december 2008 - Nahant, Massachusetts USA

NAHANT HARBOR REVIEW • DECEMBER 2008 • Page 12Let’s Green Up Nahant!A forum for sharing environmental innovations and ideas that can lead to a healthier earth.SWIM’s Next MeetingWednesday • January 14th, 2009 • 7:30 p.m.Northeastern University Marine Science Center,East Point, Nahant. All are invited to attend.Petra Studio DesignsDistinctive Jewelry by Cindy MantzoukasGifts for those looking for GREAT VALUE,a WOW look-factor and shopping comfort!Call for appointment.781-595-4613SWIM Votes to Join Mass. Ocean Partnershipby Polly BradleySafer Waters in Massachusetts (SWIM) voted unanimously, at its November meeting, tojoin the Massachusetts Ocean Partnership. The Partnership is a collaborative of public andprivate groups dedicated to working for ecosystem-based management of the Commonwealth’socean waters. Joining the Partnership will enable SWIM to work for a state ocean plan that willprotect the environment, including fisheries and local communities, while allowing safe anduseful projects in Massachusetts waters.At the November SWIM meeting, Prassede Vella, an Ocean Management Specialist fromthe Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, gave an overview of the MassachusettsOceans Act of 2008 and how SWIM can become involved in ocean planning. The area to becovered by the plan is 1/3 mile from shore, to 3 miles from shore (the three-mile limit of statejurisdiction). From three miles, out to twelve miles, is under federal control. The Oceans Act is aframework and as such, will require ongoing vigilance to see whose interests are being served atany given time.The Oceans Act requires the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and EnvironmentalAffairs to develop and launch a Massachusetts Ocean Plan by December 31, 2009. A draft planmust be written by July, in order to allow time for legislative review and public comment. Thismeans that SWIM has a six-month window of opportunity, to have some influence on whathappens in Nahant waters and beyond.SWIM members have attended three meetings in Salem and Boston, to learn about the planand participate in the discussion. Among the points emphasized by SWIM:* Local communities, Conservation Commissions and ocean sanctuaries should not losetheir protections.* Mitigation money should not take the place of protecting the environment. Funding forimplementation of the Oceans Plan seems to depend too much on mitigation money, a potentialconflict of interest.* A major goal of the Massachusetts Ocean Plan should be to restore maximum, sustainableyield for fisheries, while maintaining a vibrant fishing community.* The burden of proof should be on the proponents of a project to show reasonable evidence,that it will not harm the environment, not on the state, to prove that a proposal will causeenvironmental damage.The Partnership’s Science Advisory Council will meet on December 8th, and its OceanAdvisory Commission will meet on December 11th. A meeting of the full Partnership membershipwill be held on January 29th, 2009. Times and locations are to be announced. For moreinformation, see http://www.massoceanpartnership.org. For SWIM information on the Partnership,or to carpool to Partnership meetings, call Polly Bradley, 781-581-0075;nahantswim@verizon.net.UNIQUE&RAREGIFTSMAKE YOUR LOVED ONES THE HAPPIEST GIFT RECIPIENTS IN TOWN...SEE ME...Designs by Donna LeeHEIRLOOM QUALITY JEWELRY& RARE TREASURESBy Appointment Only. 781-581-0158AT TOWN HALL HOLIDAY FAIR • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29 • 9:00 AM TO 3:00 PMHOLIDAYGIFT-GIVING