[Coral-List] NOAA Fisheries Climate Regional Action Plans - Opportunity for Comment

[Jennifer Schull - NOAA Federal]

Greetings,

NOAA Fisheries is pleased to invite public comment on seven draft 2022-24
Climate Regional Action Plans (RAPs). We are interested in your input on
the draft RAPs, and in particular the Southeast RAP, including comments on
the clarity of the goals and activities, ways to strengthen the plans, and
what additional goals and activities need to be addressed. The draft RAPs
address a full range of climate vulnerable resources, including corals.
Submitted comments will be considered in development of the final RAPs.
Information on the draft RAPs and the call for public input is available on
the NOAA Fisheries website
<https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/climate/climate-science-strategy-regional-action-plans>
.

The draft RAPs are three year, coordinated, cross-agency efforts to
increase implementation of the NOAA Fisheries Climate Science Strategy
(NCSS)
<https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/climate/noaa-fisheries-climate-science-strategy>
in the Northeast, Southeast, Pacific Islands, West Coast and Alaska
Regions. The draft RAPs are designed to provide decision-makers with tools
and actionable information to prepare for and respond to climate-related
changes in marine and coastal ecosystems. They include specific goals and
actions to increase the production, delivery and use of climate-related
information to support effective decision making. The proposed actions will
help track changes, assess risks, provide early warnings, and evaluate
management strategies for changing conditions in each region.

The draft RAPs were developed by Regional Teams from NOAA Fisheries Science
Centers and Regional Offices, with input from a variety of internal and
external sources. The Teams conducted a 5-year progress report on
implementation of the NCSS
<https://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/content/tech-memo/noaa-fisheries-climate-science-strategy-five-year-progress-report>,
and used that and other information to identify existing needs and specific
actions to advance climate-informed decision making over the next three
years. The Teams also used public input on how to increase the resilience
of fisheries and protected resources to climate change
<https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/give-us-your-input-making-fisheries-and-protected-resources-more-resilient-climate>
in development of the draft RAPs pursuant to Executive Order 14008 (Sec
216c).

Thank you for your input and support for this important effort to be
climate-ready, as we continue to work to protect and recover corals and
coral reefs.


Thank you.
-- 
Jennifer Schull

Chief, Coral Conservation Branch

Southeast Regional Office, Protected Resources Division

NOAA Fisheries | U.S. Department of Commerce

Office: (561) 440-1748, Cel: (786) 367-4117

www.fisheries.noaa.gov