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Charge To Workgroups
Global Considerations
Workgroups provide the opportunity for a diverse group of stakeholders (management, industry and researchers) to develop consensus on the most fruitful areas for investments in oyster research. To be most effective, please consider the guidelines below - the success of these workgroups and the goals of this meeting will be in the sharing of your expertise and the written recommendations you prepare.
All workgroups should address the following general questions:
- How should NOAA focus its investment in oyster research in the coming years?
- With limited resources, what are the most effective uses of funds?
- Are new priorities important enough to replace current ODRP/GOIP priorities?
As each workgroup considers these and the more specific issues outlined below, please keep in mind the following guidelines:
- Please work diligently to come to consensus on priorities-credibility will be best served by making hard choices.
- Please try to articulate different approaches and recognize the needs of different geographic regions.
- Please be able to justify recommendations and priorities.
- If minority opinions exist, please represent them accurately.
- Everything should be on the table!
Monday Afternoon Workgroups
The first workgroup session should accomplish at least one important task: each workgroup should define a common goal or set of goals and should articulate them in a clear, concise goal statement. Your ability to agree on this statement is critical as it will serve as the basis for your detailed discussions on Tuesday. Facilitators and rapporteurs will present goal statements on Tuesday morning. In general terms these statements should:
- Have sufficient detail and include major issues for key stakeholders.
- Should recognize different regional priorities
- Should lead to discussions that:
- Articulate research needs (short, medium and long-term)
- Identify emerging areas and research frontiers
- Explore new paradigms for conducting research
- Examine partnerships and opportunities for leveraging funding, expertise inside and outside NOAA
- Articulate research needs (short, medium and long-term)
Tuesday Morning Workgroup Sessions
The bulk of discussions and development of priorities will likely take place during the morning sessions. Starting with the goal statements and the brief list of questions provided below (please do not be limited by these questions), workgroups should develop key issues and explore possibilities. The workgroups should be able to produce a draft list of priorities by lunchtime - facilitators will be asked to present a brief (5 minute) update to all participants during lunch.
Tuesday Afternoon Workgroup Sessions
The final workgroup sessions should be used to complete a written listing of priorities and rationales. Participants should include sufficient detail to provide a defensible rationale. We recognize that this effort is being conducted within a very short time and anticipate that the final products will be concise and focused.
Tuesday Afternoon Plenary Session
Workgroups will present their final priorities and rationales to all participants. We'll reserve about 15 minutes for each presentation with additional time for questions and comments for all the participants. Final reports may be presented by the facilitator or by an individual designated by the workgroup.
Final Product of the Meeting
Facilitators and rapporteurs will provide the meeting organizers with written copies of the final workgroup reports. In addition, they will also provide workgroup notes and ensure that minority opinions are represented. The organizers will collate and edit these to develop a final summary meeting document that will be circulate among all participants for comment. The final product will be presented to NOAA Sea Grant and will be widely distributed.
Specific Questions For Workgroups
The following questions are presented as a starting point for discussions in individual workgroups. Workgroups may choose to address some or all of them and will most certainly develop others to spark discussion and catalyze the development of research priorities.
Workgroup 1. Oyster Fisheries Management and Restoration
What are the key research areas that will directly impact restoration efforts?
What are the key research areas that will directly impact management efforts?
How should NOAA Oyster demonstration projects (restoration and/or management) be linked to ODRP/GOIP research efforts.
What is needed to speed the development of specific oyster strains being developed for aquaculture and restoration and what steps must be taken to foster their use as restoration and management tools?
- What are the considerations for C. ariakensis in this context?
What priority should be placed upon research to understand ecological benefit of management and restoration efforts?
Workgroup 2. Genetics and Oyster Populations
What are the key research areas that will directly impact restoration efforts?
What are the key research areas that will directly impact management efforts?
What new tool and technologies should ODRP support to further genetic studies
What is necessary for the production of a disease-resistant native oyster through selective breeding or within 5-7 years?
To what extent should research be directed to genetic manipulation studies?
Workgroup 3. Frontiers in Disease Research (MSX, Dermo and other Oyster Diseases)
What are the key research areas that will directly impact restoration efforts?
What are the key research areas that will directly impact management efforts?
Are there emerging diseases that are not well understood and hence require a new research investment?
What new tool and technologies should ODRP support to further disease studies
With regard to MSX and Dermo, what are the priority research needs for interactions between oyster and the disease causing organisms and what new approaches should be fostered?
Workgroup 4. Public Health and Processing
What are the key research areas that will directly impact restoration efforts?
What are the key research areas that will directly impact management efforts?
What investments in the development of new technologies for detecting and monitoring human pathogens would be most useful at this time?
Are there emerging public health risks that are not well understood and hence require a new research investment?
What new or innovative post-harvest processing innovations for oysters should be investigated?
What must be done to bring new post-harvest processing technologies into regulatory and commercial acceptance?
Workgroup 5. Aquaculture and Hatchery Issues
What are the key research areas that will directly impact restoration efforts?
What are the key research areas that will directly impact management efforts?
What research is most important to improve hatchery efficiency, yields and economic viability?
What research will be needed to assess the feasibility of hatcheries to lead to sustainable populations?
What research is needed to examine feasibility of commercial oyster aquaculture on the East Coast?
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