The Council’s Committees are responsible 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 contractors 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.

Click here for the Councillors membership roster.

• 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/NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service restoration partnership grant program; and pursues land protection initiatives.
• Gulf of Maine Mapping Initiative: 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.

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: The Sustainable Industries and Communities Committee works to promote and support sustainable development efforts in the Gulf of Maine.

Crosscutting Committees

• EcoSystem Indicator Partnership: Activities center on convening regional practitioners in seven indicator areas: coastal development, contaminants, eutrophication, aquatic habitats, climate change, fisheries, aquaculture, and climate change. The EcoSystem Indicator Partnership is developing indicators for the Gulf of Maine and integrating regional data for a new Web-based reporting system for marine ecosystem monitoring.
• State of the Gulf of Maine Report is a modular, living document made up of a context document and a series of theme or issue papers pertaining to the Gulf of Maine ecosystem, bordered by the northeastern United States and the Canadian Maritime Provinces.
• Climate Network: The Climate Network convenes leaders from Canadian federal and state agencies, US federal and state agencies, academics, tribes, and non-governmental groups in order to bring the latest climate change science, impacts, and adaptation information to communities in the Gulf of Maine watershed.
• Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning Committee: The Committee investigates and makes recommendations on roles/activities for the Council in coastal and marine spatial planning and tracks and exchanges information on CMSP policies and activities on both sides of the border.

Service Committees

• 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.

Other resources

• 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.
• KnowledgeBase: The KnowledgeBase is a catalogue of documents and data sets for the Gulf of Maine watershed.