Vol. 1, No. 1
Headline
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Partnerships: Our most valuable resource Secretariat Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment Since the Gulf of Maine Coun-cil's formation in 1989, partnerships have been indispensable in pursuit of our mission to maintain and enhance environmental quality in the Gulf of Maine. Having begun with a mostly state, provincial, and federal government orientation, the Council has since grown to include representatives of business and industry. Gulf-wide collaborative efforts have also drawn in members of non-governmental advocacy and environmental organizations, the scientific and academic communities, educators, concerned citizens, and local and municipal governments. Through joint ventures we are making progress in our mission "to maintain and enhance environmental quality in the Gulf of Maine and to allow for sustainable resource use by existing and future generations." Our combined efforts are leading to success in restoring and protecting habitats and reducing debris and toxic contamination in the marine environment. And we anticipate making more progress as we continue to expand our cooperative endeavors. A collaborative approach to Gulf-wide issues was necessitated initially by the vastness of the Gulf of Maine region. The Gulf's watershed covers 69,115 square miles [165,185 square kilometers] spanning two Canadian provinces and three US states: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. But in addition to its comprehensive geography, the diversity of interests and activity in the Gulf region also makes cooperation crucial in addressing the state of the Gulf of Maine. In 1989, Canada and the United States officially recognized this need for collaboration to promote and sustain the Gulf's biological productivity when the region's US Governors and Canadian Premiers pledged in writing to work together to protect the Gulf's resources. The agreement mandated that a Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment be established. It also directed this new coalition to document the Gulf's ecological and environmental trends and develop recommendations for managing its resources. The Gulf of Maine Council serves in four primary roles: it convenes partners to undertake efforts in pursuit of its mission; decides how resources should be used toward this end; cultivates support for mission-related projects; and develops methods for educating the public about the Gulf of Maine. A ten-year Gulf of Maine Action Plan, drafted soon after the Council's formation, addresses environmental issues under five major program areas: monitoring and research; coastal and marine pollution; protection of public health; habitat protection; and public education and participation. A more recent 1996-2001 Action Plan outlines proposed strategies that government agencies, researchers, environmental groups, and others in the Gulf's jurisdictions can undertake to address these program areas. The Council annually awards grants to non-government organizations working on projects that support its priority goals within the five program areas. The Council also funds its own projects, directed by committees that work in partnership with individual citizens and non-governmental organizations. One of these projects is the Gulfwatch program, which tests blue mussel samples for evidence of toxic contamination in the marine environment. Another is this new publication, the Gulf of Maine Times, created as a forum for information on the Gulf's numerous and diverse issues for those who live and do business in the region. Opportunities to join in the Gulf of Maine Council's efforts are many, and the Council welcomes and encourages your interest. To learn more about the Gulf of Maine and the Council's programs, contact: |
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Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine