West Coast Ecosystem-Based Management Network

Organization Description

The West Coast Ecosystem-Based Management Network is a partnership of five community-based initiatives focused on the successful implementation of ecosystem-based management (EBM) along the coasts of Washington, Oregon and California, formed in late 2008.

Each of the network's member sites has begun implementing ecosystem-based approaches to management in their local area, and taken steps towards substantive progress in demonstrating the realization of EBM for their local ecosystem and community.

Currently, the Network is organizing itself into a robust collaboration to further the progress of EBM throughout the West Coast and successful community-supported management of coastal ecosystems. This includes:

•developing into a learning network among the groups

•progress towards identifying key steps towards “real-world” ecosystem-based management

•identifying opportunities to enhance their approaches

•collaboration with:

-West Coast Governors’ Agreement on Ocean Health

-EBM Tools Network

-NOAA Coastal Services Center

-Surfrider Foundation

-and other partners

The Network’s member initiatives continue to pursue connections with policy and management activities in their respective states, while also beginning to examine potential links to regional and national policy developments related to ocean and coastal management, with a link to EBM.

The Network plans to further develop its role in identifying, utilizing, and promoting the most effective mechanisms to implement ecosystem-based management approaches in coastal communities on the West Coast. The Network will also continue to pursue the development of EBM principles in management policies at the local, state, regional and federal levels.