MARCO News, July 2021
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MARCO Management Board Member Spotlight – New Board Chair, Kim Cole
MARCO would like to welcome Ms. Kimberly Cole as its Management Board Chair. Ms. Cole, Administrator for the Delaware Coastal Programs Section and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, transitioned into this role on July 1, 2021.
 

Photo credit: Kim Cole
Climate Change and the Impacts to Deep-Sea Corals Webinar Held
Alvin collects a sample of Lophelia pertusa
Photo credit: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
MARCO’s June 24 “Climate Change and the Impacts to Deep-Sea Corals” webinar recording is now available to view. Learn about air-sea interactions and how climate changes are affecting deep-sea corals and how habitat suitability models can help predict the survival of certain coral species.
 
Thank you to Dr. Carol Anne Clayson of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Ryan Gasbarro of Temple University for their exciting and informative presentations!

Watch the recording.
Podcast by Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Partnership
On The Capitol Beach podcast series, Derek Brockbank, Executive Director of the Coastal States Organization, spoke with representatives of the four Regional Ocean Partnerships (ROPs) including Kimberly Cole from MARCO about the importance of these partnerships.


SAVE THE DATE: October 26, 2021, 1:00 - 4:30 PM OA Workshop

Ocean Acidification Action Planning and Implementation in the Mid-Atlantic

Join us on October 26 for a virtual half-day workshop on the state of ocean acidification planning and monitoring. Hosted by MACAN, the OA Alliance, MARCO and MARACOOS.

Additional details will be available soon.
2021 Mid-Atlantic Marine Debris Summit Held
The biennial Mid-Atlantic Marine Debris Summit was held virtually from July 20 - 22 and sought to highlight new or innovative approaches for reducing or preventing marine debris (and litter that becomes marine debris). Total people participating were 335 of the 497 people who registered for this event, including researchers, educators, policy makers, businesses and students from Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and New York, other states, and 21 other countries.

MARCO Commissions a Blue Economy Assessment
Photo credit: Jim Brickett

Given shifting national and regional priorities toward post-Covid 19 sustainable economic recovery, heightened efforts to address climate change, and a focus on understanding ocean planning’s role in building a more inclusive society, MARCO is increasing its focus on actions that strengthen the Mid-Atlantic region’s blue economy. 

Mid-Atlantic Committee on the Ocean Update
After two years, the MACO Steering Committee chair is transitioning from Kevin Hassell of New Jersey to Mike Snyder of New York. The steering committee was set up to guide conversations, priorities, and goals of MACO, which brings together multi-level government and non-governmental groups to collaborate on enhancing the vitality of the Mid-Atlantic region ocean ecosystem and economy. Mike Snyder will serve as chair from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2023.

Summer Portal Update: Interactive Maps of NY Bight Offshore Wind Areas, 2020 Vessel Traffic and More

Several hundred interactive maps have recently been added to the Portal’s maritime, renewable energy, fishing, and seafloor habitat themes. Click the links for more information about any of these new products.

States' News
MARYLAND
In June, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES), and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution launched an ocean buoy that monitors and provides daily reports of whales detected off Maryland’s Atlantic coast. This technology continues efforts to collect environmental data for offshore wind. Learn more at: https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2021/07/06/monitoring-buoy-to-help-research-marine-mammals-off-atlantic-coast/
Whale monitoring buoy
Photo credit: Mark Baumgartner
High Frequency Radar Monitor
Photo credit: Avalon Bristow

DELAWARE
U.S. Senator Tom Carper spoke at the MARACOOS press event in Lewes where the new High Frequency Radar equipment was unveiled. Kim Cole, MARCO Management Board Chair and Program Administrator for the Delaware Coastal Programs Section at DNREC, and Avalon Bristow, MARCO Program Director, also attended.

Read the press release here.
Click to view the entire newsletter in PDF.
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
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, visit our website, MidAtlanticOcean.org

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