The Working Group

“To stand at the edge of the sea, to sense the ebb and flow of the tides, to feel the breath of a mist moving over a great salt marsh, to watch the flight of shore birds that have swept up and down the surf lines of the continents for untold thousands of years... is to have knowledge of things that are as nearly eternal as any earthly life can be.”
— Rachel Carson, The Edge of the Sea

“For the fishing industry, the Gulf of Maine is our home. That’s where most of our fishing is done and where we earn our living. we believe it needs to be protected from all the things that can threaten it. we need to work together to stay ever-vigilant.”
— Angela Sanfilippo, President, Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Association

Action Plan 2012-2017

The Gulf of Maine, including the Bay of Fundy, is a world-class natural wonder that is shared by the Provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and the States of Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Our people rely on it for their livelihoods, for recreation, and for personal renewal.

AP 2012-2017 - Goal 1

In spite of its amazing natural beauty and historical abundance of marine resources, the Gulf of Maine is a highly stressed ecosystem in urgent need of attention. Goal 1 addresses the region’s need for data, information, and partnerships to restore and conserve marine and coastal habitats.

AP 2012-2017 - Goal 2

Decision-makers in the Gulf of Maine require information to sustain human communities and to preserve ecological integrity. Goal 2 addresses the region’s need for data, information, and partnerships to ensure that environmental conditions support the health of people and the ecosystem.

AP 2012-2017 - Goal 3

Millions of people live and work in the towns and cities surrounding the Gulf of Maine in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Goal 3 addresses the region’s need for data, information, and partnerships to adapt to the changing environment.

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The Working Group serves the Gulf of Maine Council by working with Council members to develop and implement a 5-year Action Plan and shorter term work plans for GOMC initiatives. The Working Group is made up of representatives of state and provincial governments of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts; US and Canadian federal agencies including Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, U.S. Environment Protection Agency, National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, and U.S. Department of Interior; and committee co-chairs. The Working Group meets regularly to promote bi-national and cross-jurisdictional efforts toward a healthy Gulf of Maine ecosystem.

Members

Working Group Chair (2018-2020)
Theresa Torrent, Maine

Council Coordinator
Joan LeBlanc
978.866.7284 jleblanc@gulfofmaine.org

Jurisdictional Representatives

Nova Scotia

Darryl Eisan, Nova Scotia Department of Intergovernmental Affairs
902.722.5099 Darryl.Eisan@novascotia.ca

New Brunswick

Christie Ward, New Brunswick Department of Environment and Local Government
506.457.4850 Christie.ward@gnb.ca

Maine

Theresa Torrent, Maine Department of Marine Resources
207.287.2351 Theresa.Torrent@maine.gov

New Hampshire

Steve Couture, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
603.271.8801 Steven.Couture@des.nh.gov

Massachusetts

Prassede Vella, Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management
617.626.1217 Prassede.Vella@state.ma.us

Jack Schwartz, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
978.282.0308 Jack.Schwartz@state.ma.us

Federal Agencies Representatives

Heather Breeze, Fisheries and Oceans Canada*
902.426.9851 Heather.Breeze@dfo-mpa.gc.ca

Rebecca Newhall, National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration*
978.281.9237 Rebecca.Newhall@noaa.gov

Kathryn Parlee, Environment and Climate Change Canada*
902.426.1719 Kathryn.Parlee@canada.ca

Ann Rodney, U.S. Environment Protection Agency
617.918.1538 Rodney.Ann@epa.gov

Walter Barnhardt, U.S. Department of Interior
508.457.2211 wbarnhardt@usgs.gov

Committee Co-Chairs (Please refer to Projects)

W.S. (Bill) Appleby, Environment Canada
902.426.4053 Bill.Appleby@ec.gc.ca

Ellen Mecray, National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration
508.824.5116 Ellen.l.Mecray@noaa.gov

John Catena, National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration
978.281.9251 John.Catena@noaa.gov

James Latimer, U.S. Environment Protection Agency
401.782.3167 Latimer.James@epa.gov

Betsy Nicholson, National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration
617.869.9148 Betsy.Nicholson@noaa.gov

Glen Herbert, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
902.802.7051 glen.herbert@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Christian Krahforst, University of Massachusetts
ckrahforst@gmail.com

Peter Wells, Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership
902.477.3674 oceans2@ns.sympatico.ca

*Also hold a Committee Co-Chair position

Highlights

ESIP releases an exciting smartphone app: ICUC

The EcoSystem Indicator Partnership (ESIP) released a smartphone app, available for iOS and Android. [ Click here for more ]