Our Mission -- The Massachusetts Ocean Coalition represents over 40 member organizations working together to build a Massachusetts Ocean Plan that balances commercial and recreational activities with conservation needs in order to ensure a healthy ocean legacy for the Bay State.
Our History -- The Massachusetts Ocean Coalition championed the passage of the Massachusetts Oceans Act, making Massachusetts the first state in the nation to develop a comprehensive management plan for its ocean waters. Now, we are working to make sure that this plan protects the ocean resources vital to the future of the people of Massachusetts.
The Coalition will work to ensure that the Ocean Plan includes specific measures that:
The Coalition will work to ensure that the Ocean Plan incorporates:
Submit comments on the development of the MA ocean plan
View videos of public listening sessions for the development of the MA ocean plan
This Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) website provides information on the Massachusetts Ocean Plan, including details about the Ocean Act of 2008, the public participation process, the Ocean Advisory Commission and Ocean Science Advisory Council, and background information on ocean planning.
MOP is a broadly representative public-private partnership created to support and advance ecosystem-based integrated multi-use management of the Commonwealth's coastal ocean resources. The partnership will work to improve the management, understanding and health of MA coastal ocean waters to ensure thriving ocean ecosystems and their continued capacity to serve vital ecological, economic, recreational and other needs. MOP's primary near-term goal is to support the development and implementation of an integrated multi-use ocean management plan for MA waters. Responsible state, local and federal agencies will develop, implement and enforce the integrated multi-use ocean management plan; MOP will provide support and coordination for this complex undertaking.
A cornerstone of the ocean plan will be input provided by the public. While the Oceans Act of 2008 mandates a public hearing process at the draft plan stage (expected to be presented in May-June 2009), it is critical for the public to become involved from the beginning. The development of ocean plan principles and the plan framework will, in part, be developed in response to public comments.
There will be two stages for the public outreach plan. First, EEA is planning 18 public listening sessions throughout the state in September and October 2008 to hear from Commonwealth citizens on their goals for the ocean plan.
The second stage of public outreach will occur following the development of the draft ocean plan, tentatively scheduled for May-June 2009.
© 2008 Massachusetts Ocean Action Coalition
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