More on NROC

In an previous post, I commented on the dearth of information available about NROC (Northeast Regional Ocean Council) on the web. That has changed with the launch of a new NROC website at http://community.csc.noaa.gov/nroc. The site provides information about NROC’s establishment, member states and agencies, four priority issue areas, and meetings, and it has contact information for NROC representatives and staff.

Update on Northeast Regional Ocean Council (NROC)

In quite a few meetings and conference calls, I’ve heard people ask what the Northeast Regional Ocean Council (NROC) is and what it’s doing. Usually they’ve only heard that it was set up a couple years ago by the governors of the northeastern states to advance regional ocean management. Other than that, NROC seems to be a mystery to lots of people engaged in ocean management and policy. NROC (apparently) doesn’t have its own website, and googling turns up surprisingly little info. To shed some light on the matter, here are documents that describe NROC’s purpose and activities: Update on NROC (Sept 2008), NROC Report to Governors (October 2007), and Oceans Resolution (June 2007). Here’s an excerpt from the 1st document, dated Sept 2008:

In 2005 (and subsequent years) the NEGC/ECP [New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers] passed resolutions that created and provided direction to the Oceans Working Committee (OWC). (In the initial resolve they created the Northeast Regional Ocean Council to serve as the US component of the OWC.) The geographic extent of the OWC initiative is from Newfoundland – Labrador to Connecticut.

Articles on ocean observing

There are several articles on ocean observing in Coastal Management, Volume 36, Issue 2:

Estimating the Economic Benefits of Regional Ocean Observing Systems
Authors: Hauke Kite-Powell; Charles Colgan; Rodney Weiher

The Potential Economic Benefits of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems: The Southeast Atlantic Region
Authors: Christopher F. Dumas; John C. Whitehead

The Economics of Using Ocean Observing Systems to Improve Beach Closure Policy
Authors: Linwood Pendleton

Cost and User Profile of a Coastal Ocean Observing System
Authors: Evan Richert; Philip Bogden; Josie Quintrell

Potential Benefits of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems to Alaskan Commercial Fisheries
Authors: Katharine F. Wellman; Marcus Hartley

A Bayesian Methodology for Estimating the Impacts of Improved Coastal Ocean Information on the Marine Recreational Fishing Industry
Authors: Kenneth Wieand

Integrative Science for Society and Environment

The U.S. Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network is developing a new initiative to understand socio-ecological linkages underlying critical environmental issues. Integrative Science for Society and Environment: A Strategic Research Initiative is “intended to elevate environmental science in the U.S. to a new level of integration, collaboration, and synthesis needed to address these pressing, emerging challenges.” With the LTER Network, I edited a new brochure that outlines the ISSE framework (PDF, 484 KB). You can also download the complete decadal plan and ISSE report from www.lternet.edu/decadalplan.

Launching the OCEAN & COAST Blog

In my work, I’m always coming across pieces of information that are interesting and useful to me and presumably to others. I haven’t had a place to put this info where it would be handy for me and anyone who works on related issues.

That’s the reason for launching this blog. I work at the intersection of environmental sciences, management, and communications. Whenever I come across an interesting tidbit, I’ll post it here.

The tidbits will be things like summaries of noteworthy journal articles (new or old) that I find, valuable factoids that I encounter, cool websites, and informal updates on relevant events/projects/activities that I hear about.

I’d be pleased to hear your feedback. Please feel free to post your comments on the blog or email me.