Advancing ecosystem-based management in the Gulf of Maine
In March 2007, more than 70 representatives from American and Canadian government agencies and non-government organizations participated in a 2-day workshop to advance ecosystem-based management (EBM) in the Gulf of Maine. The workshop, "An Integrated Ecosystem-based Approach to Regional Ocean Management: Creating a Policy-relevant Science Vision," was organized by COMPASS and convened at the University of New Hampshire. The workshop identified 7 Action Items that are essential for implementation of EBM in the Gulf of Maine. Now several Work Groups are collaborating to accomplish the Action Items.

EBM Work Groups

• Work Groups 1 & 2 (combined): Pilot Projects & Modeling
• Work Group 3: Data Access, Coordination & Dissemination of Products
  
• Work Group 4: Gulf of Maine EBM Toolkit
• Work Group 5: Framework for EBM in the Gulf of Maine
  
• Work Group 6: Communications Infrastructure
• Work Group 7: Early-Career Scientist Forum & Mentoring

Online collaboration
This website, hosted by the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment, is an online collaboration tool for the EBM Work Groups. Meeting summaries, reference documents, member lists, and other materials are posted here to make them easily accessible to everyone interested in EBM in the Gulf of Maine region. This website uses Plone software, which makes it simple for multiple people to create or update webpages, or post documents. If you are involved in the EBM Work Groups and would like to take advantage of these online collaboration features, please contact Peter Taylor.

Get involved
The EBM Work Groups are composed of volunteers from numerous government agencies and non-government organizations. The Work Groups are intended to foster collaboration among diverse interests. If you are interested in being involved or would like more information, please contact COMPASS staff members Verna Delauer (verna@compassonline.org; 603-446-3580) or Lynn Rutter (lynn.rutter@unh.edu; 603-862-0067)