Briefing to the Caribbean Fisheries Management CouncilApril 23, 2014

Blueprint Guiding Principles

• Prioritize resources and activities across NOAA to improve habitat conditions

• Make decisions in an ecosystem context and consider competing priorities

• Leverage partnerships• Improve delivery of habitat science to

facilitate decision making

Four Key Approaches

1. Implement short-term regional habitat initiatives2. Establish longer-term geographic Habitat Focus Areas3. Implement a systematic and strategic approach to

habitat science4. Strengthen policy and legislation

HABITAT FOCUS AREAS

Implementation planning and execution started in Russian River

Watershed

NOAA Regional Collaboration Framework

Selection expected in

May

Two HFAs selected; beginning

implementation planning

Two HFAs selected; beginning

implementation planning

Northwest: building on

existing Puget Sound Initiative

Discussions ongoing to decide whether to move forward in FY14

Beginning scoping process; selection expected mid/late

summer

Two HFAs selected in

February; rollout planned for end

of April

Examples of Habitat Focus Area Objectives

Russian River Habitat Focus Area

•Rebuild endangered coho and threatened Chinook and steelhead stocks to sustainable levels through habitat protection and restoration.

•Improve frost, rainfall, and river forecasts in the Russian River watershed through improved data collection and modeling.

• Increase community and ecosystem resiliency to flooding and drought through improved planning and water management strategies.

West Hawai’i Habitat Focus Area

•Prevent and reduce discharge of land-based pollutants, such as sediment and nutrients, to coral reef ecosystems.

•Identify and implement management actions to increase coral reef health and resilience and mitigate localized climate change effects to coastal communities, coral reefs, and marine resources.

•Build community and local capacity to manage coral reefs and coastal and marine resources.

Muskegon Lake Habitat Focus Area

NOAA will make contributions to the measurable improvement of beneficial use impairments (BUI) as specified in the area’s Remedial Action Plan: a. loss of fish and wildlife habitatb. degradation of fish and wildlife populationsc. degradation of benthos2. NOAA will take a coordinated, cross-line office approach to the implementation of projects and the demonstration of impacts in the following areas:a. climate coastal resiliencyb. technical support to implement priority actions identified by the Muskegon Lake Watershed Partnership.c. resilient coastal communitiesd. increased coastal tourism, access and recreatione. socio-economic research

Selecting Habitat Focus AreasTeam of NOAA scientists and managers from across

NOAA’s line offices. Focus Area Selection Team (FAST)Oceans and Atmospheric Research – Atlantic Oceanographic

and Mete0rological Laboratory, Ocean Acidification, Sea GrantNational Ocean Service – Marine Sanctuaries, Coral Program,

NCCOS, CSC/OCRMNational Weather ServiceNOAA Fisheries – Southeast Regional Office and Science Center,

Restoration Center

Southeast and Caribbean Decision CriteriaAdvancing Blueprint outcomes

(Fish populations, T&E species, protected areas, resilient communities, increased recreation)Demonstrate long-term impactsFeasibility of progress in 3-5 yearsCross-NOAA collaborationExternal partnershipsImproves scientific understandingLeverage or capitalize on resources and investmentsConsistent with regional initiatives

*Transferability to other regions/ parts of country*Benefit to local economies and communities*Build off of existing activities, relationships

TimelineJanuary: Form a Focus Area Selection TeamFebruary: Finalize decision criteriaMarch – April: Design a stakeholder strategyMay: NOAA line offices identify candidate Focus Areas June: Narrow list of potential candidate Focus AreasJuly: Conduct Focus Area Selection workshopAug: Finalize and announce selected Areas September to October: Start implementation planning

Key Entry Points for Stakeholder Engagement• April: Learn about selection process, provide

CFMC habitat priorities, make suggestions for Candidate Habitat Focus Areas

• Summer 2014: Comment on Candidate Habitat Focus Areas (via formal web survey)

• Fall 2014: Partner during implementation planning

Follow Up With Co-Chairs:• Howard Schnabolk, NOAA Fisheries Restoration Center

howard.schnabolk@noaa.gov• George Sedberry, NOAA, National Ocean Service,

National Marine Sanctuaries george.sedberry@noaa.gov