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An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century - California Ocean ...

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Figure 5.1 Alignment of Federal Regions Is Essential <strong>for</strong> CommunicationEnvironmental ProtectionAgency RegionsU.S. Fish and WildlifeService RegionsU.S. Army Corps ofEngineers RegionsAlaska Hawaii Puerto Rico Alaska Hawaii Puerto Rico Alaska Hawaii Puerto RicoShown above are <strong>the</strong> existing regional management areas <strong>for</strong> three federal agencies. Because <strong>the</strong>se areas do not coincide, it isdifficult <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> agencies to coordinate and communicate about issues of common concern at <strong>the</strong> regional level. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore,this lack of coordination impedes <strong>the</strong>ir ability to effectively interact with regional, state, territorial, tribal, and local entities on aregional basis.Recommendation 5–3The President should <strong>for</strong>m a task <strong>for</strong>ce of federal resource management agencies to developa proposal <strong>for</strong> adoption and implementation of common federal regional boundaries. Thetask <strong>for</strong>ce should solicit input from state, territorial, tribal, and local representatives.<strong>An</strong>y re-designation of federal regions should be closely coordinated with <strong>the</strong> ongoingprocess of establishing regional ocean councils. Although <strong>the</strong> regions may be of differentsizes and <strong>the</strong>ir boundaries may not be identical, <strong>the</strong>y should be complementary to facilitatesmooth coordination.Meeting Regional Research and In<strong>for</strong>mation NeedsEven with greatly improved coordination among regional stakeholders and federal agencies,<strong>the</strong> movement toward an ecosystem-based management approach will require greaterknowledge about ocean and coastal ecosystems, including how human activities impact<strong>the</strong>se systems. Decision makers at all levels, especially local managers, require this in<strong>for</strong>mationto develop and apply appropriate management measures. Improved coordinationamong federal and nonfederal entities within a region will begin to help regional managerscommunicate <strong>the</strong>ir in<strong>for</strong>mation needs to <strong>the</strong> institutions that fund and carry out researchand data ga<strong>the</strong>ring ef<strong>for</strong>ts. Notwithstanding <strong>the</strong>se improvements, enhanced investmentswill also be needed to provide managers with <strong>the</strong> best available science, in<strong>for</strong>mation,tools, and technology on which to base <strong>the</strong>ir decisions.Today, research targeted at regional concerns, such as <strong>the</strong> origins of nonpoint sourcepollution, <strong>the</strong> impacts of development on coastal habitat and water quality, socioeconomictrends in coastal areas, or <strong>the</strong> impacts of global-scale processes on local resources, isseverely limited. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, <strong>the</strong> data that do exist are rarely translated into productsthat are useful to managers. As <strong>the</strong> National Research Council concluded in a 2002 report,Bridging Boundaries through Regional Marine Research, enhanced regional research and94 A N O CEAN B LUEPRINT FOR THE 21ST C ENTURY

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