Mid-Atlantic Ocean Forum
The Mid-Atlantic Committee on the Ocean (MACO) hosted its third annual Mid-Atlantic Ocean Forum on May 3-6, 2021. The virtual event featured expert panel discussions on ocean planning issues including offshore wind energy in the Mid-Atlantic, climate-induced ocean changes, ocean justice, and emerging technologies for monitoring the ocean. The event also featured opportunities for public participation and a poster session highlighting the work of students and early career professionals.
Scroll down for session videos and day-by-day summaries of the Forum proceedings. You can also CLICK HERE to view a PDF of the agenda. CLICK HERE to read the Forum Summary.
Day 1: Monday, May 3
Welcome and Tribal Blessing
Welcome
Kisha Santiago-Martinez, Chair, MARCO Management Board, Deputy Secretary of State, New York State Department of State
Overview of Forum
Kevin Hassell, Chair, MACO Steering Committee, Environmental Specialist, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Tribal Blessing
Chief Stephen R. Adkins, Chickahominy Indian Tribe
Opening Plenary
Federal, State and Tribal priorities for regional ocean planning
Moderator: Kevin Hassell
Federal Perspective
Amanda Lefton, Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Tribal Perspectives
Dr. Kelsey Leonard, MACO Steering Committee, Shinnecock Indian Nation
State and Regional Perspectives
Doreen Harris, President and CEO, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
Kate Angarone, Associate Commissioner for Science and Policy, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Kimberly Cole, Administrator, Delaware Coastal Programs, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
William Anderson, Assistant Secretary for Aquatic Resources, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Ellen Bolen, Deputy Commissioner, Virginia Marine Resources Commission
Dr. Peter deFur, Council Member (VA), Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council
Climate-Induced Ocean Changes: The Big Picture
A broad overview of climate-induced observed and potential ocean impacts, especially those we are seeing or anticipating in the ocean waters off the Mid-Atlantic region.
Moderator: Darlene Finch, Mid-Atlantic Regional Lead, NOAA Office for Coastal Management
Dr. Robert (Bob) Hallberg, Oceanographer/Ocean Group Head, NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory
Dr. Denise Breitburg, Scientist Emeritus, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Day 2: Tuesday, May 4
Time to Get Real: What We Have Learned and What We Need to Know to Inform Offshore Wind Siting
Moderator: Darryl Francois, Chief, Engineering and Technical Review Branch, Office of Renewable Energy, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Part I: Lessons learned about offshore wind energy siting and decision-making
Dr. Mary Boatman, Environmental Studies Chief, Office of Renewable Energy, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
George Detweiler, Marine Transportation Specialist, Navigation Standards Division, Office of Navigation Systems, U.S. Coast Guard
Nick Napoli, Senior Advisor, Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean
Part II: What we need to know to better inform decisions regarding offshore wind siting
Brian Zelenke, Surface Currents Program Manager, NOAA-IOOS
Dr. Lyndie Hice-Dunton, Executive Director, Responsible Offshore Science Alliance
Captain J. Stuart Griffin, Chairman, Mariners’ Advisory Committee for the Bay and River Delaware
Work Groups Session
Breakout rooms for an informal opportunity to interact with the working groups and to learn more about current and planned activities, and offer input for consideration in future work planning.
Room #1
Marine Debris: Laura McKay, Program Manager, Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program, and Maureen Krudner, Environmental Scientist, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 2
Ocean Mapping and Data Team: Laura McKay and Nick Napoli, MARCO Senior Advisor
Room #2
Ocean Acidification/Mid-Atlantic Coastal Acidification Network: Mary Ford, Director of Engagement & External Relations, Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System
Non-Consumptive Recreation: Kevin Hassell, Environmental Specialist, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Room #3
Maritime Commerce and Navigation Safety: Jerry Barnes, Marine Planner, U.S. Coast Guard Fifth District
Offshore Wind Regional Collaborative: Michael Snyder, Ocean and Great Lakes Program Manager, New York State Department of State
Science, Knowledge, Equity and Justice for Regional Ocean Planning
Hear from scientists and other professionals about how their work contributes to justice in regional ocean planning and discuss best practices for achieving ocean equity and justice.
