The Situation
In order to develop the MA OMP, the State needed to understand the spatial patterns and societal values associated with existing human uses, and how coastal communities depend on the ocean for these uses.
The Project
Using existing data, the team mapped and summarized the linkage between coastal communities and the coastal ocean focusing specifically on commercial fishing, recreational fishing, recreational boating, and navigation. The team also made recommendations about how human use data could be improved.
Role in Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning
Human use patterns and values are a key component of CMSP
Challenges & Applications
The methods for analyzing and displaying data from existing sources in support of a marine spatial plan are transferable to other locations. Data, maps and charts used in this analysis can be employed for other planning purposes in MA, including other ocean management efforts, town planning, and economic development. Challenges to understanding the linkages between coastal communities and the ocean include continued lack of data for many existing human uses and limited studies on the values associated with these uses.
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An understanding of how coastal communities rely on the ocean, including patterns and values for key existing human uses, is vital for integrated and durable ocean planning. |
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