Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve
December 18, 2019 -- 8:30 AM- 1:00 PM Agenda
January 8, 2020 -- 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
March 11, 2020 -- 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Community Advisory Board
A key component of the ABSI project is to involve stakeholders in a meaningful consensus building process for development and implementation of an ecosystem-based oyster management and restoration plan. This is accomplished through the Community Advisory Board (CAB) recently assembled by Florida State University and tasked with providing input into that initiative. The 24 members of the CAB include local government officials as well as representatives from the seafood industry, recreational fishing industry and environmental groups.
Public Workshops
ABSI will hold public meetings that will provide opportunities for people to come together to ask questions, share ideas, and identify concerns related to the FSU Apalachicola Bay System Initiative. Dates & locations will be posted here.
August 20, 2020 - Location TBD
ABSI Community Advisory Board Meets for the 1st time
Members of the ABSI Community Advisory Board represent stakeholders whose lives are inextricably tied to the health of the Apalachicola Bay System, businesses that depend on the economic stability of the county, and the agencies responsible for the management and conservation of the region. Represented are those in agriculture, real estate, economic development, tourism, environmental groups, citizens, local government, recreational fishing, the seafood industry, and state government.
With meeting design and facilitation guided by Jeff Blair and Bob Jones of FSU FCRC Consensus Center, members described desired outcomes they hoped would follow from the Community Advisory Board process, including:
- Bringing the community together to implement a plan of action to bring back a thriving Bay again with a balance of fresh and salt water
- Developing a comprehensive and coordinated management plan with state support for the Bay for multiple species looking to restore the Bay and improve the natural oyster beds
- Restoring and sustaining the Bay ecosystem, water quality and oyster fishery and connect to the broader transboundary ACF plan
- Developing a science-driven plan and implementation process
A summary report from the first meeting can be found in the section below, Materials from Previous CAB Meetings.
Meet the members by clicking here.
Reports & Past Meeting Materials
STAKEHOLDER ASSESSMENT REPORT (Sept. 2019). By Robert M. Jones & Jeff A. Blair.
ABSI COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE SUMMARY (Oct. 2019). By Robert M. Jones & Jeff A. Blair.
Materials from Previous CAB Meetings
Last Updated: Thursday, November 14, 2019 at 4:44 PM