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Ocean Management Progress and the MA Ocean Partnership Fund Overview

This overview outlines the developments in ocean management in Massachusetts, focusing on the MA Ocean Partnership Fund (MOPF) established in 2006. It highlights key policy drivers, evolving projects like Cape Wind and the Hubline Gas Pipeline, and the challenges faced, such as public engagement and funding. MOPF aims to facilitate collaboration among government, NGOs, academia, and citizens to enhance ocean policy and science. The document discusses objectives, initial outputs, and next steps in establishing a strategic plan for sustainable ocean management in the region.

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Ocean Management Progress and the MA Ocean Partnership Fund Overview

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  1. Ocean Management in the Bay State Capitol Hill Oceans Week June 14, 2006

  2. Overview • Policy Drivers • MA Ocean Management • MA Ocean Partnership Fund

  3. Growing Pressures • 1999 - present – Cape Wind • 2000-2004 – Hubline Gas Pipeline • 2000-2002 – Winergy • 2003-present – 4 LNG proposals • 2003-present – 2 Offshore Sand projects • 2004 – Energy Policy Act • 2006 – Buzzards Bay Disposal Site Hull municipal wind project Buzzards Bay Wind Farm Cape & Islands Tidal Energy Project • 2012 – Georges Bank Moratorium expires

  4. Massachusetts Efforts: • MA Ocean Management Task Force: 2004 • MA Oceans Act introduced: 2005 • MA Ocean Partnership Fund: 2006

  5. Information Base • Seafloor Mapping* • Habitat Characterization • Human Use Characterization* • Fisheries Use Characterization • Marine Protected Area Inventory* • Ocean and Coastal Economy* • Interagency Ocean Planning* • Energy Facility Planning*

  6. Challenges • Public awareness and engagement • Support for planning • Sensitivity in fishing community • Ad hoc approach to planning/permitting works for many • Scientific understanding of ocean • Funding

  7. What Is The MA Ocean Partnership Fund (MOPF) Now? A developing collaboration among those interested in providing leadership, funding or other support for important ocean initiatives in Massachusetts.

  8. What Will ThePartnership Be? • An independent private/public partnership to support advances in ocean policy, science, and education. • MOPF expected to have participation from: • State, federal, and local government • NGOs • Academic and other scientific institutions • Business and industry • Resource users • Funders (foundation, corporate, government, individuals, etc.) • Citizens

  9. Identifying Common Interests: • Healthy marine and coastal ecosystems • Vibrant ocean industries • Economically healthy communities • “Ocean literacy” among citizens of MA

  10. Emerging Objectives • Promote integration of ecosystem-based science into policy & management decisions • Support sustainable resource use • Foster widespread understanding of human - ocean interdependencies • Advance comprehensive ocean planning

  11. Establishing MOPF Roles • Convener of diverse stakeholders to identify & resolve difficult ocean policy & management issues. • Funder of programs & studies to advance ocean policy, science & education. • Catalyst for private/public partnership model that can be used elsewhere in the Gulf of Maine & other coastal states.

  12. MOPF Will Not: • have regulatory power or governmental status. • be a substitute for governmental funding or action. • represent any one group of stakeholders, organizations or sectors. • write an ocean management plan!

  13. How Did MOPF Get Started? • A group from MA Ocean Mgt Task Force developed the concept. • MA Environmental Trust, in collaboration with others, secured planning grant from Moore Foundation. • Planning phase through June 2007 to establish MOPF.

  14. “Outputs” For First Year: • 5-Year Strategic Plan for MOPF • Organizational form & management structure • Programmatic goals in ocean science, public education & policy • Implementation strategies • Funding plan • Science / Technical Plan • “Policy-relevant” scientific, socioeconomic & other technical information needs • Strategies for pursuing science/technical priorities • Tools for communicating priorities & implementation strategies to scientific community, resource managers, user groups & other stakeholders

  15. Objectives For First Year: • Hire Project Coordinator • Develop & implement stakeholder involvement program • Develop & implement process for preparing Strategic and Science Plans • Form Strategic Planning Group, Steering Committee & Science Panel • Procure consultant services, as needed

  16. Where Are We Now? • Hired Project Coordinator • Held initial stakeholder meeting April 2006 • Interviewing stakeholders • Developing Steering Committee and Strategic Planning Group • Formulating process for development of Strategic Plan and Science Plan

  17. Next Steps • Next stakeholder meeting July 2006 • Report findings from stakeholder interviews • Form Strategic Planning Group • Expand Steering Committee • Outline Strategic Plan and Science Plan

  18. MOPF Contact Information Stephanie Moura Project Coordinator Tel: 978-471-9078 Email: smoura.mopf@comcast.net Susan Snow-Cotter Andy Rosenberg Priscilla Brooks Robbin Peach

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