Announcements:

RFP Announcement: NROC is seeking proposals for contractor assistance to finalize a web communications strategy, develop a new website, redesign a logo, develop key messages about NROC and focus areas, and create online options to collect stakeholder feedback/comments.  Proposals are due by 5:00pm EST on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 to proposal@northeastoceancouncil.org. Please review the full RFP for further details.  A FAQ and full accounting of pre-submittal questions are also available.

Meeting Announcement: NROC will hold its next meeting on May 31, 2012.  The exact location is to be determined.  Additional details including a draft agenda will be posted in April.  Previous Meetings: All notes, agendas, and materials are available for past NROC meetings under "Council Meetings". 

NROC Receives Key Funding: In October 2011, the Northeast Regional Ocean Council learned of its success in securing resources to support key aspects of its regional ocean planning framework.  With about $2.5 million in two separate grant awards from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, NROC is finalizing a two-year work plan to begin implementation on key actions including, among others:

• A stakeholder involvement process to help develop goals and objectives for regional ocean planning and to provide a mechanism for ongoing input for the process.  This will build on existing ocean planning efforts in the region, such as the Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan and the Rhode Island Special Area Management Plan, by engaging key interests (related to marine transportation, commercial fishing, and energy, for example) from the outset.
• A baseline characterization of the region's ocean resources and uses based on the best available science, incorporating the development of additional data as necessary, and developed in conjunction with the public involvement process. The region's significant scientific and practical expertise in ocean resources will be sought to support this effort.

For additional information, please see NROC's draft ocean planning framework and the proceedings of the NROC workshop - Advancing Regional Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning. 

NROC News:

• NROC releases a summary of its ocean planning work plan.  The summary is available under the Ocean Planning page or Ocean Planning Committe folder under publications.
• NROC sends letter to the National Ocean Council regarding support for National Ocean Policy.
• The Northeast Ocean Data Portal is up and running at www.northeastoceandata.org.  

NROC Members

Maine-New Hampshire-Massachusetts-Rhode Island-Connecticut

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-US Environmental Protection Agency-US Department of Interior-US Coast Guard-Army Corps of Engineers-US Department of Agriculture