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Marine Spatial Planning Flunks Its First Major Test
In the annual Maine Fisherman’s Forum the Reports that BOEM Bangor Daily News is giving wind power development projects zoning rights over other uses of the ocean resources, such as commercial fishing, all in the name of marine spatial planning:
“Paul Howard, executive director of New England Fishery Management Council, said the potential impact to commercial fishermen is too great for them not to be directly involved. He said existing marine planning programs, such as the process by the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement that has been dealing with tidal and offshore wind energy development proposals, have not involved fishermen enough.”
“Gary Libby, a Port Clyde fisherman, said there are many ways Maine’s $448 million commercial fishing industry can be affected. He asked if fishermen will have access to where offshore turbines might be located; if electromagnetic fields generated by underwater power lines would drive fish away; and if offshore energy projects would affect the presence of food sources for commercially harvested fish.”
David Wallace, of Wallace Associates, a seafood consulting firm, summed up the acidic criticisms of the fishing industry when he stated: “We do not have the opportunity as fishermen to be directly involved in the process, and that concerns me.”
In response to the concerns expressed by the fisherman, the Center for Regulatory Effectiveness, a regulatory watchdog, will issue a Regulatory Alert highlighting the deficiencies in the marine spatial planning process sanctioned by the National Ocean Council which is under the leadership of the White House Council on Environmental Quality for which staff support is provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA).
The public is invited to expess its views by placing a comment herein.
2 responses to “Marine Spatial Planning Flunks Its First Major Test”
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You know things are bad when even your friends criticize you!
The BOEMER has been trying to ram thru a plan to build windmills over more than 2,000 nautical square miles — including parts of the Georges Bank fishing grounds. Fishermen, boaters and even oil companies all have interests in the area but their calls for multiple use of the area are ignored.
The Gloucester Time recently wrote that Senators Kerry and Brown and Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts –friends of the Administration– had to challenge DoI Secretary Salazar to give their constituents more than 12 days after a “public hearing” to voice their concerns about the plan. Why the rush?http://www.gloucestertimes.com/local/x415202598/Comment-time-extended-for-ocean-wind-project
The BOEMER plan also covers U.S. waters off California, Oregon, Washington, Delaware, New Jersey, Florida, New York, Georgia, North Carolina, Hawaii, and Rhode Island.
One wonders if people in those states are also being shut out of these critical discussions? It would be good to hear from them.
Whale Lover
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Jason Busch March 24th, 2011 at 16:30
As the executive director of the Oregon Wave Energy Trust, whose mission is to promote the responsible development of ocean energy, we watch from afar the MSP processes on the east coast. To the east coast’s credit, you have begun the arduous task of deciding how the ocean will be used by multiple users. That is the task du jour. No longer is the ocean the last great public commons where individuals and companies may do as they please. Like it or not, there will be new competing uses of the ocean, and the only way to manage those new uses is through conscientious marine spatial planning.
In Oregon, we are deeply engaged with planning in our own state waters. And while it’s true that the existing users do not appreciate having to go through this process, they must be at the table to ensure their interests are represented. That’s why OWET helps fund the fishing groups to make sure they are organized and at the table. We call it the Oregon Way, but it ought to be The Way. It’s admittedly slow, sometimes contentious, and often exhausting. But it’s fair, rational, and, like democracy, the best system we’ve got.
So let your voices be heard. Insist your voices be heard. But remember, just because your voice is heard, does not mean it will carry the day. There will be other voices, and they have just as much right to be at the table.
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Anonymous March 8th, 2011 at 15:26