Download Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task Force

Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean
Task Force:
Activity Update
Kenneth Banks, Ph.D., P.E.
Broward County Environmental Planning and
Community Resilience Division
via
Richard Dodge, Ph.D.
College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography
Nova Southeastern University
National Ocean Council
• President Obama, July 19 2010, signed
executive order to establish the National
Ocean Council (NOC)
• Directs the NOC to guide executive agencies
to implement the recommendations of the
Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force
National Ocean Council
National Priority Objectives:
1. Ecosystem-Based Management
2. Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning
…..
5. Resiliency and Adaptation to Climate Change
and Ocean Acidification
6. Regional Ecosystem Protection & Restoration
7. Water Quality and Sustainable Practices on
Land
National Ocean Council
The NOC shall establish:
• Regional Advisory Committees
– Provide information and advice on development of
regional coastal and marine spatial plans
• Governance Coordinating Committee
– State, tribal, and local government officials
– 2011 - Members submitted “showcase”
opportunities that demonstrate the value of the
National Ocean Policy
Creation of the Southeast Florida
Intergovernmental Coastal Ocean Task
Force (COTF)
• Purpose: Engage the elected officials for
input into the regional strategy development
efforts
• Southeast Florida Coastal Oceans Task Force
• Comprised of state, county, and
city officials and key stakeholders
Creation of the Southeast Florida
Intergovernmental Coastal Ocean Task
Force (COTF)
Comm. John Haddox
SEFCRI –
Southeast
Florida Coral
Reef Initiative
Comm. Steven L. Abrams
Comm. Beam Furr
vacant
~130 km
Creation of the Southeast Florida
Intergovernmental Coastal Ocean Task
Force (COTF)
Regional Issues of Importance:
1.Coastal water quality
2.Overfishing
3.Coastal construction related impacts
4.Physical damage to resources
Creation of the Southeast Florida
Intergovernmental Coastal Ocean Task
Force (COTF)
Steps:
1.Educate COTF members on important issues
related to managing the regional coastal marine
resources
2.Review the progress SEFCRI has made
3.Create a Task Force report summarizing
review, providing recommendations, and
establishing Task Force role in the 5-year plan
Timeline of the Southeast Florida
Intergovernmental Coastal Ocean Task
Force (COTF)
1. 2012: Creation of the Task Force via
resolution among members
2. 2012–14: “Coastal Ocean 101” ….
Understanding our coastal ocean and related
issues
3. 2014: Develop draft recommendations
4. Early 2015:
• Finalize recommendations
• Develop resolution of support for local coastal
governments
MEMBERS of the Southeast Florida COTF
Commissioner Steven Abrams, Palm Beach County, Chair
Commissioner John Haddox, Martin County, Vice Chair
Vice Mayor Eula Clarke, City of Stuart; Alternate: Commissioner
Tom Campenni, City of Stuart
Chair Pro Tem Dawn Pardo, City of Riviera Beach
Mayor Bonnie Fischer, Town of South Palm Beach
Deputy Mayor Susan Haynie, City of Boca Raton
Commissioner Beam Furr, Broward County Board of Commissioners
Alternate: Commissioner Chip LaMarca
Vice Mayor Stuart Dodd, Town of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
Mayor Frank Caplan, Village of Key Biscayne
Mayor Daniel Dietch, Town of Surfside
Ernie Marks, Regional Director, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC); Alternate: Mason Smith, Biological Scientist II,
FWC
MEMBERS of the Southeast Florida COTF
Joanna Walczak, Manager, Coral Reef Conservation Program, FDEP
Alternate: Jamie Monty, Coral Reef Conservation Program, FDEP
Dana Wusinich-Mendez, Atlantic and Caribbean Team Lead, NOAA
Coral Reef Conservation Program; Alternate: Dr. Jim Bohnsack, Chief,
Protected Resources and Biodiversity Division, NOAA NMFS
Dr. Richard Dodge, Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic
Jeff Torode, South Florida Diving Headquarters
Alternate: Kevin Senecal, Divers Direct
Bob Jones, Southeastern Fisheries Association
Becky Hope, Port of Miami
James Byrne, The Nature Conservancy; Alternate: Ed Tichenor, Palm
Beach County Reef Rescue
John Sprague, Marine Industry of Florida: Alternate: Chuck Collins,
Executive Director, Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County
Draft Recommendations
of the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task
Force (COTF)
Categories:
• General
recommendations
• Water quality
• Beaches
• Fisheries
• Coral reefs
• Estuaries
• Socioeconomics
• Marine debris
Draft Recommendations
of the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task
Force (COTF)
General:
• Apply to the appropriate government agencies to
develop a holistic management plan for the
southeast Florida coastal waters.
• The plan shall include stakeholder input and address
measures to maximize water quality, improve
fisheries, and minimize the impacts of coastal
construction.
• Options include application to NOAA for National
Marine Sanctuary (NMS) status and request to the
State of Florida for management status similar to
that of a NMS.
Draft Recommendations
of the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task
Force (COTF)
Beaches (1 of 3)
• FDEP shall require that beach sand be managed in a
regional context. All inlets in Florida update their
inlet management plans and those plans should be
based on a regional approach to sand management
for beaches
Draft Recommendations
of the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task
Force (COTF)
Beaches (2 of 3)
• Ensure that coastal construction permits contain
best management and permitting practices and use
available resources to educate contractors,
consultants etc., on the importance and value of our
reef systems. If impacts to reefs are expected to
occur, understand and account for the direct and
indirect impacts.
Draft Recommendations
of the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task
Force (COTF)
Beaches (3 of 3)
• Coordinate regional “living shoreline” objectives to
promote the use and protection of natural
infrastructure (e.g. coral reefs, native vegetation,
mangroves, and wetlands) to provide natural
barriers to storm surge and maintain coastal
biodiversity.
Draft Recommendations
of the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task
Force (COTF)
Fisheries:
• Work with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC), and consult with NOAA,
academics and others as appropriate to promote the
recovery of reef organisms, including reef fish, coral,
and related species by using appropriate available tools
and incorporate assessment monitoring to evaluate the
success of these activities. Tools can include, but are
not limited to bag limits, size limits, seasonal
closures, special use areas, no-take areas.
Draft Recommendations
of the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task
Force (COTF)
Coral Reefs
• The State Legislature should mandate the
incorporation of best management practices (BMP)
for coral reef protection in coastal construction
permits.
• Develop a best management practice for the dive
industry
Draft Recommendations
of the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task
Force (COTF)
Estuaries:
• Manage muck sediments on both the freshwater and
estuarine sides of estuaries to prevent them from
entering coastal waters.
• Place a priority on restoration of shallow-water
estuarine habitats and locate restoration projects
strategically to improve connectivity among
habitats.
Draft Recommendations
of the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task
Force (COTF)
Socioeconomics:
• Update the 2001 Socio-economic study of coral
reefs in southeast Florida and expand the scope to
include beaches.
• Require valuation and consideration of ecosystem
services in determining benefit/cost ratios as part of
local, state, and federal project planning and land
use decisions.
Draft Recommendations
of the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task
Force (COTF)
Marine Debris:
• Provide trash and recycling containers at beach
entrances.
• Manage solid waste, such as cigarette litter, plastic
food-ware, Styrofoam, plastic and glass recyclables,
plastic bags, and waste from boating and marinas.
NEXT STEPS
of the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task
Force (COTF)
• Although the COTF will be abolished after
approval of recommendations,
• It is anticipated that a committee will form to
coordinate actions and activities to further
the implementation of the management
actions endorsed by the Task Force.
Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean
Task Force:
Activity Update
• THANK YOU