The Massachusetts Ocean Management Initiative

To examine evolving ocean uses and develop a comprehensive approach to managing ocean resources, Governor Mitt Romney announced the Massachusetts Ocean Management Initiative in March of 2003 and asked Environmental Affairs Secretary Ellen Roy Herzfelder to lead this pioneering effort. Secretary Herzfelder charged the Massachusetts Ocean Management Task Force with developing recommendations, which were released in the 2004 Waves of Change report. Below are links to information on the Task Force, the Task Force recommendations and technical report, proposed state ocean management legislation, the Massachusetts Ocean Education Program, and links to additional information on ocean management. Specific links to recent ocean management news and national highlights are listed on the right. Also available is additional background information on the Massachusetts Ocean Management Initiative.

• Massachusetts Ocean Management Task Force - This page contains general information about the Task Force and its members, links to Task Force accomplishments including the Waves of Change report, and presentations and meeting information.
• Task Force Reports and Recommendations - This page features links to the Waves of Change report, which includes the Task Force's 16 ocean management recommendations (PDF, 100 KB), and links to the Massachusetts Ocean Management Task Force Technical Report.
• An Act Relative to Oceans - This page provides updates on the ocean management legislation sponsored by Governor Romney and Senator Robert O’Leary.
• Recent Ocean Management Initiative Projects - Links to information, reports, and publications from projects conducted by and for the Ocean Management Initiative.
• Massachusetts Ocean Education Guide - This directory of Massachusetts ocean education resources includes field trips, speakers, curricula, publications, parent/child interactive programs, after school programs, workshops, film/video, newsletter/periodicals, library/resource centers, volunteer opportunities, and other programs designed to assist K-12 educators in teaching about the Commonwealth's ocean resources.
• Links to Additional Information on Ocean Management - This page links to information on ocean management in Massachusetts and the Gulf of Maine, throughout the United States, and around the world, as well as information on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).