Intro
The Situation
The MA Oceans Act of 2008 required that the MA Ocean Plan be based on the best available scientific information.
The Project
EEA formed workgroups for six key theme areas to identify and analyze the data that would be used in the development of the MA Ocean Plan. The workgroups, led by State agency staff (EEA) and composed of staff from state and federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations and industry, covered the following topics:
- Fisheries
- Habitat
- Sediment
- Transportation, Navigation, and Infrastructure
- Recreation and Cultural Services
- Renewable Energy
Each workgroup developed a final report that synthesized the data available to support planning and provided recommendations on the use and improvement of those data.
Role in Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning
Credible and current scientific information is the foundation for coastal and marine spatial planning.
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The EEA workgroup reports were an essential element of the planning process— to meet the requirements of the Oceans Act, the State needed to quickly inventory and assess the data that were available to support planning. |
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