Florida Oceans and Coastal Resources Council

1. Florida Oceans and Coastal Resources Council

2. Florida Oceans andCoastal Resources Council Created by Florida Legislature (§161.70, et seq., Florida Statutes) to recommend research priorities in support of ocean and coastal resource management.

3. Florida Oceans andCoastal Resources Council • Membership: 15 appointees (voting) and 3 ex-officio (non-voting). • 3 ex-officio members • DEP Secretary Mike W. Sole (co-chair) • FWC Executive Director Ken Haddad (co-chair) • DACS - Aquaculture Director Sherman Wilhelm (designated by DACS Commissioner Bronson)

4. DEP Appointees: Dr. Karl Havens – University of Florida Dr. John C. Ogden –University of South Florida Dr. Lisa Robbins –United States Geological Survey Dr. Wilton Sturges – Florida State University Dr. Thomas D. Waite – Florida Institute of Technology FWC Appointees: Dr. James Cato – Florida Sea Grant. Dr. Billy Causey – NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program Dr. Jerome Lorenz – National Audubon Society Dr. R. Grant Gilmore – Estuarine, Coastal, and Ocean Science, Inc. Dr. Shirley Pomponi –Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution DACS Appointees: Jane Davis –The Living Seas at Walt Disney World’s Epcot®. Dr. Ernest Estevez – Mote Marine Laboratory’s Center for Coastal Ecology. Rob Kramer – International Game Fish Association. Jerry Sansom – Organized Fishermen of Florida. Jody Thomas – The Nature Conservancy’s South Florida Region

5. Florida Oceans andCoastal Resources Council • Responsibilities: • Resource Assessment • To serve as a baseline of information to be used in developing the research plan. • Research Review • Existing and planned ocean and coastal research & monitoring activities relevant to the State • Research Plan(annual update due 1 Feb) • Recommend priorities for scientific research projects, to be used by the Legislature in making funding decisions • Aquaculture Pilot Project • Planning document only

6. Florida’s economy is heavily dependent on its oceans and shoreline. • Florida’s shoreline Gross State Product (GSP) is more than $402B (compared to $160B for inland economy) • Ocean tourism and recreations is projected to grow by 73% in the next decade, creating more than 268,000 new jobs. • Florida’s GSP for transportation and recreation is one of the top five in the nation, a significant influence on the ocean economy.

7. The Council’s Vision & Goals: • Promote innovative research and the use of scientific results to guide management and stewardship of Florida’s ocean and coastal resources for future generations. • Support the enhancement of Florida’s academic and marine research institutions into an integrated network, cooperating and partnering with public agencies, industries, environmental organizations and citizens.

8. 07-08 Research Plan: Goals • Maintain water quality to support coral reefs, grass beds, fishing, and beach activities • Develop a comprehensive understanding of our ocean & coastal ecosystems to support management decisions. • Provide for the tools and technology needed to support the research and to observe and predict environmental change. • The “3M’s”: Mapping, Monitoring, Modeling

9. 07-08 Research Plan Council operations - $484K Includes support for: • Annual Research Plan • Research Review • Resource Assessment

10. 07-08 Research Plan • Integrated Data Management and Dissemination • Coastal Ocean Observing • Coastal and Ocean Research

11. Integrated Data Management and Dissemination - $600K • Establish standards to safely and efficiently store and share research data. • Maximize the usefulness of the information generated from the data to support resource management needs.

12. Coastal Ocean Observing – ≤$1.5M • Establish an integrated observing system that spans all of Florida’s waters from the outer shelf to estuaries and rivers. • In-water platforms & buoys, shipboard surveys, and remote sensing to continuously monitor water quality & status of marine resources.

13. 07-08 Science Research Plan Top 20 Research Components - $9M • Water Quality • Ocean and Coastal Ecosystems • Tools and Technology

14. Improve prediction and detection of Harmful Algal Blooms (red tides) • Existing FWC collaborative program funds elements of priorities recommended in 06-07 Research Plan • Use existing technology to link red tide research & monitoring to physical-chemical factors to better predict red tides and provide early warning system • Remaining gaps recommended in 2007-2008 Research Plan: • Develop improved sensors to detect and track red tides • Integrate red tide/Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) monitoring with data collection in the Ocean Observing System

15. Assess Fish Populations • Map bottom habitats to help identify important fishery areas. • Develop new methods for the assessment of fishery populations. • Conduct monitoring, assessment, and modeling evaluations of the impacts of fishing on ecosystems.

16. 07-08 Research Plan: Council Recommendations $484K $600K ≤$1.5M $9M $11.58 1. Council Operations 2. Integrated Data Management and Dissemination 3. Coastal Ocean Observing 4. Coastal and Ocean Research TOTAL

17. 07-08 Research Plan: Pending State Budget Requests • DEP: $8.1M • Council operations • Integrated data management • Ocean observations • Research priority list • FWC: $600K • Statewide sea-grass assessment • TOTAL: $8.7M