Decision-makers in the Gulf of Maine and Bay of Fundy region will possess the necessary information to preserve ecological integrity and to sustain economically and socially healthy human communities. Regional ecosystem indicators, developed in a manner that is guided by science and supported by routine monitoring, demonstrate patterns of change in the ecosystem. By presenting and interpreting these indicators in biennial state of the environment reports, information will be communicated in a manner that decision-makers at all societal levels can use to shape their priorities and guide their choices. The gulf-wide insights provided through indicators and state of the environment reports will integrate across multiple jurisdictional boundaries that exist within the Gulf ecosystem and will complement other information used by decision-makers. By creating links among science, management, ecosystem, and community goals at both regional and local levels, this information will help decision-makers understand the larger implications of their choices.

The core principles established for the gulf-wide indicators and reporting program ensure the production of a high-quality product that is relevant for its users and is developed through a transparent, science-based process that engages a wide group of partners.

• Partnerships. This effort will build on existing monitoring, indicator, and reporting programs within and encompassing the Gulf of Maine. Strong, robust partnerships between these programs and other organizations will be vital for a region-wide indicators and reporting program to succeed.
• Science-based. Indicators will be selected based on the best natural and social scientific understandings of the structure and functions of the ecosystem, including its human components.
• Audience-relevant. Indicators will be responsive to audience needs, and information will be presented in formats that are clearly understood by the target audiences.
• Necessary and sufficient. This effort will track the minimum set of indicators necessary to determine whether ecosystem goals and objectives associated with specific management issues are being achieved.
• Transparent. The selection, development, and interpretation of the indicators will be conducted and documented in a manner that ensures transparency such that each indicator can be evaluated by users and replicated by other programs or in future iterations of this initiative.

 

ESIP overview | Interactive map | Vision statement and core principles | Data