West Coast Forum 2011

The 2011 West Coast Forum at Stanford University explored the topic of coastal and marine spatial planning (CMSP) and the role of the Regional Fishery Management Councils (Councils) in multi-sector spatial planning. The Fisheries Forum welcomed seventeen Council members, Council Executive Directors, and Council staff representing seven of the eight Council regions, state and federal agency officials, as well as commercial and recreational fishing interests. The Forum also included experts from a broad range of disciplines and regions.

Councils are well positioned to provide information and policy guidance regarding the spatial interests of fisheries relative to siting and planning for other ocean uses to regional planning bodies, state and federal agencies, other industries, sectors and stakeholders. The curriculum of the Forum examined how Councils can engage constructively in CMSP as envisioned by the national policy and multi-sector spatial planning more generally. The specific learning objectives of the Forum included:

• Clarifying challenges and opportunities in the current management framework to facilitate a greater understanding of the impetus behind CMSP;
• Enhancing awareness of the scientific and governance principles, characteristics and goals of CMSP;
• Exploring how the fisheries sector and in particular, the Regional Fisheries Management Councils can contribute to and benefit from CMSP; and
• Identifying current management tools and means by which fishery managers may engage constructively in multi-sector spatial planning with or without a formal framework for CMSP.

Participants included 17 council memebers, council executive directors and staff from seven of the eight regional fishery management councils.