The FLCOOS website is no longer maintained by the NSU Oceanographic Center. This version is static as of 12/08/2006. For more current information, please visit www.marine.usf.edu/flcoos.

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WHO ARE WE? MISSION VISION SUSTAINABLE
OCEAN
RESOURCES		 UPCOMING &
PAST MEETINGS		 LINKS & PDF'S OF INTEREST PARTICIPANTS

WHO ARE WE?

Many Floridians of diverse ocean related backgrounds (including academic, government, NGO, and private) have expressed interests in the development, implementation, and use of a comprehensive and integrated Coastal Ocean Observing System (COOS). A venue was needed for discussions between members of the academic and research community, governmental and regulatory officials, and the private sector provider and user groups regarding emerging efforts to develop coastal ocean observing systems.

Accordingly, the Florida COOS Caucus (FCC) meetings originated through convening efforts of Otis Brown, Dean of the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science, Richard Dodge, Dean of the Nova Southeastern University's Oceanographic Center, and Peter Betzer, Dean of the University of South Florida's College of Marine Science.

The intent of the Florida COOC Caucus meetings has been and continues to be to provide a productive dialogue to help determine the most useful options and policy parameters consistent with Florida's diverse ocean resource and ecosystem needs. The meetings are the best opportunity to engage the scientific, management, regulatory, and private sector provider and user groups. It is not the purpose of the FL COOS Caucus meeting participants to create a formal new entity. The FCC employs a town-hall format for participants to establish the basis for, and to demonstrate the benefits of, cross-disciplinary, cross-sectorial dialogue between marine sciences and resource experts in a group setting. Caucus meetings, scheduled throughout the calendar year, help to keep Floridians informed about complex and fast moving ocean policy decision making, near-term programmatic funding opportunities and strategic interregional partnerships. Relying on fair-minded consensus building strategies, ocean issues can be debated, and various solutions and policy initiatives examined.

The first FL COOS Caucus meeting was held June 7, 2005, the second on August 2, 2005, and the third on Dec. 6, 2005. The fourth meeting is planned for Jan. 13, 2006 at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution. The fifth meeting is planned for April 3, 2006 at Mote Marine Laboratory. The sixth meeting is planned for June 20, 2006 at Florida Institute of Technology. The seventh meeting is planned for September 19, 2005 at Florida State University. The eighth meeting will be planned for December 2006 at Florida Atlantic University. The ninth meeting will be planned for either January or February 2007 at University of Florida. Further meetings will be planned as host institutions offer to support these efforts.

FL COOS Caucus meetings are based upon the efforts of the many participants and organizers. The gatherings are planned with informative guest speakers and comprehensive panel discussions. The FL COOS Caucus website has been developed to support these efforts and to help define Florida's immediate and long term interests in coastal ocean observing systems. In a world of formal meetings by policy decision makers, the FL COOS Caucus offers a fresh opportunity for open debate and public policy development important to our future and the future of the Florida coastal ocean and beyond.

MISSION

The FL COOS Caucus conducts periodic meetings to discuss the most current activities being undertaken to develop the Coastal Ocean Observing System and related integrated global ocean observing systems. A key thematic goal is to help identify Florida's common interests and to develop plans of action to accomplish specific tasks to further those interests.

VISION

The FL COOS Caucus is committed to a forward thinking Coastal Ocean Observing System (COOS), developed for the Southeastern US and Gulf of Mexico regions. These COOS related activities will be as organized as part of the US effort to participate within the integrated global ocean observing systems that is responsive to the needs of Florida users and inclusive of all areas and influences that affect the Florida coastal ocean.

SUSTAINABLE OCEAN RESOURCES

With the passage of Florida's Oceans and Coastal Resources Management Act (see http://election.dos.state.fl.us/laws/05laws/ch_2005-166.pdf , the issuance of President Bush's Executive Order establishing a Committee on Ocean Policy as part of the Council on Environmental Quality, and the releasing of the U.S. Ocean Action Plan (see the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy announcement at www.oceancommission.gov and the Ocean US - National Office for Integrated and Sustained Ocean Observations website:www. ocean.us), there is much to absorb if Florida is to play a significant role in these national undertakings and the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) efforts and the 2002 annual Report on National GOOS Activities at: www.ocean.us/documents/docs/GOOS_Regional_Report_2002_Final.doc. An example of COOS activity on the East Florida Shelf can be seen at the East Florida Shelf Information System (EFSIS)Website: http://efsis.rsmas.miami.edu, and an example on the West Florida Shelf can be seen at the Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Prediction System (COMPS) Website: http://comps.marine.usf.edu".

UPCOMING AND PAST MEETINGS

FLORIDA COOS MEETINGS

FLORIDA COOS Caucus 7: September 18, 2006, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

FLORIDA COOS Caucus 6: June 19, 2006, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL

FLORIDA COOS Caucus 5: April 3, 2006, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL

FLORIDA COOS Caucus 4: January 13, 2006, HBOI, Ft. Pierce, FL

FLORIDA COOS Caucus 3: December 6, 2006, USF, St. Petersburg, FL

FLORIDA COOS Caucus 2: August 2, 2005, NSU Orlando, Florida

FLORIDA COOS Caucus 1: June 7, 2005, Orlando, Florida


LINKS & PDF'S OF INTEREST