Research Plan for the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem
R/R-3
Sea Grant programs in Washington, Oregon and California are collaborating on a first-of-its-kind effort to assess the long-term marine research and information needs of the entire West Coast of the United States. The goal: to help the region move toward an ecosystem-based approach to marine resource management, research and information sharing.
Supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and endorsed by the governors of all three states, the project, is a response to recent national recommendations calling for a regional approach to research planning. This Sea Grant-led effort is a collaboration with the West Coast Governors’ Agreement on Ocean Health.
This is a stakeholder-driven process. Sea Grant hopes to involve the broadest possible range of ocean and coastal interests in the process, including coastal residents, scholars and researchers, community organizations, marine conservation groups, state and local governments, resource managers at both state and federal levels and any person or group depending on ocean resources for livelihood or recreation.
Sea Grant has identified seven themes that recur in state, regional and federal research agendas and should be addressed by the project:
- The social and economic vitality of coastal communities
- Coastal natural hazards
- Human health
- Ecosystem health
- The ocean’s role in climate variability
- Marine transportation and security
- Ocean education and environmental literacy
Additional themes will be addressed as they arise.
How You Can Participate
- Contact Washington Sea Grant to express your opinions via e-mail or telephone or to set up an in-person meeting (see contact details below).
- Track progress on the Regional Planning Web site, where you will be able to view and comment on draft reports as they are developed. Additional information available at this Web site includes the following:
- Workshop details
- Summaries of stakeholder input
- Draft documents for public comment
Expected Results
Direct
- A comprehensive and cohesive regional research and information plan
- Web access to results of the regional stakeholder process
- A targeted funding evaluation tool that meets regional needs
Indirect
- Enhanced collaboration among communities of place and communities of interest
- Reduced redundancies at a regional level
- Improved economy of scale for broad-scope projects
- A tool for focusing and encouraging federal support for work that stakeholders identify as important
For more information, please contact:
- Michelle Wainstein, Regional Research Coordinator, 206.616.9568, mwain@u.washington.edu
- Raechel Waters, Associate Director, 206.685.8209, rlwaters@u.washington.edu