PISCESWorkshop 2

The Ecosystem Approach: Case Studies from North America

EBM Implementation in practice

• Many ways to achieve ecosystem-based management

• Consider the time scales required• A truly stakeholder-led process is innovative,

necessary and challenging

Case Study 1

• Port Orford, Oregon, USA• Community-based EBM• Project started in 1999• Focus on fisheries

management• Geographic focus:

nearshore fishing grounds and surrounding watershed (med-small scale)

Port Orford, OregonLocal economy relies heavily on local fishing

fleet, and to smaller extent, tourism

Port Orford, Oregon

Primary issues that prompted EA: Degrading fish stocks and water quality, compromising fishing and tourism revenues

• Truly a stakeholder initiative (local fishermen)• Stakeholders involved: fishermen, concerned citizens,

local to federal government agencies, tourism office, recreational users, Oregon State University

• Goals: promote sustainable fishing practices; restoring healthy fish stocks and water quality; preventing degradation of fish habitat and upland areas; support tourism and recreational activities

Port Orford, Oregon

A partnership formed: the Port Orford Ocean Resource Team (POORT)

A cross-sectoral partnership between local fishermen,

environmental organizations, recreational users, government agencies, and concerned members of the community using an integrated approach to management (EA principles)

Milestones

1) Establishment of the Community Stewardship Area:

• 1,400 square miles (oceanic and terrestrial), including 2 river watersheds

• Defined using socioeconomic and political considerations• Ecosystem principles and spatial plan based on consensus

decisions from stakeholder workshops• Encompasses a variety of habitats, instills ownership

Milestones

2) Influencing state and regional marine policy:

• State of Oregon Marine Reserve siting process incorporated Port Orford stakeholder decisions

• Proactive approach: stakeholders provided input into State’s independent process

• West Coast Governor’s Agreement: regional influence (CA, WA and OR)

Milestones

3) Proactive and flexible management approaches:

• Recognizing impacts of land-based runoff on their fishing grounds, facilitated new stormwater ordinance passing

• Negotiated new management measures with Pacific Fishery Management Council to allow fishermen to retain bycatch, minimizing it but avoiding wasteful discards

• Port Orford Sustainable Seafood Label

Small cooperative, targeting ecologicallly concious consumers

Case Study 2

• Elkhorn Slough, California, USA

• Goal: Restoring estuarine ecosystem and nearshore waters

Case Study 2

• Project started in 2004

• Partnership of more than 20 coastal resource managers, major land owners, farmers, scientific experts, conservation organization, non-renewable energy reps

Elkhorn Slough, California

• Part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (one of largest submarine canyons)

• Estuarine land = 5 sq miles (small scale)

Elkhorn Slough, California

• 2nd largest tidal salt marsh on US west coast

• Extraordinary biological diversity (seabirds, fish, marine mammals), endangered species

Elkhorn Slough, California

• Key linkage between land and sea• Wetlands as natural buffer (soil erosion; flooding)• Wetlands as natural filters (remove water

impurities)• Wetlands as carbon sequesters (removing

greenhouse gases from the atmosphere)

A most threatened ecosystem

• Wetland rates of habitat loss = 75-90%

• 90 % of Elkhorn Slough saltmarsh to disappear by 2050

• Hosts a large number of rare, threatened and endangered species

Human activities

• Hosts largest electric power generating plant in CA

• Adjacent harbor one of the most active ports in CA

• Flanked by major transportation corridors (3 state highways and 1 coastal rail line)

Human activities

• Bordered by major agricultural areas (nutrient runoff) = 25% area

• Recreational uses (boating, birdwatching)

EBM Initiatiative• Elkhorn Slough Tidal Wetland Project, with goal of

restoring wetland ecosystem while supporting sustainable uses

• Multiple jurisdictional boundaries• Strategic Planning Team (= 20 multi-sectoral

stakeholders) operating by consensus-based decision making

• Science Panel to advise Planning Team

Milestones

• Identified planning principles (ecological, economic, social) that provide constraints to management strategies

• Identified restoration strategies to historic marsh habitat

• Economic values estimated; evaluation of how restoration alternatives will affect human uses

Some lessons learned

• Early identification of objectives that include ecological, economic and social goals for the ecosystem

• Determine most appropriate and effective geographic scale

• Identify all relevant physical and human components (spatially relevant data a plus)

More lessons learned

• The mix of stakeholders that comes to the table affects the ultimate outcome: identify and reach out to key groups to ensure long-term sustainability

• Foster collaborations among stakeholders to agree on goals

• Manage proactively, adapting to changing conditions - including changing players (new stakeholders)