MARCO News | Fall 2024

Videos Available from Mid-Atlantic Ocean Conservation Symposium

Watch: Offshore Wind Workforce Development Webinars

Save the Date: The Mid-Atlantic Ocean Forum Returns May 6-8

MARCO will host its seventh annual Mid-Atlantic Ocean Forum from May 6-8 in Baltimore. Stay tuned for additional details in the months ahead. Click here to learn about past events. Discounted room rates of $150 per night can now be reserved at the Lord Baltimore Hotel.

Recent Updates

Maintained Channels

A trio of new map layers on the Portal provide a detailed view of navigation channels maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Management Areas: Summer Flounder Draft Addendum XXXV

The MAFMC and ASMFC's Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Board are jointly developing a framework/addendum to consider potential changes to two exemptions to the summer flounder commercial minimum mesh size requirements. This action includes potential boundary changes to the Small Mesh Exemption Program area.

Questions? Email portal@midatlanticocean.org

What are the most fun and the most challenging parts of your job? I would say these are two sides of the same coin. Having a diverse range of duties and projects, plans, and workgroups I'm assigned to keeps things interesting, and I get to form partnerships with so many people across other offices, agencies, and beyond. But it's a lot to keep track of in terms of review deadlines, meetings, document coordination, etc. A time-management training I took a few years ago was really helpful in terms of staying on top of my action items.

Why did you get involved in ocean resource management? I grew up spending time during the summers on my family's land on the shores of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada, walking the beach and watching wildlife and fishing boats, and seeing how the beach changed year to year. I felt a deep connection to the ocean and its users there, and it led me to study marine science in undergrad and coastal environmental management in graduate school. 

What is your hope for the future of ocean resource management? While working on developing a management plan for the NECSMNM and reviewing grant applications as a subject matter expert, I've observed the importance of creating innovative partnerships and connecting with communities, including and beyond those who are traditional ocean users or collaborators. My hope for the future of ocean resource management is that as ocean managers we continue to build these partnerships, existing and new, and share our knowledge and mission with them. Informed and engaged citizens make for better resource management as a whole! 

State Updates

New York

On Sept. 6, Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary was designated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), becoming the first marine sanctuary in New York waters and the 16th site nationwide. The Lake Ontario Sanctuary covers over 1,700 square miles of state waters in eastern Lake Ontario and protect approximately 43 known shipwrecks and one submerged aircraft, spanning centuries of history.

“Lake Ontario is an important gateway between the Great Lakes and the ocean. From commerce to biodiversity to recreation, the maritime landscape of this area represents past, present and future connections and will have incredible benefits for the communities that passionately sought its creation,” NOAA Administrator Richard Spinrad said.

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Expanding the Gateway to Expand Kids' Geospatial Awareness in New York

Surveys have shown that America’s youth perform poorly when it comes to knowing about the “where” of where they live, whether at the local, state, country or world level. Geo-literacy, the ability to use geographic understanding and reasoning to make far-reaching decisions, is necessary for young New Yorkers to become future problem-solvers. Geo-literacy is critical to understanding basic physical systems that affect daily life, providing context to historic places and events, and making critical life decisions.

To help build that capacity in our children, the New York Department of State, Office of Planning, Development, and Community Infrastructure worked with their partner, Stone Environmental, to develop a youth-friendly website. The website, called Kids MapVenture, is geared towards students in grades 3-6 and leverages the power and information of the New York Department of State’s Geographic Information Gateway (Gateway). Kids MapVenture is a kid-friendly interface designed to engage young people in discovering the State’s geography and learn about our many and varied resources. The purpose of the site is to introduce children at a younger age to mapping concepts, give them tools to explore their place in the world, foster understanding, and equal opportunities for youth in traditionally disadvantaged and underserved communities, and have fun learning the importance of “where.” It is envisioned that students will use the Kids MapVenture as a stepping-stone to use the Gateway.

Design choices were made to cater to a young audience with an emphasis on graphics, large and inviting navigation buttons and icons, and ensuring accessibility, with interactive elements. In designing the website, our team included content relevant to New York State learning standards to support teachers’ curriculum and help kids gain skills in geographic awareness. The effort was kicked off by hosting focus sessions with educators, school administrators, Esri Education Team members, environmental educators from our sister agency at NYS Office of Parks and Recreation, representation from boys and girls clubs, and representatives from New York Sea Grant. After the team developed a draft site, it conducted valuable user research with adults and students. Input from that research was integrated into the design for an optimized, accessible experience for all users. The first iteration of Kids MapVenture was made public on the Gateway in late August, and planning is already underway for version 2.0 with expanded features, activities, and lessons.  

State Resources

• Delaware Coastal Programs
• Maryland Chesapeake and Coastal Service
• New Jersey Coastal Management Program
• New York Ocean and Lakes Program
• Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program

STAY CONNECTED!

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. Body. Footer (L-R) Fishing boat, William Sherman; Diver, Michael Eversmier; Beach scene, Christie Mazzeo-Pfoertner