President and CEO of the New England Aquarium
By: Matthew Boger
Howard "Bud" Ris was appointed President and CEO of the New England Aquarium in September, 2005. Long recognized as one of the leading Aquariums in the United States, the New England Aquarium attracts 1.3 million visitors annually. Its pioneering programs on marine conservation extend from the Gulf of Maine to the Pacific Ocean, where it recently led a successful initiative to create one of the largest marine protected area in the world.
From August 2004 to September 2005, Bud was a Senior Fellow in the Centre for Global Insight at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Geneva, Switzerland. During his year at the WEF, he served as the primary liaison between the WEF and the United Kingdom Prime Minister's Office on Climate Change Policy. He led the creation of a climate change business advisory group for Prime Minister Tony Blair that included chief executives from twenty-five global companies from twelve nations.
From 1984 through 2003, Bud served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), first as Executive Director, and then as President. UCS combines rigorous scientific analysis, citizen advocacy, outreach to corporations, and innovative policy development to achieve its goal to create practical solutions to environmental and national security problems based on scientific data. Under Bud's leadership, the scope and reach of UCS's work expanded significantly, leading to a number of precedent-setting laws and regulatory policies at the state and national level.
From 1997 to 2003, Bud chaired a coalition of sixteen national organizations founded to support international and domestic action on climate change. He led the delegation of United States non-governmental organizations (NGO) to the international negotiations that culminated in the Kyoto Protocol. He served on the Energy and Transportation Task Force of President Clinton's Council on Sustainable Development and was a member of the Energy Future Coalition's advisory council from 2002-2003. He was co-chair of The Keystone Center (2005-2008), and is currently a director of the Heinz Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment, both of which are focused on fostering collaboration between corporations, NGOs, and government.
Prior to joining UCS in 1981, Bud directed the Hydroelectric Power Program at the New England River Basins Commission. From 1976-1978, he was a senior policy analyst in the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, where he had major responsibility for preparing the state's first Coastal Zone Management Plan. Before then, he was a Senior Associate with Roy Mann Associates, a consulting firm specializing in environmental impact assessments for public and private sector clients involved in marine-related projects.
Q.) With the passage of the Oceans Act, Massachusetts becomes the first state in the nation to legislate an ocean plan. Please discuss the importance of this legislation and the influence it can have on policies developed by other states and countries?
A.) I see this plan as being a wonderful tool in determining how to manage our ocean resources appropriately. It actually reminds me a lot of the state's efforts back in the 1970's, when we led the nation as well, in developing the first Coastal Zone Management Plan. Back in 1976, I worked for Evelyn Murphy, who served as Secretary of Environmental Affairs before she became Lt. Governor under Michael Dukakis. While there, I wrote a major portion of the first coastal zoning plan for the Commonwealth, so my knowledge of and experience with coastal and ocean management goes back quite a ways. My major responsibilities in drafting the coastal management plan focused on the sections dealing with coastal hazards and flooding. I also helped establish the water dependency use concept for designated port areas, and was involved in many of the ocean conservation issues. Our efforts in Massachusetts back then, formulating a Coastal Management Plan, really set the benchmark for other states and allowed us to qualify for federal funding.
I see a lot of parallels in what we are doing here in Massachusetts with the Ocean Management Plan today and our efforts back in the 1970's. Like then, we are leading the nation in responsible and comprehensive ocean management, and really setting the stage on how to address competing uses. What is unique about our current efforts is that we are ahead of even the federal government in doing this. So our efforts in developing this Ocean Management Plan can help influence not only other coastal states but also any federal initiative to produce a national ocean management plan.
I am happy to see that the state still takes public input very seriously. I can remember a number of public hearings on the CZM planning process in the 1970's. Today, the eighteen Public Listening Sessions that were held throughout the state to collect input for the development of the Ocean Management Plan really speaks to the state's emphasis on this being a public and open process - incorporating everyone's input. I will say, however, that it is important to continue that public participation, especially when there is a draft plan to review.
