On Tuesday, Nov. 17, NMSF hosted a lunch briefing on “The Role of National Marine Sanctuaries in Marine Spatial Planning,” coordinated in conjunction with the National Marine Sanctuary Caucus.

A panel of speakers from academia, government, industry, and non-governmental communities discussed what marine spatial planning (MSP) is and is not, and how national marine sanctuaries are examples of how this tool is being used already in the U.S. Details of such examples were provided from the various perspectives of people familiar with these areas. Connections were also drawn to the relevant mandates within the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA), and how strengthening NMSA could improve MSP in sanctuaries and further the goals of the Obama Administration and the 111th Congress in regards to this issue.

Speakers included Jack Sobel (ONMS/HQ), Bill Douros (ONMS WCR Director), Steve Gaines (UCSB) and Sean Cosgrove (Conservation Law Foundation). Brief remarks were be made by Jason Patlis, NMSF President & CEO and Rep. Lois Capps, Co-Chair of the NMS Caucus. After the presentations, there was a robust set of questions and answers of the panel to round out the briefing.

Speakers Bios & Presentations