Abstract
Volume 2 of the 2015 Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan focuses on the data and scientific aspects of the plan and its implementation. It includes these two separate documents:
- Baseline Assessment Five-Year Update: Report on Changes and Trends since 2009 - The Oceans Act mandated a Baseline Assessment as part of the ocean plan and required a review and update of this Baseline Assessment at least every five years. The 2009 Baseline Assessment constituted an extensive cataloguing of the current state of knowledge regarding human uses, natural resources, and other ecosystem components of Massachusetts ocean waters. The 2015 update to the Baseline Assessment is presented here in Volume 2. It reports on the current condition and status, as well as trends since 2009, in Massachusetts marine waters.
- Science Framework - This document provides the updated blueprint for ocean management-related science and data priorities and strategies that will support continued evolution of the ocean plan