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CZM Ocean Management Publications

Find summaries of and links to these publications developed by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM).

CZM has published and/or funded the following materials on ocean management, which are listed under these categories:

Table of Contents

After the Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan and Related Documents section, documents are listed alphabetically by title.

See the Ocean Management Program for details on CZM efforts to balance habitat protection and sustainable uses and activities in ocean waters and CZM Publications for the full list of materials published by CZM.

(Note: Any views or opinions presented in publications prepared for CZM are solely those of the author[s] and do not necessarily represent those of the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Please see our website policies.)

General

Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan and Related Documents

  • Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan - In response to the Oceans Act of 2008, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) issued the first ocean plan in 2009. The Oceans Act requires EEA to review the ocean plan at least once every five years, a process led by CZM. Direct links to each ocean plan version are provided below:
    • 2021 Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan - The current ocean plan was released on January 3, 2022, as the second formal amendment to the original ocean plan.
    • 2015 Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan - This version of the ocean plan was released in 2015 as the first formal amendment to the original ocean plan.
    • 2009 Massachusetts Ocean Management PlanPublished in 2009, the original ocean plan established the blueprint for the protection and sustainable use of state ocean waters. Volume 1 of each ocean plan covers management and administration, while Volume 2 presents a detailed baseline assessment and science framework.
  • Ocean Plan Data - This page provides links to information on the ocean plan data layers, along with tools for viewing and downloading the data.
  • Ocean Plan Overview - This web page summarizes the major components of the ocean plan.
  • Oceans Act of 2008 - This legislation required the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs to develop the Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan and provided specific goals and a process for plan development.
  • Ocean Management Planning Area (PDF, 5 MB) - This map shows the outline of the Massachusetts ocean planning area. A GIS shape file (ZIP, 308 KB) is also available.
  • Nearshore Ocean Management Planning Area Boundary (PDF, 1 MB) - This map shows the nearshore boundary created for the Ocean Management Planning Area pursuant to Oceans Act of 2008 for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. A GIS shape file (ZIP, 114 KB) is also available.
  • Work Group Reports to Support the Development of the 2021 Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan - The final work group reports are:
  • Work Group Reports to Support the Development of the 2015 Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan - The final work group reports are:

  • Work Group Reports to Support the Development of the 2009 Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan - Work groups prepared the following six draft reports to synthesize available data for the ocean planning area:
  • Review of the 2015 Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan (PDF, 3 MB) - Released in December 2020, this review document evaluates the 2015 ocean plan as a whole, as well as its key components including the siting and management standards, delineation of critical coastal resources and maritime uses, Baseline Assessment, and Science Framework. Additionally, this document proposes a framework for policy updates and priority science objectives to support implementation of the ocean plan over the next five years. It incorporates stakeholder input, reports on progress made to date, and was developed with and reviewed by the Ocean Advisory Commission and Ocean Science Advisory Council.
  • Review of the Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan (PDF, 2 MB) - This 2014 publication, which evaluates the 2009 ocean plan, provides a summary of the background and context for ocean planning in Massachusetts and reports on the ocean plan development process, including the policies and management framework, plan administration and implementation, and work on science and data priorities identified in the Science Framework.
  • Massachusetts Ocean Partnership-Funded Reports - In partnership with EEA, the Massachusetts Ocean Partnership (later known as SeaPlan) funded the following reports to support the ocean planning effort, which were all released in 2009:

Massachusetts Ocean Management Initiative (2003-2004) and Related Documents

Marine Habitat

Seafloor Mapping and Seafloor Habitat Mapping

See CZM Seafloor and Habitat Mapping Publications for the complete listing of these materials.

Ocean and Marine Information Collected through the Dredged Material Management Planning Process

Other

  • Massachusetts Aquaculture White Paper and Strategic Plan - These 1995 CZM publications include the information assembled as part of a study to identify how the state could proactively assist the aquaculture industry. The White Paper includes information on the biology, technology, support systems, water quality, seafood safety, legal, and economic aspects of the aquaculture industry. The Strategic Plan includes 68 specific recommendations for Massachusetts to implement to overcome constraints and take advantage of opportunities in the aquaculture industry.
  • Massachusetts Coastal and Ocean Education Guide for K-12 Teachers - CZM maintains a list of resources on ocean education with a special focus on Massachusetts-based programs and K-12 materials.

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