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This morning the release of the nation's first ever regional ocean plan was announced for the Northeast region of the United States. This is a historic day and the Mid-Atlantic's own draft ocean action plan is only a month behind.
"The Northeast Ocean Plan, developed pursuant to the National Ocean Policy, was prepared collaboratively by the Regional Planning Body to build upon and improve existing Federal, State, and Tribal decision-making and planning processes in the Northeast Region." The plan will be released via webinar today at noon eastern time. You can still register for it HERE This is a great article by Rip Cunningham of Salt Water Sportsman Magazine about why ocean planning is important to the coastal regions and our fishing communities. Read it in full HERE.
"When the Coastal & Marine Spatial Planning effort was introduced, a lot of folks in the recreational and commercial fishing industries saw is as a cleverly disguised plan by the environmental community to create no-fishing zones. The reality is that the effort was and is about doing the best job possible of coordinating all the previously independent ocean development regulations. It will also give the public a voice in the development process. Direct fishing-related regulations, such as closed areas, will remain within the purview of the New England Fisheries Management Council, which sits on the NERPB [Northeast Regional Planning Body] to represent fishing interests. I have never been an advocate of building bureaucracy for bureaucracy’s sake. However, I do believe that when public trust resources are at risk, there needs to be government oversight in the management process. The NERPB’s draft Northeast Ocean Plan may not be perfect yet, but if each of us takes the time to read it and comment on it, we will continue to move it in the direction of perfection." The agencies and Tribes involved in writing the region's first ever ocean action plan have decided on a set of outreach events through the state-based Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean. Below are the events. We'll provide more information as it becomes available.
July 11: Kick off Webinar: 10:30am - 1pm EST More Info & Registration HERE Ocean Action Plan Open Houses: July 12: Virginia Open House, VA Aquarium & Marine Science Center, 6-8pm - Register HERE July 14: New Jersey Open House, Monmouth University, 6-8pm - Register HERE July 19: Maryland Open House, TBD July 20: Delaware Open House, The Virden Retreat Center - University of Delaware, 6-8pm - Register HERE July 27: New York Open House, Suffolk County Community College, Selden Campus, 6-8pm - Register HERE |
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MidAtlanticOceanPlanning.org
is a project website for the American Littoral Society. The American Littoral Society promotes the study and conservation of marine life and habitat, protects the coast from harm, and empowers others to do the same. |
18 Hartshorne Drive Highlands, NJ 07732
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