The Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Council’s (MARCO) Mid-Atlantic Committee on the Ocean (MACO) held its 5th annual Mid-Atlantic Ocean Forum in New York, NY on May 17-18.
This year’s event included a focus on climate-ocean action, offshore wind transmission planning, Mid-Atlantic biodiversity conservation, planning for sustainable ocean economies, the incorporation of tribal elements and knowledge in data tools, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
During the event, White House Council on Environmental Quality Deputy Director of Ocean and Coastal Policy Mackenzie Solomon highlighted the Biden administration’s Ocean Climate Action Plan, including its role as a tool to inform development of a national Sustainable Ocean Plan “to help guide sustainable development of U.S. ocean and coastal waters.” She also echoed the sentiments of other presenters in underscoring the important of inclusive engagement beyond official agency postings.
U.S. Energy Dept. Wind Energy Technologies Office Program Lead Jian Fu and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Renewable Energy Program Specialist Josh Gange highlighted efforts to develop and finalize the Atlantic Offshore Wind Transmission Study, which will evaluate coordinated transmission solutions to enable U.S. Atlantic coast offshore wind development. Additionally, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Clean Energy Division Senior Scientist Kira Lawrence discussed coordinated transmission in New Jersey through a state agreement approach, and representatives from Ørsted and Perkins Coie discussed offshore wind industry efforts to develop and finalize community benefit agreements.
On conservation, presenters discussed emerging ocean wildlife issues and needs (Blue Economy, cumulative impacts assessment, climate change, net gain/net positive impacts) and research directions and products (space/time species overlap and persistence, joint models, transboundary models, and near-real time monitoring/forecasting), the Mid-Atlantic data portal as a source of marine wildlife data, the role of the Regional Wildlife Science Collaborative for Offshore Wind in addressing ocean data and research needs, using long-term data sets in support of ocean wildlife conservation (with a focus on sea turtle stranding data from Virginia), and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and NOAA actions to support conservation.
Panelists discussing planning for sustainable ocean economies noted the role of regions in informing federal action, how states like Delaware are taking steps to address challenges in coastal waters and bays, the need to respect the differences that exists between regions regarding ocean and coastal management perspectives and priorities, the role of regional ocean partnerships as a solution for collaboration, and the importance of building capacity for affected communities to engage.
MARCO is a regional ocean partnership established in 2009 by the Governors of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. MACO was established by MARCO to foster collaboration among states, federal agencies, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, and federally recognized tribes, and to engage stakeholders.
