MARCO News, February 2014

Message from the MARCO Management Board

Welcome to our latest issue of MARCO News. We hope this newsletter is a tool to help you stay in touch with MARCO, and informed of activities and upcoming events in the region. This issue of MARCO News focuses on regional ocean planning in the Mid-Atlantic and features MARCO updates on data collection efforts, provides information on the upcoming ocean planning listening sessions scheduled throughout the region, highlights state-led projects in New York and Maryland, and welcomes a new MARCO staff member to the team.

The MARCO Management Board

Working with Mid-Atlantic Stakeholders to Enhance Data for Regional Ocean Planning

To better inform ocean planning in the Mid-Atlantic, MARCO is working with stakeholders to enhance the quality and accuracy of existing data, and to collect new information to help fill data gaps. In response to the port and shipping sector, shipping traffic data has been recently updated on MARCO's Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal (Portal). Data now includes the U.S. Coast Guard's 2011 Automated Identification System (AIS) database, developed in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center. These data allow users exploring the Portal to visualize the density and patterns of shipping traffic by different vessel classes, from passenger ferries to giant cargo ships, providing an up-to-date picture of shipping activity in the Mid-Atlantic.

To learn more about how stakeholders are contributing to MARCO's data collection efforts, read this recent article featured in MARCO News. Also visit the Portal to stay up-to-date on Portal activities and follow them on Twitter.

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New York and Maryland: State-Led Projects to Inform Ocean Planning in the Mid-Atlantic

The Mid-Atlantic States are leading projects and initiatives that involve comprehensive ocean planning and data collection. Here we highlight two state-led projects out of New York and Maryland. We look forward to sharing features from other states in our region in future issues of MARCO News.

New York's Atlantic Ocean Study released. On July 10, 2013, the New York State Department of State released a comprehensive study on the physical, biological, wildlife and geographic characteristics of the Atlantic Ocean. The study highlights the range of uses and resources in ocean waters offshore New York. The results of the New York Offshore Atlantic Ocean Study will lay the groundwork for selecting offshore areas where wind development could be most suitable and appropriate. The study will also serve to help protect habitats important to environmental health, recreation, and tourism in New York's coastal communities as well as sustain New York's ocean-based industries. For a copy of the entire study and supplemental reports, visit the project website.

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Maryland launches baseline studies on wildlife distribution, abundance, and movement in the ocean. The State of Maryland is currently funding several studies that will advance our understanding of the natural resources and geophysical characteristics of Maryland's Atlantic coast. The data obtained from these studies will inform the offshore wind energy siting and leasing process. Maryland is funding the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center Foundation and the Riverhead Foundation for two years to conduct monthly aerial surveys documenting the presence, density and seasonality of marine mammals and sea turtles. In another study, the Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI) is using boat-based surveys and high-altitude aerial surveys using high definition video to study densities and distribution of birds and marine mammals. An understanding of ocean habitats and marine life is fundamental to protecting our natural resources and wisely developing offshore wind energy. For more information on the BRI study, visit the project website.

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New MARCO Executive Director

The Management Board would like to introduce MARCO's new Executive

Director, Kris Ohleth. Before joining MARCO, Kris Ohleth was the Director

of Permitting for the Atlantic Wind Connection offshore backbone transmission project. Positions before that include Policy Manager for Ocean Planning issues for Ocean Conservancy, and the Director of Environmental Affairs for two offshore wind energy developers. Kris worked as a research technician and editor for the National Marine Fisheries Service in Woods Hole, MA and as a communication coordinator for The Nature Conservancy. She earned an undergraduate degree from Rutgers University and a master's degree from the University of Rhode Island in Coastal and Ocean Policy.

Kris joins the MARCO team of Michelle Lennox, Program Manager, and Vince Bacalan, Program Assistant. MARCO welcomes Kris in her new role!

ABOUT MARCO

Established in 2009 by the Governors of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, MARCO provides a forum for our coastal Mid-Atlantic states to collaborate on shared regional priorities related to marine habitats, renewable offshore energy, climate change adaptation, and ocean water quality. MARCO initiated and oversees the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal to assist the region with ocean planning efforts. For more information about MARCO, download the MARCO Fact Sheet and visit our website, midatlanticocean.org.

CONNECT WITH US!

Thank you for your continued interest in MARCO. We welcome questions and feedback you may have, including content for upcoming issues of MARCO News. To provide comments or suggestions, or to join our email distribution list, please click "Join Our Mailing List" below, or contact us at info@midatlanticocean.org.

Photo Credits: Header (L-R): Coral, NOAA-OER/BOEM; Wind turbines, Ralf Hettler; Kayaks, Raul Rosa; Shipping container, Dan Barnes; Schooling fish, Jet Chen Tan; U.S. Naval ships, Gina Addison. Articles: Data for Regional Ocean Planning: AIS Shipping Map, Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal. Footer (L-R) Fishing boat, William Sherman; Diver, Michael Eversmier; Beach scene, Chris Parypa.