East Coast Climate Coordination Group

 
 

The East Coast Climate Coordination Group (E3CG) was formed in 2023 to oversee implementation of climate-related actions associated with the East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning Initiative. The leadership-level group is responsible for tracking progress toward implementation of those potential actions, coordinating priorities, estimating needed resources, and supporting collaboration and coordination.


Objectives and Roles:

  • Ensure actions are prioritized, jointly and by individual management organizations

  • Assess and allocate resources available from participating groups to address issues (including monetary and staff resources)

  • Ensure joint/cooperative actions are executed in a coordinated manner, including identifying and tasking the appropriate group(s) to address each action

  • Review and consider information provided by the Climate Core Team on trends in the fisheries and suggested actions

  • In cooperation with the Climate Core Team, identify opportunities for external support and partnerships to address actions, as appropriate

  • Populate and provide guidance to the staff-level Climate Core Team, including tasking and directing on information needs and projects as needed beyond routine Innovation Group tasks


Membership

The E3CG includes one leadership-level member from each participating organization. The chair and host of meetings will rotate among organizations on an annual basis.

  • Michael Pentony (Chair) – Regional Administrator, NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Office

  • Cate O’Keefe, Ph.D. – Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council

  • Christopher Moore, Ph.D. – Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council

  • John Carmichael – Executive Director, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

  • Robert E. Beal – Executive Director, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

  • Clay E. Porch, Ph.D. – Science and Research Director, NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Center

  • Jon Hare, Ph.D. - Science and Research Director, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center

  • Andrew Strelcheck – Regional Administrator, NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office

Meetings

The E3CG meets at least twice per year, with one meeting occurring in the summer to inform each organization’s priority setting processes. Intersessional meetings are held as needed.


East Coast Climate Core Team

The East Coast Climate Core Team is a staff-level group that was formed to support the E3CG. Specific responsibilities include tracking important ecosystem and fishery changes, identifying potential associated management and governance challenges, and identifying possible actions for consideration by the Climate Coordination Group.

Core Team Members

The East Coast Climate Core Team consists of staff from each of the three East Coast Councils, the Commission, the Greater Atlantic and Southeast Regional Fisheries Offices, the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, and NMFS Headquarters. The chair of the core team will rotate annually, consistent with the rotating chair schedule of the E3CG.

  • Travis Ford (Chair), NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office

  • Michelle Bachman, New England Fishery Management Council

  • Kiley Dancy, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council

  • Kathleen Howington, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

  • Toni Kerns, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

  • Moira Kelly, NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office

  • Joe Caracappa, NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center

  • Karla Gore, NMFS Southeast Regional Office

  • Wendy Morrison, NMFS HQ Office of Sustainable Fisheries

Contacts

For additional information about the East Coast Climate Coordination Group or the East Coast Climate Core Team, please contact Travis Ford (travis.ford@noaa.gov) or Kiley Dancy (kdancy@mafmc.org).