Vol. 2, No. 4 Contents Headline Back Issues Fall 1998
|
Gulf of Maine Council anniversary Maine State Planner
Given this backdrop, people from our region and elsewhere called us naive. "To think you will sort through all of this competition and find a way for Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia to work cooperatively is sheer folly," was one comment. Even one of our initial US government requests for planning funds was returned with negative comments. As we all know, the pessimists have been proved wrong. It is both rewarding and inspiring to look back over the first 10 years of the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment. At a 1989 international conference in Portland, the Governors and Premiers from the states and provinces signed their first cooperative agreement, pledging to work together to manage "one of the world's most productive ecosystems." This conservation agreement called for the preparation of a 10-year natural resources action plan and formation of an international council to oversee its implementation. During this period, we have shown how two countries and five states and provinces can work cooperatively and effectively together on a range of issues and projects. Of course, it isn't just the Council that has been working on behalf of the Gulf of Maine over the past decade. More and more people throughout the region are viewing the Gulf as an interconnected ecosystem, and are dedicating their lives to taking good care of it. We see this each year when the Council asks for Visionary Award nominations. It is overwhelming to see the number of high-quality nominations for individuals, businesses, and organizations that have committed years of effort to conserve, protect, and restore the Gulf's natural resources. People living and working in the Gulf of Maine watershed are indeed making a difference. Despite past successes, significant challenges remain for the Council and all who care for the Gulf of Maine. Conserving coastal habitats, addressing toxic contaminants in the food chain, reducing marine debris, improving water quality, and protecting important fisheries habitat are Gulf-wide issues we must address. The Council's first 10 years have been rewarding, but we must strive to be even more effective. The eyes of the world are watching to see how our international partnership works. |
||||||||||
PDF Version
When representatives from the five states and provinces bordering the Gulf of Maine first met in 1988 to discuss common issues affecting the Gulf of Maine, we quickly realized that although we lived in different countries and had different forms of government, we shared the same desire to wisely manage our shared marine resources. Sure, we were well aware of our differences on a range of issues such as trade and the ownership of Georges Bank and its world-class fishery but we were determined to overcome them.