Save the Date: Next Advisory Council Meeting to be held October 28
The next advisory council meeting, which is open to the public, will be held on October 28 from 12-2:30 pm EST. The agenda for the meeting will be posted in early October on the advisory council page of our website; a meeting summary from the June advisory council meeting can now be found on this same page. As you know, collaboration is at the heart of ROSA’s mission, and these advisory council meetings provide us with a great opportunity to discuss and work together on critical initiatives. I hope you are able to participate in this fall’s meeting.
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The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet December 12-15, 2022 in Annapolis, Maryland. Portions of the meeting will be conducted jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board and Interstate Fishery Management Program Policy Board.
This will be conducted as a hybrid meeting. Council members, other meeting participants, and members of the public will have the option to participate in person at The Westin Annapolis or virtually via Webex webinar. Please see the December 2022 Council Meeting Page for webinar details, public comment deadlines, briefing materials (as they become available), and other updates.
A detailed agenda is available here. Below is an overview of the main topics to be covered each day.
Monday, December 12
- Executive Committee (Closed Session)
- Habitat Activities Update
- Offshore Wind Updates
- Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Species Separation Requirements Amendment – Final Action
Tuesday, December 13
(Joint with ASMFC boards)
- Harvest Control Rule Framework / Addendum Percent Change Approach and Recreational Fishery Models
- 2023 Scup Recreational Measures
- 2023 Black Sea Bass Recreational Measures
- 2023 Summer Flounder Recreational Measures
- Previously Initiated Recreational Reform Actions
Wednesday, December 14
- Climate Change Scenario Planning
- Monkfish Framework 13: 2023-2025 Specifications and Management Measures
- Protected Resources Updates
- 2023 Implementation Plan
Thursday, December 15
- Proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary
- Business Session
Questions? Contact Mary Sabo, msabo@mafmc.org, (302) 526-5261.
MARCO will hold a webinar on January 31 from 11:00 AM -12:00 PM entitled Marine Sanctuaries as a Mid-Atlantic Ocean Conservation Tool.
During this publicly available and free webinar, participants will learn about the designation of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and innovative approaches for accommodating various uses, including fishing, for the primary purpose of protecting natural and cultural resources. We will then hear how Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal can be used to visualize use of ocean and coastal space This webinar is particularly timely given the ongoing designation process of a national marine sanctuary at Hudson Canyon.
Please register for the webinar at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMpceCrrzIvH9Pg2kbzSrFJxLAbSM8C7Fdl
Agenda
- Introductions and Opening Remarks, Kevin Hassell, Environmental Specialist, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Coastal Management Program
- Accommodating Multiple Uses: A Case Study from Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary: Ben Haskell, Deputy Superintendent
- Exploring the Hudson Canyon with the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal: Karl Vilacoba, Communications Director, Urban Coast Institute at Monmouth University
- Q&A
- Examining impacts of extreme discharge events and climate change on the carbonate system of the York River Estuary using a coupled physical-biogeochemical model
- Comparing climate resilience of selectively-bred larval aquaculture broodstock to that of the wild Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica
- Building collaborative partnerships between scientists and educators to develop new education materials focused on the effects of ocean acidification on American lobsters
Abstracts and Speaker Information:
Wild-n-wacky or Bred-n-butter: Are Larvae from Selectively-bred Aquaculture Broodstock More Resilient to Climate Change than those from Wild Eastern Oysters,Crassostrea virginica?
Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) provide ecosystem (e.g. 3-D reef structures) and economic (e.g. aquaculture) services to the Chesapeake Bay and other coastal areas. Oyster aquaculture is a growing industry, and the need for traits such as fast growth and disease resistance led to the development of multiple generations of selectively-bred and refined broodstock lines. Development and preservation of selected broodstock could affect various physiological processes in offspring that could potentially result in different responses to stress compared to their wild counterparts. As environmental conditions within the Chesapeake Bay continue to shift warmer and more acidic – which are individually and simultaneously known to decrease shell and tissue growth, decrease energy stores, change metabolic pathways and affect development – responses to these conditions may differ between selectively-bred and wild oysters, potentially affecting their success in the future. Because larval oysters are considered the most vulnerable and sensitive life stage and therefore are already a bottleneck to the success of wild oyster populations and aquaculture production, my study exposed larvae from wild oysters and selectively-bred broodstock to four treatments composed of two temperature and two acidic conditions that represent average ambient and current extreme states in the mesohaline region of the Chesapeake Bay. Growth, biomass, cellular stress, and survival were measured throughout showing that larvae from wild oysters may be more resilient to warming and acidifying waters than those from selectively-bred oysters.
Annie Schatz, Ph.D candidate at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary. She works with Dr. Emily Rivest to study the potential physiological impacts of climate change on the early-life stages of marine invertebrate species. Her research focuses on effects from multiple environmental stressors, ocean acidification, how environmental history may impact performance of later life stages and shellfish aquaculture. Annie received her B.S. from Pitzer College in Claremont, CA where she studied how the respiration rates of two populations of Acorn barnacles differed across a range of temperatures.
Building collaborative relationships between scientists and educators is an important step in improving climate change education. By providing real-world data and hands-on experiences, scientists can assist students in connecting marine processes with changes in marine and human communities. A recent project focused on understanding effects of ocean acidification on American lobsters is a strong case study for extended collaboration between scientists and educators. Three main tools were used to develop educational materials: an internship to provide hands-on research experience for science teachers, multimedia content for sharing information about the project, and the Virginia Scientist Educator Alliance (VASEA) to provide training for lesson plan design. Together, these project components can serve as a roadmap for scientists and educators looking to improve ocean acidification education.
Abbey Sisti, PhD candidate at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. She has a B.S. and M.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Alabama. Her research focuses on understanding marine invertebrate responses to climate change conditions. Abbey is interested in translating climate change science to educational and policy contexts.
Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO) Program Director Avalon Bristow will present an overview of the MARCO work plan for the next two years supported with funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Investment and Infrastructure Jobs Act. An update on the 2023 Ocean Forum will also be provided. Participants will be welcome to provide input to MARCO/MACO work groups.
CLICK HERE to watch the recording.
Join The Wind Institute for Innovation and Training for the First Annual New Jersey Wind Institute Research Symposium. Join us to learn about offshore wind research being conducted by New Jersey researchers and students. Hear from industry and government representatives on how to get involved in offshore wind research activities and celebrate our Wind Institute Fellows who have completed a year of offshore wind research!
The Mid-Atlantic Committee on the Ocean (MACO) will convene its fifth annual Mid-Atlantic Ocean Forum on May 17 and 18 in New York City, with virtual participation options available. The Forum gathers ocean professionals and stakeholders representing federal and state agencies, Tribal entities, marine industries, nonprofit research and advocacy organizations, and the public.
The event will feature expert panel discussions on ocean planning topics including climate-ocean action, offshore wind energy in the Mid-Atlantic, conservation efforts in the region, ocean justice issues, sustainable ocean economies and much more. A poster session will also highlight the work of students and early career professionals.
CLICK HERE for further details on the event website.