The Gulf of Maine stretches from the north shore of Cape Cod, Massachusetts in the United States to Cape Sable, Nova Scotia in Canada, and extends 200 miles offshore to the rich underwater plateaus of the Georges and Browns Banks. Three states and two provinces border the Gulf - Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine in the United States; New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in Canada. The Gulf encompasses six bays, including the Bay of Fundy. The rivers draining to the Gulf of Maine have a combined watershed area of over 69,115 square miles (165,185 square kilometers). The Gulf of Maine is a shared, public resource of world class ecological, cultural, economic, scientific and intrinsic value. Through the concerted effort of many individuals and organizations we have compiled a large body of knowledge of the physical, chemical and biological interactive processes that together create the Gulf Region environments. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that the marine environments of the Gulf of Maine are vulnerable to damage and to loss. Sustaining the environmental and economic viability of the Gulf of Maine poses a major challenge to science, business and communities. To meet this challenge we need to validate our existing knowledge base, share experience, harmonize management approaches, build on our successes and explore new opportunities to integrate all these activities across disciplines, sectors, communities and countries.

If we are to sustainably manage the resources of the Gulf, we must ask and answer important questions on the fate and effect of pollutants and the alteration and loss of critical habitats in these marine environments.

2. The United Nations Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land Based Activities (the GPA)

The GPA is intended to provide guidance on developing a process for management actions that result in sustainable use of coastal and marine resources. Degradation of the marine environment results from human activities that use resources beyond replenishment, that dispose of wastes in areas unable to assimilate pollutants, and that alter habitats through siltation, sedimentation, removal, filling and other disturbances. These activities not only threaten resources, but in many cases may imperil human health through contaminated seafood, unsafe beaches and waters for swimming and other recreational activities.

In 1996 Canada, Mexico and the United States were among the 109 nations signatory to the Global Programme of Action (GPA) for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land Based Activities. The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is assisting these three North American countries in implementation of the GPA through the establishment of cooperative partnerships. Currently the CEC Cooperation on the Protection of Marine and Coastal Area Ecosystems Project supports initiatives in two bi-nationally shared marine environments: the Bight of the Californias (United States and Mexico), and the Gulf of Maine (United States and Canada). The Gulf of Maine Pilot Project is being executed by the newly formed working group—the Global Programme of Action Coalition for the Gulf of Maine (GPAC).

The Global Programme of Action Coalition for the Gulf of Maine (GPAC) is a bi-national working group comprised of some forty individuals representing federal and state/provincial governments, the research sector, the private sector, non-government organizations, communities and First Nations. Formed in 1997, the GPAC meets regularly and has developed an Action Plan to guide its initiatives in 1998-1999. The primary goal of the GPAC is to establish a collaborative, short-term organization dedicated entirely to the implementation of the United Nations Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities in this region.

The GPAC recognizes and respects the roles and contributions of the Gulf of Maine Council, and other organizations, in advancing environmental stewardship in this region. In addition to shared interests, the GPAC also shares a number of members with the Gulf of Maine Council Working Group, and relies on these linkages to assist in building a productive partnership between these two organizations. The GPAC has identified specific Gulf of Maine Council objectives as identified in the Gulf of Maine Council Action Plan: 1996-2001 as appropriate to the principles and objectives of the United Nations Global Programme of Action (Attachment A).

The GPAC will work to ensure that where possible and appropriate, work undertaken by the GPAC builds on these, and other, regional policies, protocols, priorities and programs of action for both the development and implementation of the GPAC Action Plan.

Development and implementation of the GPAC Action Plan will respond to the following objectives:

• strategic identification, synthesis and integration of existing work in the Gulf of Maine to reduce overlap and needless repetition of effort;
  
• cross-sectoral, multi-disciplinary consensus on the identification and ranking of significant habitat issues and toxic contaminants in the region

• integrated collaborative partnering with existing institutions, organizations, communities and the private sector that are already at work in environmental management in the region, or can be encouraged to participate,
  
• the ultimate integration of GPAC activities and resources into existing, more permanent organizations once the Action Plan to advance the GPA is in place.

