National Ocean and Coastal Mapping Strategic Action Plan Workshop

February 26 - 28, 2008

Executive Summary

The Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology (JSOST) established the Interagency Working Group on Ocean and Coastal Mapping (IWG-OCM) in response to findings of the U.S. Ocean Action Plan and the 2004 National Research Council assessment of national coastal zone mapping and charting activities. The IWG-OCM seeks to facilitate the coordination and leveraging of data collection and mapping resources across the Federal sector as well as with State, industry, academic, and NGO mapping interests.

To guide collaborative efforts over the next three to five years, the IWG-OCM sponsored a three-day workshop in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in February 2008 to begin development of a National Ocean and Coastal Mapping Strategic Action Plan. The 33 invited workshop participants represented various Federal and State agencies, academia, and regional, industry and professional organizations. Plenary workshop sessions were open to the public.

The IWG-OCM Co-chairs presented highlights of Federal ocean and coastal mapping activities. Representatives from Massachusetts, Florida and California provided a snapshot of current data collection and mapping activities, best practices and challenges. All presenters identified coordination, collaboration, and partnerships as keys to successful past and future efforts.

Workshop participants then agreed on the assumption that the National OCM Community is a powerful force in advancing national ocean and coastal mapping. It was recognized that each agency or organization is dedicated to its own mission and the work to achieve that mission. However, it was further recognized there is substantial common ground and by working together the community can leverage programs, share expertise, avoid duplication and better meet the needs for ocean and coastal mapping information and products.

Participants reached consensus on the core purpose of the community: to promote the efficient and effective development and application of ocean and coastal data collection and mapping to support informed decision-making. Three major initiatives were identified to move forward as a collaborative effort of the OCM Community. Each initiative was then explored and developed further. High-level action plans were developed that focused on objectives, priorities, resources, success factors, challenges, and next steps.

1. Model of Success - Develop a scalable project-oriented model that demonstrates the benefit of an integrated coastal and ocean mapping (IOCM) approach. Concurrent working groups focusing on development of a collaborative model and demonstration of a multi-agency integrated ocean and coastal mapping project are being established.
2. Tool Development - Identify and develop tools required to promote the efficient and effective use of ocean and coastal mapping to support informed decision-making. The first priority is to work to promote and develop the OCM national registry to include desired, proposed, planned, and completed data collection activities.
3. Community Building - Increase awareness, build advocacy, and support implementation of IOCM. An outreach working group is being established to implement the actions emerging from this initiative.

In addition, representatives from four Federal mapping agencies are drafting the National Ocean and Coastal Mapping Strategic Action Plan using, in part, the results of the workshop. The plan will be available for review in early June.