Moderator: Whitney Tome, Executive Director, Green 2.0 & Principal, The Raben Group
Symone Barkley, Manager of Education Programs, National Aquarium
Dr. Kelsey Leonard, MACO Representative, Shinnecock Nation
Jeff Payne, Director, NOAA Office for Coastal Management
Lance Caldwell, Strategic Programs, U.S. EPA-Region 2
Breakout Discussions – What does Ocean Justice mean in the context of:
(1) science priorities and research (science)
(2) community engagement and outreach (knowledge)
(3) equitable benefits from ocean resources (justice)
Day 3: Wednesday, May 5
Innovative Technologies and Approaches for Understanding Ocean Changes
The ocean is currently undersampled and there is insufficient support for sustained observations to fill data needs for informed ocean management. This session will focus on new and/or innovative technologies and techniques for understanding ocean changes in a busy ocean, and examples of how these approaches can be applied.
Moderator: Dr. Josh Kohut, Professor, Rutgers University
Part 1: What are innovative tools and technologies with potential management applications?
Dr. Matt Oliver, Distinguished Professor, University of Delaware
Dr. Catherine Edwards, Associate Professor, University of Georgia
Dr. Ruth Perry, Marine Science and Regulatory Specialist, Atlantic Shores/Shell
Part 2: Case studies to address data needs and management
Dr. Grace Saba, Assistant Professor, Rutgers University
Daniel Wieczorek, Acting Planning Officer, Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Dr. Jennifer Miksis-Olds, Director, University of New Hampshire Center for Acoustics Research and Education
Dr. Christian Reiss, Research Fishery Biologist, NOAA Fisheries Antarctic Ecosystem Research Division
Part 3: Panel discussion with all presenters
Public Listening Session to Inform MACO
Stakeholder input on ocean planning issues and opportunities for MACO collaboration
Moderator: Michael Snyder, Ocean and Great Lakes Program Manager, New York State Department of State
Poster Session
Featuring the research of students and early career professionals on topics relevant to ocean science, policy and socioeconomics in the Mid-Atlantic. CLICK HERE to visit poster session page containing poster files, abstracts and author information.
Day 4: Thursday, May 6
Conservation and Living Marine Resource Management in the Face of a Changing Climate
Learn about ongoing research designed to help managers understand the changes species are experiencing in the marine environment and explore how ocean mapping tools and data tools support planning and management.
Moderators: Jessica Coakley, Fishery Management Specialist, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and Megan Treml, Geospatial Consultant, Lynker at NOAA Office for Coastal Management
Part 1: Helping Managers Understand the Changes
Caleb Spiegel, Marine Bird Biologist, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Dr. Peter Corkeron, Senior Scientist, New England Aquarium
Dr. Malin Pinsky, Associate Professor, Rutgers University
Part 2: Policies, Data, and Tools to Support Ocean Planning
Dr. Sarah Gaichas, Research Fishery Biologist, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Chris McGuire, Marine Program Director, The Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts
Mimi Diorio, GIS Manager, NOAA Marine Protected Areas Center
Dr David Wachenfeld, Chief Scientist at the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority
Closing Plenary
Perspectives on the Forum and moving forward offered by governmental, academic, environmental representatives
Moderator, Kevin Hassell, Chair, MACO Steering Committee, Environmental Specialist, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Michael Snyder, Ocean and Great Lakes Program Manager, New York State Department of State
Mike Jones, Environmental Requirements and Range Sustainment Branch Head for U.S. Fleet Forces Command
Dr. Ruth Perry, Business Environment Advisor, Shell Renewables and Energy Solutions
Noah Chesnin, Associate Director, NY Seascape Program, Wildlife Conservation Society – New York Aquarium
Kris Ohleth, Executive Director, Special Initiative on Offshore Wind
Dr. Lyndie Hice-Dunton, Executive Director, Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA)