MA Ocean Management Plan Heads Up

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

I would like to see a art. reef program, it could be very beneficial to those long stretches of underwater deserts we have in places and potentially even play a dual role of protecting the shoreline. We should look to FL and NJ as to what they have done/are doing.

This is the act that will do that. With the impending license fees, there also should be money to drive it. The more voices putting it on their radar screen, the better.

[Mr. Sandman]

When they retired the old ferry, "islander", I was pushing for them to sink it off the south shore and make it a reef/wreck and habitat for fish in an area where there is little to no boat traffic and a place where marine life currently just passes by and does not hang around very long. People looked at me like I had two heads.

[BasicPatrick]

Originally Posted by numbskull

This is the act that will do that. With the impending license fees, there also should be money to drive it. The more voices putting it on their radar screen, the better.

As a member of the DMF MA Recreational Registy Steering Committee (aka the committee developing the Salt Water License recomendations to the legislature) I can tell you that an Artificial Reef Program and the specific allowance for license money to pay for these is in the recomended language.

Numby is once again correct as the MA Ocean Plan will have to allow artificial reefs for this to happen. I will make sure I deliver that request at the "stakeholder" rep meeting next week.