Collaborative Management Strategy for the Gulf of Maine Atlantic Salmon Recovery Program

The collaborative management strategy (CMS) establishes a system of governance that describes the working relationships between the two Federal agencies (USFWS and NOAA-Fisheries), Maine Department of Marine Resources (MDMR), Penobscot Indian Nation (PIN) and stakeholders. Its purpose is to facilitate the implementation of the 2019 Final Recovery Plan and establish a platform for effective communications, transparency and decision making. 

Basic Structure of the CMS

Policy Board:  Senior level management within each of the three agencies and the tribe that engage on an as needed basis (High level decision making and dispute resolution on issues that cannot be resolved at the Management Board level). 

Implementation Team (IT): The IT serves to oversee the implementation of the CMS. This includes evaluating activities necessary to implement the recovery actions in the Recovery Plan; formulating recovery priorities for Atlantic salmon; identifying and establishing the charge for standing committees and Ad Hoc committees; providing support and direction to Salmon Habitat Recovery Unit (SHRU) Teams to ensure resources are committed in a transparent and defensible manner; and ensure the effective implementation of the Collaborative Management Strategy as it is described in the CMS guidance document. The IT is composed of a 4-member management board representing the two federal agencies, MDMR and the PIN along with an additional supporting member from each agency, the SHRU Team Chairs, a science liaison and an administrative coordinator.

• Management board: The management board is composed of mid-level managers representing the 2 federal agencies, MDMR and the PIN. The Management Board members serve as the one voice for their respective agency when agency positions need to be established. 

SHRU Teams:  SHRU Teams are responsible for the planning, coordination and tracking of recovery efforts in their SHRUs. This includes: stakeholder collaboration; project identification and prioritization; identifying key areas for conservation; coordinating project implementation; maintaining SHRU work plans; developing stocking recommendations; tracking recovery progress; and annual reporting. 

SHRU Teams are made up of agency staff and stakeholders. Within each SHRU Team is a Coordination Committee that includes up to two staff members from each of the agencies and the PIN.  

Ad hoc and standing committees:  Committees can be formed by the management board to address specific issues and provide information to the implementation team or SHRU teams to help inform planning and decision making. Ad Hoc committees are short-term assignments whereas standing committees are long-term assignments.

More details about the organizational structure of the CMS can be found in Collaborative Management Strategy guidance document.

CMS Agency and Tribal Representatives

Implementation Team (*Chair)

Downeast Coastal SHRU Coordinating Committee (*Chair)

Merrymeeting Bay SHRU Coordinating Committee (*Chair)