GPAC Objective:     Stage One of the GPAC Action Plan will identify and assess current knowledge on the marine and coastal habitats of the Gulf of Maine and the existing and potential effects of pollutants from land-based activities on the sustainability of these habitats.

GPAC Actions:     The GPAC will contract with experienced researchers in Canada and the United States for the research and production of two Scoping Papers, one on Pollutants in the Gulf of Maine, one on Marine and Coastal Habitats in the Gulf of Maine. These papers will be the result of a combination of the researcher’s personal expertise, comprehensive reviews of the published and unpublished literature, and interviews with key individuals from the science community, government agencies, the private sector, community organizations, and First Nations.

Each of the Scoping Papers will be a comprehensive document and will include an annotated bibliography and list of contributing organizations and individuals.

An executive summary will be prepared for each paper and provided to the GPAC for circulation to Members. The Executive Summaries and Scoping Papers will be used as the background documents and primary references for GPAC Members. The Scoping exercise will assist the GPAC in the development of technical programs and the identification of invited speakers and participants to an interactive, priority-setting Workshop.

Structure:     The GPAC will establish a Habitat and a Pollutants Task Group whose duties and responsibilities will include managing the Contractors for the Scoping Papers, and assisting the GPAC with the development of the technical program for the proposed Workshop.

GPAC Objective:     Stage Two of the Action Plan will organize an interactive workshop of multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral participants to review the findings of the Scoping Papers, to establish criteria (filters) for priority setting and to identify the priority pollutants and critical habitats in the Gulf of Maine requiring immediate action.

Workshop Program:

• Using the scoping document as a guide, presentations at the workshop will establish a base of information to assist and focus participants.
• The program would allow time for discussion and deepening understanding of the issue.
• Participants would refine the criteria and filters to be used to establish priorities for GPAC Action.
• Each Workshop Task Group would define a short list of priorities for action in specific areas related to pollutants and/or habitats.
• Workshop #1 could also begin the process of identifying existing and/or potential point and non-point sources of priority pollutants, as well as engaging a program of direct contact with sources to solicit their participation in subsequent Stages of the GPAC Action Plan.
• Participants could also identify existing and/or potential short and long-term activities that may address habitat and pollutant priorities.

As with the first Scoping Papers, these documents will synthesize the researcher’s personal expertise, comprehensive reviews of the published and unpublished literature, and interviews with key individuals from the science community, government agencies, the private sector, community organizations, and First Nations. The relevant sectors/sources would also be surveyed about knowledge of programs in other regions that would be helpful in thinking about action plans

Each of the Scoping Papers will be a comprehensive document and will include an annotated bibliography; and list of contributing organizations and individuals.

An executive summary will be prepared for each paper and provided to the GPAC for circulation to Members. The Executive Summaries and Scoping Papers will be used as the background documents and primary references for GPAC Members. The Scoping exercise will assist the GPAC in the development of technical programs and the identification of invited speakers and participants to a Workshop intended to define further actions to reduce priority pollutants in the Gulf of Maine and to protect and sustainably manage critical habitats.

Structure:     The GPAC Habitat and Pollutants Task Groups will manage the Contractors for the Scoping Papers, and assist the GPAC with the development of the technical program for the proposed Workshop #2.

Format:    Approximately 100 persons selected for maximum interaction between sectors and disciplines.

GPAC Actions:    The GPAC Workshop Task Group membership will change in accordance with the location of the proposed Workshop. The Workshop Task Group will continue to work closely with the Steering Task Groups to develop the technical program for Workshop #2, and to identify appropriate speakers and facilitators. Facilitators from Workshop #1 will be continued, as appropriate. The Task Group will address tasks such as:

• identification and contracting of a Workshop organizer
• identification potential supporting partners for the Workshop
• sending notice of the workshop to potential participants (early July 1998)
• distribution of the Executive Summaries of the Scoping Documents to registered participants approximately one month before the Workshop
• development of a Workshop proceedings to include a description of process and documentation of outcomes(s) for broader circulation

• Using the scoping document as a guide, presentations at the workshop will establish a base of information to assist and focus participants.

• The program will allow time for discussion and information exchange by Participants.

• Working Groups will assess the adequacy of existing knowledge, identify cross-cutting issues and opportunities; assess the adequacy of current actions on issues on the GPAC priority list, develop GPAC action plans for those priorities needing additional attention and effort, and identify implementation mechanisms to advance proposed activities.

