Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task Force: Activity Update

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1 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

2 National Ocean Council President Obama, July , 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

3 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

4 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 Members submitted showcase opportunities that demonstrate the value of the National Ocean Policy

5 Creation of the Southeast Florida Intergovernmental Coastal Ocean Task 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

6 Creation of the Southeast Florida Intergovernmental Coastal Ocean Task Comm. John Haddox SEFCRI Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative Comm. Steven L. Abrams Comm. Beam Furr vacant ~130 km

7 Creation of the Southeast Florida Intergovernmental Coastal Ocean Task Regional Issues of Importance: 1.Coastal water quality 2.Overfishing 3.Coastal construction related impacts 4.Physical damage to resources

8 Steps: Creation of the Southeast Florida Intergovernmental Coastal Ocean Task 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

9 Timeline of the Southeast Florida Intergovernmental Coastal Ocean Task : Creation of the Task Force via resolution among members : Coastal Ocean 101. Understanding our coastal ocean and related issues : Develop draft recommendations 4. Early 2015: Finalize recommendations Develop resolution of support for local coastal governments

10 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

11 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

12 Draft Recommendations of the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task Categories: General recommendations Water quality Beaches Fisheries Coral reefs Estuaries Socioeconomics Marine debris

13 Draft Recommendations of the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task 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.

14 Beaches (1 of 3) Draft Recommendations of the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task 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

15 Draft Recommendations of the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task 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.

16 Beaches (3 of 3) Draft Recommendations of the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task 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.

17 Fisheries: Draft Recommendations of the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task 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.

18 Coral Reefs Draft Recommendations of the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task 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

19 Draft Recommendations of the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task 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.

20 Draft Recommendations of the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task 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.

21 Draft Recommendations of the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task 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.

22 NEXT STEPS of the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task 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.

23 Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task Force: Activity Update THANK YOU

MEETING SUMMARY. COTF members present:

MEETING SUMMARY. COTF members present: COTF members present: MEETING SUMMARY Coastal Oceans Task Force Meeting Thursday May 8, 2014 Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center Center of Excellence in Coral Reef Ecosystems Science 8000