Massachusetts Ocean Management Task Force

To spearhead Governor Mitt Romney's Massachusetts Ocean Management Initiative, Environmental Affairs Secretary Ellen Roy Herzfelder appointed the Massachusetts Ocean Management Task Force in June of 2003 and charged them with investigating ocean use trends and existing governance mechanisms; drafting recommendations for administrative, regulatory, and statutory changes; and developing ocean management principles that address the pace and complexity of today's opportunities and challenges. Below are links to general information on the Task Force; the Task Force reports and recommendations; and Task Force meeting information.

General Information on the Task Force

The Massachusetts Ocean Management Task Force was chaired by Dr. Susan F. Tierney and included 22 members (state and local officials and private individuals representing diverse ocean user groups). The Task Force met between June 2003 and March 2004.

• 2003 press release announcing the Task Force (PDF, 123 KB)
• Task Force member biographies
• Secretary Herzfelder's charge to the Task Force
• Additional background information on the Massachusetts Ocean Management Initiative

Task Force Reports and Recommendations

In March of 2004, after nine months of concerted effort, the Task Force released the Waves of Change report (which includes 16 recommendations for proactively managing ocean resources) and the accompanying Massachusetts Ocean Management Task Force Technical Report.

• Massachusetts Ocean Management Task Force reports and recommendations
• Summary of the Task Force's 16 ocean management recommendations (PDF, 100 KB)
• Press Release on the Task Force final recommendations (PDF, 175 KB)
• Public comments on the Task Force reports and recommendations

Task Force Meeting Information

The Task Force held a series of meetings featuring presentations and discussions of key ocean management issues. Links to meeting summaries and presentations are provided below.

• February 26, 2004, meeting summary
• January 27, 2004, meeting summary
• December 19, 2003, meeting summary
• November 24, 2003, meeting summary
• October 17, 2003, meeting to solicit input from interest groups
• September 15, 2003, meeting summary
• September 5, 2003, meeting summary
• July 30-31, 2003, workshop summary
• July 30-31, 2003, workshop presentations
• Issues identified at the July 30-31, 2003, workshop
• June 17, 2003, meeting summary