Throughout history, Massachusetts has been shaped by its maritime culture--beginning in the Colonial Era with extensive fishing and shipbuilding operations, and in later years with the growth of scientific institutions, recreation, and tourism activities. Most recently, the state has been faced with proposals for new offshore uses, including renewable wind and wave energy projects, liquefied natural gas (LNG) pipelines and terminals, and sand and gravel mining. These changing uses highlight opportunities to improve ocean management in Massachusetts--moving away from the "first come, first serve" approach historically taken with offshore project permitting, to a more proactive and coordinated form of governance. Ocean management at this scale could safeguard natural, economic, and social values of ocean resources; balance uses; and promote access to, and protection of, valuable public trust resources.

The Massachusetts Ocean Management Initiative and Task Force

The Massachusetts Ocean Management Initiative was launched in 2003, making Massachusetts the first state in the nation to attempt to plan for multiple ocean uses. To spearhead the initiative, the Massachusetts Ocean Management Task Force was appointed in June of 2003. The Task Force met more than 30 times over 10 months, held six public meetings, and received more than 300 public comments before concluding their work in March, 2004.

Background Information Provided to the Task Force

In July, 2003, a two-day workshop was held to provide the newly created Task Force with background information and an opportunity to identify issues to be addressed. For a summary of the workshop and links to PDF copies of the presentations, click here.

Task Force Final Report and Recommendations

In March, 2004, the Task Force released Waves of Change: The Massachusetts Ocean Management Task Force Report and Recommendations. The 16 recommendations (PDF, 100 KB) forwarded by the Task Force focus on strengthening state agencies to address environmental, planning, and public trust issues in both state and federal waters; establishing an ecosystem-based protocol to improve management of federal waters; and initiating ocean education and stewardship initiatives. Implementation of these recommendations will allow Massachusetts to more appropriately plan for future ocean uses.