30th Annual Conference of the New England Governors and the Eastern Canadian Premiers

WHEREAS, at the 29 thConference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP) held in St. John’s,
Newfoundland and Labrador, the governors of New England formed a Northeast Regional Oceans Committee (NROC); and

WHEREAS, the premiers of the Eastern Canadian provinces joined the governors in making a similar commitment to collectively work together with the NROC to advance regional oceans issues; and

WHEREAS, the NEG/ECP formed an Oceans Working Committee consisting of the NROC and appropriate representatives of the Eastern Canadian provinces and were tasked t (i) foster international cooperation and collaboration on all aspects of marine and oceans-related research and development, education, exploration, observation, and oceans management; (ii) facilitate information exchange; (iii) seek partnerships and synergies to facilitate existing initiatives such as the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment and encourage new initiatives and partnership; (iv) address related environmental issues; and (v) provide a vehicle for cooperation on all aspects of oceans management; and

 WHEREAS , the NROC and the Canadian representatives of the NEG/ECP Oceans Working Group continue to meet with their respective states and provinces to finalize prioritization of regional issues for the councils to address.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Oceans Working Committee will focus its efforts in the short term on finalizing prioritization of regional issues for the councils to address including those related to;

   
• marine and oceans-related research and development, education, exploration, observation, oceans management and security;
   
• invasive species, disease identification and control and environmental factors; and
   
• partnerships and synergies to facilitate existing initiatives such as the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment and encourage new initiatives and partnership; and

 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT that the Oceans Working Committee will develop a long-term strategy to explore regional governance issues, such as:

   
• Monitoring and management actions to assess effectiveness of addressing regional ocean priorities; and
   
• Data Sharing, technology development and coordinated funding strategies; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the members of the Oceans Working Committee will work cooperatively with federal agencies to formulate a regional ocean plan and implementation strategy; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Oceans Working Committee report back to the next meeting of the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers on the status of these initiatives.

Adopted at the 30 th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, Newport, Rhode Island May 12, 2006.

Donald L. Carcieri
Governor of Rhode Island
Co-chair

Patrick Binns
Premier of Prince Edward Island
Co-chair