• develops annual work programs and budgets for the Council's action
• manages annual work elements of the Gulf of Maine Program
• conducts strategic planning and prepares policy options for the Council's consideration
• oversees Committee operations.

The Gulf of Maine Council has constituted four Committees, whose members are appointed by the Working Group from a geographically balanced constituency of interested parties. The Gulf of Maine Committees include:

• The Gulf of Maine Marine Data and Information Management Committee
• The Gulf of Maine Environmental Quality Monitoring Committee
• The Gulf of Maine Marine Debris Committee
• The Gulf of Maine Public Education and Participation Committee.

The Council has collaborated with six federal agencies (Environment Canada; the Department of Fisheries and Oceans; the U.S. Fish an Wildlife Service; the U.S. Army Core of Engineers; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration), as well as public and private entities, to develop the Gulf of Maine Action Plan (1996-2001). The Action Plan identifies five major goals:

• protect and restore regionally significant coastal habitats
• restore shellfish habitats
• protect human health and ecosystem integrity from toxic contaminants in marine habitats
• reduce marine debris
• protect and restore fishery habitats and resources.

Several operating criteria guide the Council in its development and implementation of the Action Plan. They include:

• Strategies for implementing measurable objectives within each major habitat goal are designed to yield both direct, achievable short-term results and long-term benefits.
• Results of actions are expected to be specific and measurable.
• Actions to be taken are built upon existing programs in order to strengthen partnerships with other groups working within the region.
• Strategies and specific actions are intended to provide information that can be made available to the public and used to promote an awareness of jurisdictional interdependence.
• Actions in the plan contribute toward a positive public identity and sense of stewardship in the Gulf of Maine and include potential for community involvement.

The GPAC has identified specific Gulf of Maine Council objectives as identified in the Gulf of Maine Council Action Plan: 1996-2001 as appropriate to the principles and objectives of the United Nations Global Programme of Action). They include:

• Gulf of Maine Council Strategy #1-1-2:    Identify Gulf-wide deficiencies in existing research, data, and information that delay the identification of regionally significant coastal habitats.

Action 1:     Conduct a Gulf-wide reconnaissance and review of existing data and information on the Gulf of Maine Council's priority coastal species.

Action 2:     Convene the region's coastal habitat experts to assess the synthesis and develop recommendations on the most expedient and efficient methods for obtaining required information to improve management of these areas.

Action 1.     Assess the priority issues/activities affecting coastal habitats (e.g. land use, land-based sources of pollution, waste disposal, marine construction activities including harvesting, marine recreation, etc.) determine the level of threat (demographics, economics, land use changes), the rate of loss, and the immediacy of need for action.

• Gulf of Maine Action Plan Strategy #3-1-3:    Support the identification of toxic contaminants that are of greatest significance to public health and ecosystem health.

Action 1. ...     convene a regional forum of ecosystem and public health managers, researchers and others as appropriate with expertise on toxic contaminants to identify the region's toxic contaminant priorities and the research required to implement appropriate management strategies.

• Gulf of Maine Action Plan Strategy #3-2-1:    Determine ecological and public health risks and develop risk management strategies for areas with the highest levels of priority toxic contaminants.

Action 3.     Determine the appropriate actions, including education, regulation, and remediation, to manage the risks identified.

Attachment B

• determine which citizen's organizations around the Gulf of Maine could benefit from the Fund, and solicit their support in helping raise monies for the Fund (e.g. through direct proposal writing and/or simply providing letters of support);
• identify major prospective sources of funding for the Fund (e.g. foundations, corporations, individuals);
• identify a community foundation that is willing to act as Fund holder and financial manager;
• produce a prospectus document to serve as the basis for proposals to funding sources; this prospectus will provide a synopsis of the problem (habitat loss and alteration); a rationale for the Fund; a list of priority habitats around the Gulf of Maine requiring study; management and/or protection; a description of how the Fund will grow and be managed over time; a description of the community foundation to hold the Fund; and a description of the members of the Endowment Fund Task Group.
• commence the fundraising effort with as many solicitations as possible during the year.