Concern over competing ocean uses is growing nationwide, and some states, including California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Florida, and North Carolina, have created ocean authorities or announced plans to better manage state waters.Massachusetts has gone the furthest in creating a law – and an ambitious timeline to develop a plan for managing ocean resources.
“With this bill, Massachusetts has become a leader in ocean policy in this country,” said Leon E. Panetta, former White House chief of staff and the chairman of the Pew Oceans Commission, a national group that has called for federal ocean management reform.
