Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan

SeaWeb/National Press Club

MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental AffairsIan A. Bowles, Secretary

Deerin Babb-Brott, Asst. Secretary for Ocean and Coastal Zone Management

Oceans Act of 2008• Mandated development of comprehensive, integrated

plan on short timeline

• Set Policy Framework: the “oceans 15”

• Excludes fisheries management from plan jurisdiction

• Requires projects to be consistent with the plan and that the plan be adopted under the state coastal zone management plan

• Establishes impact mitigation fee and trust fund

Process Elements

• Workgroups – data, analysis, mapping

• Stakeholders – data, issues

• Policy/science advisory bodies

The plan shall:

Governance

…set forth goals, siting priorities and standards for ensuring effective stewardship of its ocean waters held in trust for the benefit of the public

…identify appropriate locations and performance standards for activities, uses and facilities allowed under the Ocean Sanctuaries Act

Human use

…reflect the importance of the waters to its citizens who derive livelihoods and recreational benefits from fishing

…foster sustainable uses that capitalize on economic opportunity without significant detriment to the ecology or natural beauty of the ocean

Ecosystem components

…identify and protect special, sensitive or unique estuarine and marine life and habitats

…value biodiversity and ecosystem health

Six of the “oceans 15”

15 requirements of the ActGOALS

• Balance and protect the natural, social, cultural, historic, and economic interests of the marine ecosystem

• Recognize and protect biodiversity, ecosystem health, and the interdependence of ecosystems

• Support wise use of marine resources, including renewable energy, sustainable uses, and infrastructure

• Incorporate new knowledge as the basis for management that adapts over time to address changing social, technological, and environmental conditions

OUTCOMES• Integrated ocean

management plan

• Special, sensitive, unique resources identified and protected

• Areas and management standards for renewables and other uses

• Blueprint for Plan 2.0: science, stakeholder, policy/management adaptive frameworks

STRATEGIES

Commercial fishing activity Recreational activity

Navigational usesInfrastructure

Special, Sensitive or Unique Resources

• Marine mammals• Avifauna• Seafloor features• Fish, crustaceans and shellfish

Ocean Plan Management Areas:• Prohibited-13%• Renewable Energy-2%• Multi-use-85%

Wind Energy Siting

Multi-Use Area

• New regulatory siting standard under MEPA:

• Specified uses presumptively excluded; presumption may be overcome by a clear demonstration:

• No less environmentally damaging practicable alternative

• Public benefits associated with the proposed project clearly outweigh the public detriment to the SSU resource

Resources and usesfor

telecommunication & electric cables

Resources and usesfor

pipelines

Resources and usesfor commercial tidal

energy facilities

Resources and usesfor sand/gravel

extraction

Science Framework

• Further characterize spatial patterns of uses

• Complete high-resolution seafloor mapping

• Habitat characterization/EVI

• Assess potential climate change effects on ocean ecology 

Plan available on-line at mass.gov/eea