregon Marine Reserve siting process incorporated Port Orford stakeholder decisions • Proactive approach: stakeholders provided input into State’s independent process • West Coast Governor’s Agreement: regional influence (CA, WA and OR)
Milestones 3)Proactive and flexible management approaches: • Recognizing impacts of land-based runoff on their fishing grounds, facilitated new stormwater ordinance passing • Negotiated new management measures with Pacific Fishery Management Council to allow fishermen to retain bycatch, minimizing it but avoiding wasteful discards • Port Orford Sustainable Seafood Label
Small cooperative, targeting ecologicallly concious consumers
Case Study 2 • Elkhorn Slough, California, USA • Goal: Restoring estuarine ecosystem and nearshore waters
Case Study 2 • Project started in 2004 • Partnership of more than 20 coastal resource managers, major land owners, farmers, scientific experts, conservation organization, non-renewable energy reps
Elkhorn Slough, California • Part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (one of largest submarine canyons) • Estuarine land = 5 sq miles (small scale)
Elkhorn Slough, California • 2nd largest tidal salt marsh on US west coast • Extraordinary biological diversity (seabirds, fish, marine mammals), endangered species
Elkhorn Slough, California • Key linkage between land and sea • Wetlands as natural buffer (soil erosion; flooding) • Wetlands as natural filters (remove water impurities) • Wetlands as carbon sequesters (removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere)
A most threatened ecosystem • Wetland rates of habitat loss = 75-90% • 90 % of Elkhorn Slough saltmarsh to disappear by 2050 • Hosts a large number of rare, threatened and endangered species
Human activities • Hosts largest electric power generating plant in CA • Adjacent harbor one of the most active ports in CA • Flanked by major transportation corridors (3 state highways and 1 coastal rail line)
Human activities • Bordered by major agricultural areas (nutrient runoff) = 25% area • Recreational uses (boating, birdwatching)
EBM Initiatiative • Elkhorn Slough Tidal Wetland Project, with goal of restoring wetland ecosystem while supporting sustainable uses • Multiple jurisdictional boundaries • Strategic Planning Team (= 20 multi-sectoral stakeholders) operating by consensus-based decision making • Science Panel to advise Planning Team
Milestones • Identified planning principles (ecological, economic, social) that provide constraints to management strategies • Identified restoration strategies to historic marsh habitat • Economic values estimated; evaluation of how restoration alternatives will affect human uses
Some lessons learned • Early identification of objectives that include ecological, economic and social goals for the ecosystem • Determine most appropriate and effective geographic scale • Identify all relevant physical and human components (spatially relevant data a plus)
More lessons learned • The mix of stakeholders that comes to the table affects the ultimate outcome: identify and reach out to key groups to ensure long-term sustainability • Foster collaborations among stakeholders to agree on goals • Manage proactively, adapting to changing conditions - including changing players (new stakeholders)