Opening their Shells Getting commercial clammers involved in marine spatial planning

Transcription

1 Opening their Shells Getting commercial clammers involved in marine spatial planning Ed Lewandowski Coastal Communities Development Specialist University of Delaware/Delaware Sea Grant

2 Highlights Background on Delaware Inland Bays Shellfish Aquaculture Initiative Marine Spatial Planning Using GIS and the wetable Engaging the affected interests Outcomes

3 College of Earth, Ocean & Environment

4 Issue Delaware is the only coastal state in the nation that does not allow commercial shellfish aquaculture! Local National Estuary Program (Center for the Inland Bays) leading efforts to pass enabling legislation to permit shellfish aquaculture 15 years of research and studies to prove feasibility and efficacy Help to invigorate commercial fishing economy Product is highly desired by area restaurants Local on the Menu

5 WHAT IS MARINE SPATIAL PLANNING? Comprehensive, adaptive, integrated, ecosystem-based, and transparent spatial planning process, based on sound science, for analyzing current and anticipated uses of ocean and coastal areas. Coastal and marine spatial planning identifies areas most suitable for various types or classes of activities in order to: reduce conflicts among uses, reduce environmental impacts, facilitate compatible uses, and preserve critical ecosystem services to meet economic, environmental, security, and social objectives

6 GIS Planning Goals Decrease user conflicts, improve planning and regulatory efficiencies and decrease costs and delays, and preserve critical ecosystem services Reduce conflicting Interests High Boat use regions and pathways would be primary conflicting use High density hard clam areas would consist of a conflicted use area Conflicting uses would be exclusion areas for aquaculture Optimally aquaculture lease areas would be located in areas with low conflicted interests or highly compatible uses Places science-based information at the heart of decision-making Emphasizes stakeholder and public participation

7 Rhode Island SAMP Presentation at Social Coast Forum in FEB 12 Engaging Stakeholders in Marine Spatial Planning Worked primarily with New England s ground fishing industry Used printed maps, crayons & markers, sticky notes, etc. Numerous data layers, so printed numerous maps

8 Human Use Data Navigational channels Historic channel dredging Marinas Public & private boat ramps Duck blinds

9 Regulatory Data Shellfish harvest closures

10 Physical Data Bathymetry Bottom sediment classifcations

11 Ecological Data Clam abundance (density) Seasonal colonial nesting bird habitat

12 Bart Wilson, Science Coordinator for the CIB, moderated the public engagement session

13 Several of the local commercial clammers and their family members participated

14 Bob s wetable markup

15 Tough converts!

16 Preferred Use Areas Low clam density (< 2 clams/m) Low boat traffic Open to harvest Little to no current commercial harvesting activity Limited waterfowling activity No shoreline residences

17 Leased Areas Example Created a map that depicts the proposed area with a variety of lease sizes and configurations Visual representation of the immediate geospatial impacts of the aquaculture activity on surface waters Helped to allay many fears that bays would be consumed with leases

18 Status??? Consensus to proceed from commercial clammers Draft legislation will be proposed when General Assembly reconvenes in mid-mar