Coastal Zone Management
August 12, 2009 in NOAA, WHOI, environmental management, oceans, policy, public, research

I know it’s not Monday but I just got super excited about an article I found online. It’s my entire summer of research at WHOI in a nutshell!

The new director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Jane Lubchenco, praised Massachusetts for implementing an ocean zoning plan (what I want to do with the rest of my life). Last year’s Oceans Act is “legislation that will require Massachusetts to develop a first-in-the-nation comprehensive plan to manage development in its state waters, balancing natural resource preservation with traditional and new uses, including renewable energy.”

Oftentimes, natural resources are depleted because of a phenomenon known as the “Tragedy of the Commons,” based on a paper published by Dr. Garrett Hardin in 1968. Natural resources like the ocean are seen as public property, like a town common in America. Everyone has access, and can use whatever space they would like. But individuals rarely take into account the actions of the many; even if they use few resources, everyone using “few resources” seriously adds up.

Long story short, too many people are taking too many fish! And not only that, but with more technology available, other operations are moving offshore. Ocean space can be used for: fishing, protected areas, recreation, dredging, wind energy, LNG terminals, and much more. This space is in high demand, and we need to figure out a fair way to say who can use what.

That’s where Mass’s Coastal Zone Management Plan comes in. All the stakeholders I just mentioned and more (hypothetically) sit down and hash out the details on a map. This should give everyone a comprehensive understanding of what’s happening in our waters. However, it may also take more time than other options like auctioning space or granting limited licenses. The paper I wrote described different, decentralized ways of deciding fair policy. (I presented this research at a poster session last December, including the story of the Bluepoints Oyster Company in Great South Bay, Long Island!).

The idea of deciding who uses what space isn’t new – zoning is essential to planning cities and towns everywhere. Neither are designating off-limits areas (national parks, anyone?). It’s just an old idea being applied to a new location.

PS I really miss Woods Hole. A lot.