b'FOGHORN FOCUS N avigating the increasingly complex ways we use, manage, and conserve the nations ocean and coasts requires efficient access to relevant information and robust coordi-nation among governments, industries, communities, and other partners. While likely unfamiliar to many Foghorn readers, Regional Ocean Partnerships (ROPs) play an important role providing an opportunity for the maritime industry and others, to represent their interests in the management, planning, and responsible use of U.S. ocean and coastal waters. ROPs are voluntary organizations established by state gov-Transparency and public engagement ernors to coordinate coastal states, federal agencies, tribes, maritime industry, and other ocean users to advance dataTHE NORTHEAST REGIONAL andinformationsharing,supportdecisionmakingforOCEAN COUNCILplanningandmanagement,andcoordinatetoachieveNewEnglandgovernorsestablishedtheNortheastRe-regionallydefinedpriorities.Therearecurrentlyfourgional Ocean Council (NROC) in 2005 to inform and ROPsin the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Gulf Coast, andcoordinate the work of their states, federal agencies, tribes, West Coastwith the perspectives, priorities, and meth- Fishery Management Council, and regional partners. The ods defined by participants in each region. All ROPs focusinterests of marine industry are strongly represented. on data and information as well as coordination needed to advance more informed decision-making related to bothNROC and the other ROPs serve as both facilitators and government and business decisions. innovators,ensuringthatmanagementsolutionsreflect the knowledge and interests of marine industry. For ports, ROPswereestablishedbecauseeconomicactivitiesandpassenger vessels, ship operators, recreational, and other environmental issues of different scales increasingly over- maritimeinterests,NROCservesasaconduitbetween lap, cross jurisdictional boundaries, and require regionalstateagencies,federalregulators,andindustrysothat collaborationforeffectivemanagement.Forexample,maritimeinterestsareconsistentlyengaged,futureuses coastwide shipping lanes may interact with localized fish- and trends are factored into decision making, and the in-ing areas, regional offshore energy zones may affect navi- terests of other ocean uses are understood.gation routes, and trans-Atlantic telecommunications ca-bles may be proposed near local anchorages or commercialInaddition,whenoceanprojectssuchasdredging, aquaculture operations. To address these types of issues,buoymodernization,energyfacilities,submarineca-the ROPs emphasize: bles, or aquaculture operations are proposed, the avail-ability of accurate maps that illustrate ocean uses and Shared spatial data and information that help inform re- resources reduces uncertainty and supports timely de-sources, activities, and uses cision-making. Data and information acquired, vetted, andmaintainedbyNROContheNortheastOcean CoordinationacrossstatesandwithfederalandtribalData Portal provide a comprehensive picture of natural partners, depending on the region, to align ocean andresources and offshore activity for any given location in coastal management approaches Northeast waters.OceanuserengagementandtransparencysobusinessNORTHEAST OCEAN DATA PORTAL and government alike have access to the same baseline ofTheNortheastOceanDataPortalprovidesfree,us-information er-friendlyaccesstointeractivemapsanddataonthe ocean ecosystem, economy, and culture of the NortheastSupport for decision making such as permitting, plan- that have been developed and reviewed by experts in the ning, siting, dredge and disposal, energy, navigation, andregion. Over 6,000 spatial data layers outline the richness fisheries management and diversity of the regions economy and ecosystem and FOGHORN 24'