Committees and Task Forces > Overview
Committees pursue facets of Council's long-term mission
The Council's Committees take responsibility for
implementing the goals of the Action
Plan. They operate under work plans reviewed and approved by the
Working Group, report
to the Working Group quarterly, and meet as needed in the interim. Action
Plan projects and tasks are supported by several contract
staff members based around the Gulf of Maine. To learn how you can
become involved, contact a committee co-chair or the Council coordinator
at info@gulfofmaine.org.
- Working Group: The Council's Working Group includes one representative for each state, provincial, and federal Council member, as well as Canadian and U.S. co-chairs from each of the Council's Committees.
- Management and Finance: Management and Finance oversees the day-to-day operations of the Council.
- Secretariat Team: The immediate past, current, and future Working Group Chairs comprise the Secretariat Team with counsel and co-ordination from core contractors.
Habitat
- Habitat Conservation: Creating a regional strategy for marine habitat conservation.
- Habitat Monitoring: Plans and implements habitat monitoring initiatives.
- Habitat Restoration: Developing a Gulf-wide coastal and marine habitat restoration plan; assists in implementation of the Council/NMFS restoration partnership grant program; and pursues land protection initiatives.
- Gulf of Maine Mapping Initiative (GOMMI): Developing and implementing a Gulf-wide seafloor mapping program.
Contaminants
- Gulfwatch Contaminants Monitoring: The Gulfwatch Contaminants Monitoring Subcommittee oversees this sentinel species monitoring program and directs the selection of sites and sampling parameters, and it assesses human and environmental health issues and implements contaminant-monitoring efforts in the Gulf of Maine.
- Sewage: The purpose of the Subcommittee is to raise awareness and promote sharing of information and understanding of issues throughout the Gulf of Maine/Bay of Fundy region, relating to sewage and wastewater management.
Maritime Activities
- Bi-valve Harvesting Industry: This Subcommittee will be formed as the Maritime Activities Goal is developed.
- Energy: This Subcommittee will be formed as the Maritime Activities Goal is developed.
- Sustainable Tourism: The Subcommittee works in partnership with other organizations to promote and develop ecotourism.
- Sustainable Industries and Communities Committee (SICC): The Sustainable Industries and Communities Committee works to promote and support sustainable development efforts in the Gulf of Maine.
Crosscutting Committees
- Ecosystem Indicator Partnership (ESIP) Committee: Activities of ESIP initially center on convening regional practitioners in six indicator areas: coastal development, contaminants and pathogens, eutrophication, aquatic habitat, fisheries and aquaculture, and climate change. ESIP is developing indicators for the Gulf of Maine and integrating regional data for a new Web-based reporting system for marine ecosystem monitoring.
- Climate Change Network: The Climate Change Network (CCN) strives to bring the latest climate change science, impacts, and adaptation information to the Gulf of Maine community.
Services
- Outreach: Advances the education and communication goals of the Council, Working Group, and other committees. Cultivates a sense of stewardship among citizens of the Gulf of Maine region.
- Information Management: Serves the data and information needs of the Council, Working Group, and committees. Facilitates access for researchers, government, non-profit organizations and the public to data and information through development of Web tools and products.
- Project Evaluation: The Project Evaluation team works together to collect information to measure outcomes and successes on the Action Plan 2007-2012 goals and activities.