A Model for Science, A Model for Science, Stewardship and Stewardship and

Adaptive Management Adaptive Management in Taunton Bay , Mainein Taunton Bay , Maine Observations and LessonsObservations and Lessons

John W. SowlesJohn W. Sowles

Maine Department of Marine ResourcesMaine Department of Marine Resources

http://http://www.maine.gov/dmr/council/tauntonbaywww.maine.gov/dmr/council/tauntonbay//

Evolution of PlanEvolution of Plan• Concerned ConsituencyConcerned Consituency

– Aquaculture Aquaculture – Dragging MoratoriumDragging Moratorium– Active “Friends” groupActive “Friends” group

• StudiesStudies• Statewide Bay Management Pilot ProjectStatewide Bay Management Pilot Project• DMR sees opportunityDMR sees opportunity

– Limited sizeLimited size– Relatively good knowledgeRelatively good knowledge– Local supportLocal support

A Little About the ResourceA Little About the Resource• Physical Physical

– 3,700 acres 3,700 acres • 1,824,000 acres coastal waters in Maine (0.00181,824,000 acres coastal waters in Maine (0.0018thth of of

coast)coast)– 29 mi perimeter 29 mi perimeter – 39,000 acre watershed 39,000 acre watershed – 42,500-15,000 acre-feet volume42,500-15,000 acre-feet volume

• Living ResourcesLiving Resources– Diversity of Plants and AnimalsDiversity of Plants and Animals

• Human UsesHuman Uses– Recreation Recreation – Commercial FisheriesCommercial Fisheries– Aquaculture Aquaculture

Management AreaLimit

Egypt Bay

Hog Bay

DualDual and Equal Goals and Equal Goals• protect and sustain ecological protect and sustain ecological

functions and values, and functions and values, and • manage marine resources for the manage marine resources for the

long-term use and enjoyment of all long-term use and enjoyment of all citizens of Maine. citizens of Maine.

Comprehensive Resource Comprehensive Resource Management Plan Management Plan ExperimentExperiment• Not just a fishery planNot just a fishery plan• Different from Forest BDP or Downeast Different from Forest BDP or Downeast

Fisheries Initiative Fisheries Initiative – – few stakeholders or limited focusfew stakeholders or limited focus

• Measureable Ecological and Measureable Ecological and CommunityTargets CommunityTargets – WildlifeWildlife– HabitatHabitat– Water qualityWater quality– Sustainable harvestsSustainable harvests– Research to support aboveNot just a fisheries planResearch to support aboveNot just a fisheries plan

Demographic PressureDemographic Pressure

Private/Public Private/Public New vs Traditional TensionsNew vs Traditional Tensions

• Traditional uses Traditional uses threatenedthreatened

• Double standards Double standards

– Direct usersDirect users– Indirect users – e.g. Indirect users – e.g.

landownerslandowners

Cornerstones of Plan Cornerstones of Plan • Science Science

– Measureable benchmarksMeasureable benchmarks– Means to measureMeans to measure

• StewardshipStewardship– Diversity of perspectivesDiversity of perspectives– Local knowledgeLocal knowledge

• AdaptabilityAdaptability– Feedback mechanismFeedback mechanism– Legal flexibilityLegal flexibility

Immediate StepsImmediate Steps• Establish Advisory GroupEstablish Advisory Group• Address Dragging Moratorium Address Dragging Moratorium

– Regulation to catch the voidRegulation to catch the void– mussels, scallops, urchins, and kelpmussels, scallops, urchins, and kelp– Resource assessmentsResource assessments– Harvester interestHarvester interest

• Identify ‘Important’ Ecological Identify ‘Important’ Ecological ElementsElements

• Develop a sustainable harvest planDevelop a sustainable harvest plan

Advisors to Advisors to CommissionerCommissioner• MunicipalitiesMunicipalities• Mussel harvesterMussel harvester• Lobster harvesterLobster harvester• WormerWormer• ClammerClammer• Sea vegetable Sea vegetable

harvesterharvester

• Conservationist Conservationist • Business ownerBusiness owner• Non-local citizenNon-local citizen• Property ownerProperty owner• ScienceScience• Recreation Recreation • Aquaculturist Aquaculturist

Initial Initial Emphasis – Life after Emphasis – Life after MoratoriumMoratorium• Four Resources Four Resources

– mussels, kelp, scallop, and urchinmussels, kelp, scallop, and urchin• Three AreasThree Areas

– AssessmentAssessment– AllocationAllocation– LocationLocation– SeasonSeason– Harvest practicesHarvest practices– MonitoringMonitoring

2008 Harvest Conditions2008 Harvest Conditions• Based on AssessmentsBased on Assessments

– TACs – divided by harvesters themselvesTACs – divided by harvesters themselves– AreasAreas– SeasonSeason– Method***Method***

• Reporting requiredReporting required– dates, areas, and bycatchdates, areas, and bycatch

• If conditions or conflicts become If conditions or conflicts become unmanageable, we will stop harvest.unmanageable, we will stop harvest.

Avoid Kelp Beds

FALLS AREA7,000 Bushels

New water line

CCAR AREA34,000 Bushels

Please avoid 2 White Buoys

BURYING ISLANDAREA

25,000 Bushels

Next Implementation Next Implementation StepsSteps• Water quality studiesWater quality studies• Wildlife studiesWildlife studies• Identify important ecological areasIdentify important ecological areas• Encourage municipal involvementEncourage municipal involvement• Augment stewardshipAugment stewardship• Refine research planRefine research plan

Details Details AREARE the the BIGBIG Picture Picture Thoughts on ImplementationThoughts on Implementation

ObstaclesObstacles• Public AcceptancePublic Acceptance

– NIMBYism NIMBYism – DishonestyDishonesty

• Legal Legal – ClassificationClassification– Permitting on different scale - docks, eelgrassPermitting on different scale - docks, eelgrass– Blue Hill Bay AQ vs footprintBlue Hill Bay AQ vs footprint– Public Trust issuesPublic Trust issues

• Resources – esp timeResources – esp time• PerfectionismPerfectionism

HurdlesHurdles• Can’t plan it all Can’t plan it all

– Real time and continuous adjustingReal time and continuous adjusting• Lack of Scientific Information Is NOT a Lack of Scientific Information Is NOT a

Barrier Barrier • Media looking for failureMedia looking for failure• DistractionsDistractions

– Uninformed ‘expert’ commentaryUninformed ‘expert’ commentary– PoliticsPolitics

• Treat as “box”Treat as “box”– This is a very”leaky” systemThis is a very”leaky” system

Keys to SuccessKeys to Success• Strong stakeholder support and commitmentStrong stakeholder support and commitment• Agree on clear goals, endpoints and Agree on clear goals, endpoints and

strategies strategies upfrontupfront• Hands-onHands-on

– Must be personalMust be personal– Must risk injuryMust risk injury

• Admit need for and make course correctionsAdmit need for and make course corrections• Give and take – up to a pointGive and take – up to a point• Show progress – keep movingShow progress – keep moving• Under the radar can be an advantageUnder the radar can be an advantage

Potential Advantages – beyond Potential Advantages – beyond the obviousthe obvious• Encourages local responsibility to Encourages local responsibility to

make global impactmake global impact• Exposes NIMBYism, Exposes NIMBYism, • Promotes scientific literacyPromotes scientific literacy• Improves communicationImproves communication• Creates new partnershipsCreates new partnerships

So is this Ecosystem-Based-So is this Ecosystem-Based-Management?Management?