May 19, 2020
The May 28 webinar agenda includes updates about state-led marine planning efforts in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts and from the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC). Presenters from the NEFMC and the states will describe policies related to transmission cables, aquaculture, offshore wind, and other activities. They will also address their coordination with NROC, including the use of data, the Northeast Ocean Data Portal, and the best practices described in the Northeast Ocean Plan. Participants will be given the opportunity to ask questions, provide feedback, and discuss continued regional coordination around these issues. We will also be honoring Grover Fugate for his service and participation in NROC as he retires from the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council at the end of the month. Please join us by registering via this direct link.
Additional Ocean Planning Webinars and Engagement Opportunities through NROC
We are working on additional opportunities for in-depth discussion on priority ocean planning issues. This includes a series of webinars focusing on grid and transmission planning, habitat and wildlife research related to offshore wind, and aquaculture. Our next announcement will include more details. We hope you can join us. Please let us know if you have feedback or suggestions about any of these topics.
Northeast Ocean Data Portal
We are also conducting outreach related to updating different data and information themes on the Northeast Ocean Data Portal. This outreach includes:
- Collaboration with the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO) and the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA) to engage the fishing industry to update data about commercial fisheries.
- Collaboration with commercial whale watching businesses and recreational SCUBA diving organizations to update data and information on the extent of these activities in the Northeast.
- Upcoming projects to update data related to marine wildlife and habitat, marine transportation, and recreational activities.
Releases of new data and several data updates are planned throughout May and June on the Northeast Ocean Data Portal. Check our news page or sign up to receive the quarterly Portal newsletter to learn more.
Please contact us, Nick Napoli (nnapoli AT northeastoceancouncil.org), or Emily Shumchenia (emily.shumchenia AT gmail.com) if you would like to learn more or participate in any of these activities.
Upcoming BOEM Webinar
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is hosting a webinar on May 20, at 12pm on “Mapping the Distribution and Habitat Use of Soniferous Fish on Cox’s Ledge, with a Focus on Atlantic Cod Spawning Aggregations”. Please register here.