Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) announces the

GULF OF MAINE FORUM
Protecting Our Coastal and Offshore Waters

Sponsored by:
Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI)
Global Program of Action Coalition (GPAC) for the Gulf of Maine

Date: November 1, 2002 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: Blue Hill Town Hall, Main Street, Blue Hill, Maine
Reception at MERI: 5:00 – 7:00 PM, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill

Forum Co-Chairs
Susan D. Shaw, Dr. P.H.,Director, MERI
Pam Person, US Chair, GPAC

Keynote Address:
Jack Pearce, North American Editor, Marine Pollution Bulletin

Registration deadline: October 18, 2002

Purpose
The purpose of the Forum is to bring together organizations, state and federal agencies, scientists, resource managers, policymakers, and experts from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts to examine the health of the US Gulf environment, identify priority issues and monitoring needs, and reach some consensus about where efforts must be focused in the decade ahead.

The Forum’s focus is a result of the growing concern about impacts of land-based activities on the marine environment. It is estimated that 80% of the threats to the marine environment come from land-based activities such as: excessive nutrients from incomplete sewage treatment, septic tanks or over-fertilization; sedimentation from construction, forestry, or agricultural practices or dams; faulty disposal of persistent toxic wastes down drains or into waters or land; tiny and large oil spills; plastic litter; and air pollution from cars and power plants. This multi-sector, day-long Forum will provide an opportunity for participants to exchange knowledge and hear distinguished panelists address critical areas of concern such as Declining Fish Stocks, Disturbance of Benthic Habitats, Impacts of Aquaculture, and The Need for Marine Protected Areas in the Gulf of Maine.

Keynote Address:
Dr. Jack Pearce: “The Only Way Forward: Management of the Coastal Zone”

Panel I: What is known (and not known) about the health of the Gulf of Maine environment?
Panel II: What are the priority issues threatening the environmental and resource sustainability of the US Gulf of Maine environment?
Panel III: Which ecological indicators will be most useful in monitoring future changes in ecosystem health?

Objectives
During working sessions at roundtables, panelists and participants will be asked to assess the following matrix of ecological indicators:

• Water quality (bacteria, nutrients, sediments)
• Presence of toxic contaminants (evidence of toxic point and non-point source pollution)
• Critical habitats or natural areas (benthic, seagrass, nesting, foraging, Marine Protected Areas)
• Changes in species (populations, diversity, dominance, invaders)
• Changes in integrity and use of resources (changes in harvested species, shift in resources)
The results from the roundtable discussions will be compiled and published by the Forum Convenors as the Gulf of Maine Forum Proceedings.

• Sources, levels and trends, pathways and effects of toxic contaminants in the marine ecosystem
• Water quality, nutrient loading, and phytoplankton monitoring
• Fish stocks and the status of fisheries
• Sediment toxicity, integrity of benthic communities
• Health status and population dynamics of marine species
• Marine Protected Areas
• Marine mammals as indicator species

Outcome: Gulf of Maine Summit 2004
The Consensus Decisions of the Gulf of Maine Forum, along with the Bay of Fundy Coastal Forum and 16 regional watershed forums will lead to a “State of the Gulf Summit” in 2004, providing the first region-wide assessment of the state of the Gulf of Maine in 12 years.

Registration (limited to 100).
Includes coffee breaks and breakfast pastries, lunch, and wine and cheese reception.

Registration Without Forum Proceedings $35.00
Registration With Forum Proceedings $50.00
Forum Proceedings (additional copies) $15.00

To register, contact
Jennifer Traub at
MERI,
P.O. Box 1652,
Blue Hill, ME 04614
Tel: (207) 374-2135
Email: info@meriresearch.org.