In the spring of this year, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts passed a landmark piece of legislation, called the Massachusetts Oceans Act. The bill is the first in the country to require planning for use of ocean space, including areas to be set aside as reserves. The bill, which we at The Whale Center testified in support of, is a response to the current "wild west" philosophy of ocean use, where each proposed project is responded to independently, and there is no foresight into planning for and conserving our coastal areas.
Now that the bill has passed, the state has just over one year to develop a plan for coastal waters. The process has started with a call for early public input, and a series of "listening sessions" are taking place around Massachusetts (see below for dates and locations). We urge you to become a part of this process.
This is a preliminary part of the planning process, where state legislators are looking for guidance as to what should or should not be in the plan. We feel that the following points should be heard:
- The plan should use the precautionary principle throughout. This guiding principle says that you err on the side of caution, by not allowing any projects until there is assurance that there will not be unplanned or irreversible harm to nature; - The plan should account for the abundant wildlife that makes Massachusetts so special and brings many people to its shore; - The plan should fully incorporate protected areas for endangered species, including the highly endangered North Atlantic right whale.
You can find out more about the plan at the website of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. For now, your thoughts should be e-mailed to the state office as soon as possible, but no later than early November.
Thanks for participating!
Public Listening Sessions
Fall River
Oak Bluffs (Martha's Vineyard)
October 14
Martha's Vineyard Commission, Stone Building, 33 New York Avenue
Nantucket
October 16
Nantucket High School 10 Surfside Road
West Barnstable
October 20
Tilden Arts Center Main Theater, Cape Cod Community College, 2240 Iyannough Road
Woods Hole
October 21
Redfield Auditorium, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, 53 Water Street
Eastham
October 22
National Park Service Salt Pond Visitor Center, Eastham
Worcester
October 27
Worcester Public Library, 3 Salem Square
Lowell
October 28
Pollard Memorial Library, 401 Merrimack Street
Pittsfield
October 29
Berkshire Athenaeum (Pittsfield Public Library), 1 Wendell Avenue
Springfield
October 30
Scibelli Hall Theater, Springfield Technical Community College