Regional Research Planning Efforts

 

 

Alaska Regional Marine Research Plan

The Alaska Sea Grant Program has been developing the Aleutian Islands Ecosystem Research and Information Plan, a five year project that began in 2006, which seeks to prioritize management-critical research and information needs for the region.  The plan will address the interdisciplinary (ecology, oceanography, fisheries, social, economic) ecosystem needs for this region of vital importance to the state of Alaska and the nation.  It is anticipated that this planning effort will serve as a model for the future development and implementation of other Alaskan regional marine research plans, and ultimately a comprehensive statewide marine research and information plan.   [http://seagrant.uaf.edu/research/projects/initiatives/marine_research_plan/general/]

 

The Great Lakes Regional Research Information Network

The Great Lakes Regional Research Information Network (GLRRIN) was created as a network mechanism for government, academic, and private research programs in the Great Lakes region.  Funded in June 2006 by NOAA Sea Grant, GLRRIN was designed to foster research coordination within the Great Lakes region by enhancing communications and collaboration among agencies and research scientists.  Each of the Great Lakes has appointed a Coordination Team to coordinate research activities. [http://www.glrrin.info/]

 

The Gulf of Maine Regional Ocean Science Plan

In an effort to improve integrated, science-based, ecosystem-level management in the Gulf of Maine, the Gulf of Maine Regional Ocean Science Council created the Gulf of Mexico Regional Ocean Science Plan (ROSP) in 2009. Stakeholder identified issues were assessed using four criteria in order to maintain a focus on regional ecosystem based management: 1) Relevance to the region; 2) Societal importance; 3) Level of informational support to managers and decision makers; and 4) Whether research supports ecosystem based management.  Issues were consolidated into five categories: Climate Change and the Role of Oceans; Human Health and the Oceans; Human Activities and the Oceans; Coastal Resiliency; and Management and Governance. The plan is flexible, evolving as the environment changes and funding resources are identified, and complementary to other research efforts in the area.  The Gulf of Maine Strategic Regional Ocean Science Plan was released in February 2009 and can be viewed online at: [http://seagrant.mit.edu/rosi/draft_final_rosp.pdf] 

 

Gulf of Mexico Regional Marine Research Plan

The four Gulf of Mexico Sea Grant programs (Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi-Alabama, and Texas) developed the Gulf of Mexico Research Plan in September 2009 through an intensive, stakeholder-driven process.  Stakeholder input was elicited through the use of a survey and stakeholder workshops.  The highest-rated Gulf of Mexico research priorities were identified as follows: Ecosystem Health Indicators; Freshwater Input and Hydrology; Habitats and Living Resources; Sea Level Change, Subsidence, and Storm Surge; and Water Quality and Nutrients.  The developers of the plan now seek to draft an implementation plan in pursuit of the research needs as identified in the Gulf of Mexico Research Plan. [http://www.masgc.org/gmrp/index.htm] 

 

South Atlantic Regional Research Project

Sea Grant Programs from the South Atlantic region (NC, SC, GA, FL) are working together to identify priority regional research needs and develop an action plan to address these needs. The project involves coordination with NOAA laboratories, state and federal agencies, and academic partners, as well as participation from politicians, industry representatives, and other stakeholders from throughout the region.  The approach of the project is to construct a needs assessment that will be used as the basis for identification of priority research needs, and then establish technical strategy teams with appropriate expertise to develop draft action plans that address each priority.  The project has established a Regional Advisory Group with high-level representation from each part of the region to help guide the project and ensure that it is well-coordinated with other efforts.  Public input is being solicited through the use of a survey and a focused outreach effort. [http://www.gcrc.uga.edu/SARRP.htm] 

 

West Coast Regional Research and Information Planning

Sea Grant programs in Washington, Oregon, and California released the West Coast Regional Marine Research and Information Needs report in 2009, which stems from nearly three years of public comment, interstate collaboration and analysis involving stakeholders representing private and public interests in all three states.  The report is intended to assist regional researchers and information providers to plan and prioritize, and to mobilize regional-scale initiatives and investments in natural and social science research that might provide the best possible science for well-informed policy and resource-management decisions.  The report identifies a set of three "Cross-cutting Themes" and eight "Research and Information Topics".  Each of the identified topics is linked with related points from the West Coast Governor's Agreement on Ocean Health.  [http://seagrant.oregonstate.edu/research/RegionalPlanning/index.html] 

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