Q.) Please discuss the importance of addressing the ocean's natural resources and balancing all the uses of the ocean with marine wildlife and natural habitat protection. The Oceans Act specifically states that the plan must "identify and protect special, sensitive or unique estuarine and marine life habitats and value biodiversity and ecosystem health".
A.) Including protection of the oceans is critically important to any policy or legislation relating to the oceans. The oceans are a critical resource and it is our duty as stewards to protect it. .
There are a number of factors that I think need to be taken into account. For example, the Aquarium does a lot of work with the North Atlantic right whale, among other species. The right whale really doesn't roam out to sea further than ten to twenty miles as it goes up and down the entire east coast from Florida to the Bay of Fundy in the Gulf of Maine. The whales live in this region that we like to call the "Urban Ocean". The right whale is affected by many human activities in the urban ocean, from shipping traffic, fishing gear and commercial fishing operations, to everything human urbanization discharges into the water from land. That may be somewhat outside the boundaries of the Ocean Management Plan, but certainly migratory routes for marine mammals are within the purview of this planning process. Additionally, whales are time dependent rather than spatially dependent, so we are very pleased with the new speed limit rule that the federal government has put in place for federal shipping. This new policy restricts shipping, during certain times of year, in areas that whales migrate through. It is very selective on how it limits the shipping territory, and that may set an example of some of the things that will need to be addressed as we discuss how we utilize the ocean.
Turtles are another animal that we have concerns about. Most species of turtles are endangered and they don't stay put in any one area, and, like right whales, aren't necessarily going to lend themselves to a static map. That constant movement will pose a complex set of challenges for mapping important habitats and territories for the Ocean Management Plan.
The New England Aquarium has a lot of experience with identifying and protecting important marine areas. For example, we have been a leader in the Pacific Ocean where several large marine protected areas have recently been established. We ran scientific expeditions to the Phoenix Island (located halfway between Australia and Hawaii), in collaboration with National Geographic and Conservation International, for the past seven years. While surveying that area, we found a very receptive ear in the President of the nation of Kiribati. Kiribati was about to begin allowing commercial fishing operations over the pristine reefs found in this area, but, after following the work that we were conducting and realizing what a unique and sensitive marine coral reef system that it was, President Tong decided to put 400,000 square kilometers of coral archipelagos under permanent protection. He recognized that the long term gains from setting these reefs aside far outweighed the short term gains in revenue that would occur from commercial fishing licenses.
Q.) Prior to your appointment to the New England Aquarium, you worked on a global climate change initiative with Prime Minister Tony Blair and you were a Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Insight at the World Economic Forum focusing on climate change. Included in the Oceans Act is a provision stating that the ocean management plan will "address climate change and sea-level rise". What are your thoughts and recommendations on how the ocean plan should address this issue?
A.) I think if you research the ways that climate change might impact the ocean resources, one of the things that it will do is influence the range and distribution of species. In its simplest terms, as ocean water warms, there is a strong probability that everything is going to move north to colder waters. But, it is not quite that simple, for you need an entire eco-system that has to be viable around any specific ocean species for it to survive and thrive, and most species in the oceans are very sensitive to even small changes in temperature.
Climate change is really one of those all encompassing issues that needs to be addressed at every level. Although it may be hard to pinpoint a direct solution, every plan, whether in the ocean or on the land, should address it, and working together in a comprehensive way on the local, state, and federal level. One thing that I think is going to be very challenging is the mapping work done for the Ocean Management Plan. It will be important to make sure it is done in a fairly dynamic way, because resources and habitats most likely will change in the next several decades. Additionally, when discussing mapping, aquatic life does not conform to boundaries like "three miles off shore", they move seamlessly between state and federal waters, and that needs to be taken into account.
Additionally, climate change will have a big impact on shorelines and erosion. Now, that might be outside the geographic boundaries of the Ocean Management Plan planning area, but it is an important issue to address. It will influence real estate, tourism, economic development, access to the ocean, not to mention the numerous species and habitats that reside in that area.
Q.) Over the years, there have been a number projects proposed in Massachusetts' coastal waters, such as wind farms, tidal and wave energy, off-shore pipelines, sand mining, and Liquid Natural Gas terminals. The Oceans Act calls for "appropriate scale renewable energy facilities". What is your definition of "appropriate scale"?
A.) Climate change is a real challenge, because it is an issue that requires both mitigation and adaptation, along with strong policy measures. We need to seek other forms of energy that are less stressful on our natural environment, and a solution to that can be renewable energy. We need renewable energy, in the form of wind, tidal, or wave, although wind is probably most suitable for this region, and we need a lot of it. The question then becomes, where do we get it, and is the ocean a viable and logical place to look.
Massachusetts passed a law that I helped write as President of the Union of Concerned Scientists, which requires a certain percentage of renewable energy to be installed every year. We need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and I think the Ocean Management Plan can help determine where appropriate scale renewable energy facilities could be located. The question becomes, what is "appropriate scale" and I think that depends on the region you are looking at. Public benefits must outweigh public costs. We need to be careful not to assume that installing wind towers has a negative impact on fisheries or other kinds of marine resources. It will require a case-by-case look to determine where the best places to site renewable energy facilities are, for it is something that we as a state, region, and nation need. The Ocean Management Plan must be flexible and dynamic in how it determines the different uses in the planning area.
Q.) The Ocean Management Plan will be based on the most current scientific data. EEA Secretary Ian Bowles is advised by a 9-member Ocean Science Advisory Council. Previously, you served as the CEO of the Union of Concerned Scientists. Please discuss the importance of using scientific data to create public policy and the need for the plan to be adaptive to reflect new and future scientific data.
A.) Sound science is going to be absolutely fundamental in making this Plan work, along with updating the scientific data on a regular basis. When you have disagreeing parties who are quite polarized, as historically there have been when discussing ocean resources, one of the very few tools we have to bring those parties together is sound science. It is important to get agreement on the basic facts on which policy decisions can be made. Different parties may disagree on the decision, but at least we can get people to agree on the common which lead to those decisions.
That is something that I pride the Aquarium on. We are strong supporters of ocean conservation, and we use scientific data to demonstrate where and when conservation is needed.
Q.) Please discuss the importance of the fishing industry to Massachusetts and New England and the need to balance and address the decreasing fish populations (cod, haddock, flounder, etc.), as The New England Fisheries Management Council develops a plan to rebuild the fish population?
A.) Fishing and seafood are more than just part of the economy in New England, they are part of our heart and soul. We have an obligation and a responsibility to figure out a way to have the fishing industry succeed while also addressing declining fish populations. Over the thirty years that I have been involved with ocean work, I am saddened to see the decline in the fishing industry and the fisheries resource itself. There are obviously some success stories, such as the striped bass and some of the groundfish like haddock have come back, but it appears we still have a ways to go with cod. To add to the complexity of this issue we now have to layer in a whole new set of issues caused by climate change including acidification, which we didn't even talk about thirty years ago.
Here at the Aquarium, we work collaboratively with the seafood industry, including the Stop & Shop supermarket chain run by Ahold, Gorton's Fish in Gloucester, and Dardens Restaurants which owns Red Lobster restaurants all across the country. The focus of that program is to utilize our scientific staff to advise them where to buy their fish and where not to, based on how well those fish stocks are managed and how sustainable they are. These companies are in the process of "greening" themselves and finding ways to address the sustainability of seafood, for it is in their best interest, to keep the stocks healthy.
We are also very concerned about the lobster fishery, for it is the only fishery that has not collapsed in New England. Partly, that is because it has been well regulated. But the lobster industry may face new risks because of climate change. With the warming temperature of the ocean, lobsters may become more vulnerable to shell disease. The range of the species may also move northward, with a considerably reduced population below the "elbow" of Cape Cod. These are some of the challenges that we are addressing in our lobster research on Central Wharf.
Q.) There have been efforts to enhance the transportation opportunities in our coastal waterways for commercial and recreational use, in an effort to use this resource and get cars off our roads. What are your thoughts on how to move people up and down our coast and how it would influence the ocean itself and its inhabitants?
A.) I think the ocean and our waterways are a great underutilized asset when it comes to transportation. It gets back to climate change, and if we want to reduce emissions, we need to find alternative ways for getting people to and from work each day. We have a fledgling system here in Boston Harbor, with commuter boats to Hull and Hingham and season routes to Salem and other destinations. I think a lot more attention and marketing needs to go into these efforts to attract more riders. It is still hard to figure out where the boats dock, for example. Water transportation is one of those activities that traverse through ocean waters that we are going to have to accommodate because of the other benefits it provides, such as reducing carbon emissions and traffic congestion, not to mention it is a great way to get from one place to another. I would rather spend my time on the ocean than being stuck in traffic on the highways any day.
Q.) What are your thoughts on a national ocean management plan?
A.) With a new Obama Administration down in Washington D.C., and with a much stronger interest in the environment, conservation, and the oceans, I think we are going to find an audience for the outcome of the Ocean Management Plan that did not exist in the previous Bush Administration. So I really do think we in Massachusetts have the opportunity to set important precedents and influence possible federal action. As I said, I think the Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan can be a wonderful guide for national efforts. Our efforts in the Commonwealth will not resolve all the competing use issues, but create a framework for those issues to be addressed and resolved, and I think that is a good template for the national level. I would, however, like to see stronger conservation language in any federal initiative.
I applaud President Obama on several of his appointees, including Jane Lubchenco to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Among other things, she is one of the principle advocates for using tradable fishing rights to rejuvenate fish stocks and give fishermen a real stake in the outcome of fishery management. She has seen this option work well on the west coast and I would not be surprised at all to have that policy tested here on the east coast as well.
I think we have some really good people in decision making positions now in the Obama Administration, and I am very optimistic about what we can accomplish, both here in this state and on the national level. I will say that given all the different priorities that President Obama and his team will have to address ranging from the economy to Iraq, they have a lot on their plate. With regards to a national oceans effort, I would recommend focusing on one or two main priorities, and get them done right, as opposed to trying to take too much of a bite out of the apple. That is one thing I learned from my work internationally; focus on specific policy items and make sure that it is done correctly. Often, too wide an approach can lead to a hollow policy with lack luster results.
Q.) Over 1.3 million people visit the New England Aquarium each year to learn about the ocean and the unique wildlife and habitats in it. This provides a valuable learning opportunity, for people of all ages, to learn about the importance of our oceans and the way we can appropriately use and protect them. As the President of arguably one of the most prominent ocean education institutes in Massachusetts and New England, please discuss the importance of this plan and what it needs to achieve. How do you believe it will benefit both public policy and the overall use and understanding of the ocean by the public?
A.) The New England Aquarium exists to educate people about the oceans and to build the next generation of ocean stewards. With that responsibility, we have committed ourselves to work with others, such as the Mass Ocean Coalition, to enhance the management of our ocean waters more wisely. As you noted, we have 1.3 million people visit the Aquarium annually. That provides us with a unique opportunity to educate and entertain people on this massive natural resource and get people excited about the oceans. We encourage people to value its importance not only to humans, but to all the inhabitants that call the ocean its home.
We have a theme we call "Live Blue", which teaches people the simple things they can do in their own life, without making major sacrifices, to treat the oceans better and more wisely. These programs, and others, are ways that we engage the public and help provide opportunities to change their actions for the betterment of the oceans.
I think the development of the Ocean Management Plan is beneficial for both public policy and the overall use and understanding of the ocean by the public, first and foremost, because it brings this issue to everyone's attention and makes it a priority. The oceans are, essentially, a public resource, and it is our responsibility as stewards balance carefully all the demands that are put on it.
© 2008 Massachusetts Ocean Action Coalition
Conservation Law Foundation | Mass Audubon