The Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Council’s Committee on the Ocean this week held a virtual Mid-Atlantic Ocean Forum. Themes addressed during the forum included the importance of offshore wind (including lessons learned and tools for informing siting), the impact of climate change on the ocean (including changes species are experiencing) and ways to address it including proactive planning that accounts for where species and conservation may be in the future, the need for collaboration and good data, ocean equity and justice, innovative tools and technologies to better understand the ocean and changes underway, the importance of partnerships, and mechanisms to support ocean planning including integrated ecosystem assessments and data tools.
During the forum, a NOAA representative addressed the 30×30 initiative, noting that many areas in the U.S. are not marine protected areas but nonetheless contribute to conservation, and that 30×30 is not about MPAs but about areas that contribute to conservation on land and water.
Additionally, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Director Amanda Lefton said that the administration will build a more efficient, transparent, and effective process for reviewing plans to develop offshore wind energy leases, as well as an inclusive and expeditious process for identifying areas for potential future offshore wind energy lease sales.
