CZM Programs

Find an overview of the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) program areas and other related programs and partnerships.

CZM's mission is to balance the impact of human activities with the protection of coastal and marine resources through planning, public involvement, education, research, and sound resource management. To achieve these goals, as well as to meet the needs of municipal officials, property owners, educators, and others in the coastal community, CZM maintains a variety of programs.

CZM Programs

CZM's major program efforts include:

• Coastal Habitat
• Coastal Water Quality
• Communications
• CZM Regions
• Federal Consistency Review
• Mapping and Data Management
• Marine Invasive Species
• Ocean Management
• Port and Harbor Planning
• Public Access and Coast Guide
• Seafloor and Habitat Mapping
• StormSmart Coasts - Managing Erosion and Flooding

Related Programs and Partnerships

CZM also works with two National Estuary Programs (NEPs):

• Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program (formerly the Buzzards Bay Project)
• Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Partnership

In addition, CZM hosts the Massachusetts Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources, which is charged with encouraging the discovery and reporting, as well as the preservation and protection, of underwater archaeological resources.

CZM also participates in several Regional Ocean Partnerships.