Webinar Series: Marine Protected Area Management and the Role of Federal Agencies, States and the Public

Hosted by AFWA’s Ocean Resources Policy Committee

Please join us for a webinar series on U.S. marine protected area (MPA) programs. Each webinar will feature presentations on individual federal agency MPA programs and will discuss legal authorities, program objectives, designation processes, management approaches, relationships with state governments, stakeholder engagement and public involvement. The webinars will be formatted to allow for interactive discussion and questions with the federal agency representatives after each formal presentation. Please see the attached invitation and below for more information on upcoming opportunities and how to join the discussion!

Marine Protected Areas 101

December 14^th, 2:00-3:00 ET

Presenter:

Lauren Wenzel,  Director

U.S. National Marine Protected Areas Center

NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (bio attached)

This webinar will provide an introductory overview from the National Marine Protected Areas Center to the nation’s MPA programs, including the definition of an MPA, and the different federal, state and partnership programs that manage MPAs.

How to Join

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2440866722858812417

After registering via the link above, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Please feel free to forward the information about this webinar series to any of your colleagues who may have an interest in this topic!

Contact Devin DeMario (ddemario@fishwildlife.org or 202-838-2562) with questions.

Click to Download Flyer

Click to View Lauren Wenzel's Bio

Statement from the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies Supporting the Introduction of the Chronic Wasting Disease Management Act

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies supports the introduction the Chronic Wasting Disease Management Act of 2017 (H.R. 4454). This legislation would authorize critical funding to state and tribal agencies responsible for wildlife management to implement surveillance, monitoring and management strategies to address Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Representatives Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Representative Ron Kind (D-WI) introduced the legislation on Tuesday, November 21, 2017.

“Chronic wasting disease is a fatal neurological disease that affects members of the deer family, and may be one of the biggest challenges in modern wildlife conservation history,” stated Virgil Moore, President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Director of Idaho Fish and Game. “This legislative package, if passed, will move forward and strengthen state and tribal chronic wasting disease management strategies by providing critical funding to help protect our nation’s wildlife.”

“The Association strongly supports this important legislation,” said Executive Director Ron Regan. “The state fish and wildlife agencies stand ready to work cooperatively with their state, federal and other conservation partners to address this serious wildlife health issue.”

Specifically, the CWD Management Act will:

• Authorize critical funding to state and tribal agencies responsible for wildlife management to implement management strategies to address CWD.
• Direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make grants to expand and accelerate applied research on CWD.
• Directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Interior to work cooperatively with the states to conduct research and implement state CWD response plans to reduce the spread and prevalence of the disease.

Check out AFWA's press release here.