Two Working Groups formed at the July 1997 Meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee. the Pollutants Working Group (Chair – William Borland) addressed water quality and pollution issues. the Habitats Working Group (Chair – Henrietta List ) addressed habitat issues.

The following BRIEF summary represents the initiatives identified by each Working Group. Further development is required before the Ad Hoc Committee can finalize its Action Plan.

The Group determined that a priority initiative in implementing the GPA in the Gulf of Maine is the control of pollutants. The Group proposes to convene a Workshop on Pollutants in the spring of 1998, based on the following objectives:

• participation by all sectors—science (including social); industry, community First Nations, and government
• a focus on area management
• development of local solutions
• science led presentation on the state of the environment in the Gulf of Maine
• industry led presentation on problems and pollutants
• community led presentation on the sources of land based pollutants
• presentations on successes related to implementation of the GPA

A proposal to organize the event has been solicited from ACAP Saint John to be presented at the September Committee meeting. The Committee agreed to entertain other proposals as well. Funding assistance for the event will be sought from CEC and others. A short scoping paper on the State of the Environment in the Gulf of Maine will be prepared through the RARGOM group for circulation prior to the Workshop.

Members of the Working Group agreed to co-ordinate the attendance of the private, research and community sectors.

Members of the Science community in the region meet in the fall and may provide a review paper specific to multiple, local and emerging issues in the Gulf of Maine.

The Group discussed the activities currently being implemented to protect the significant coastal habitats in the Gulf of Maine. The concern arose that the protocol being used by the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment did not fully account for local-based knowledge of habitats, nor engage the local populace in the cause. The group felt that a need existed to incorporate social and cultural values as well as localized ecological value when establishing criteria for selecting coastal habitats of regional significance.

To remedy this situation, a suggested method for engaging local communities in the process was proposed. It included the creation of a nomination process through which local organizations could propose areas that they felt deserved recognition. The Group resolved to explore existing mechanisms for habitat designation and protection, and make further recommendations to the Committee.

As with the Pollution Working Group, there is a need to identify, analyze and publicize existing success stories. The components that contributed to success need to be identified and shared with a broader audience in order to expand the effectiveness of these efforts. One component already identified as a requirement for successful community-based activities is leadership. The Group felt strongly that there were many regions within each jurisdiction that did not display an adequate supply of leaders to support community-based causes. The Group proposes supporting the identification and training of leaders at the community level. A program providing mentoring, apprenticeship and direct training would be developed.

The Group discussed the jurisdictional aspirations for watershed management. There is limited understanding within and between jurisdiction on the degree of measurable success over the past five years. The Group proposes to identify successful initiatives in watershed management, evaluate their progress, and disseminate information to others.

There is an ongoing need for assistance to community groups. Concern was raised about methods to manage information and to encourage the devolution and application of knowledge from science and government to communities. As well, there is a lack of pubic access to privatized or commercially confidential information that may be beneficial to communities in resolving localized issues. The Group would like to investigate an infrastructure that would provide access to pertinent information, and support for community groups in their application of new concepts and knowledge to current issues.