Sustainable Coastal Communities: Protecting and Managing the Working Waterfront

1. Sustainable Coastal Communities: Protecting and Managing the Working Waterfront A questionnaire for Policy Makers - to assess their awareness

2. Gulf of Maine Council Action Plan Working waterfronts need to be protected and promoted Under Goal 3: Support Vibrant Communities: 3.3 Assess working waterfront awareness Short-term Outcome: “ Coastal lawmakers have increased awareness of creative approaches to protect and manage the working waterfront infrastructure that marine-dependant industries require to remain competitive.”

3. Design of questionnaires Objectives: to obtain accurate, relevant information to maximize response rate

4. Design of questionnaires Use short and simple sentences Ask for only one piece of information at a time Avoid negatives if possible Ask precise questions Ensure those you ask have the necessary knowledge Ensure an appropriate level of detail Sensitive issues Minimize bias

5. Assessing Working Waterfront Awareness • questionnaire format • on-line (least labor intensive; options include mail-in, or interviews) • Survey Monkey • short 5 to 10 minutes duration • open and/or closed questions • policy makers in each jurisdiction identified according to criteria • assesses but also informs • adaptable to any jurisdiction • a simple means of reporting results

6. Who? Criteria for Identifying Law/Policy Makers Government (federal, provincial or state, municipal, First Nations) Senior managers Influence decision-making in planning/management of: marine and coastal resources land use / sustainable communities harbor authority land tenure land value assessment business industry tourism and recreation transportation infrastructure climate change and environment

7. Questions we want to have answered: • What is the extent of knowledge among policy makers about: • a definition of the working waterfront • the importance of the working waterfront • who uses the working waterfront • what issues face the working waterfront • what are solutions to these challenges

8. How? Layout of questionnaire • Set the stage – purpose and characteristics of questionnaire; brief background on the GOMC, working waterfronts and the issues of concern • Determine initial state of knowledge • Explore awareness on different aspects • Determine final state of knowledge • Demographic questions • Closing

9. Possible content of a questionnaire

10. Introduction The Gulf of Maine Council was established in 1989 by the Governments of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts to foster cooperative actions within the Gulf watershed. Its mission is to maintain and enhance environmental quality in the Gulf of Maine to allow for sustainable resource use by existing and future generations. The Gulf of Maine Council has established an Action Plan for 2007-2012 to help guide its activities. One of the goals of the Action Plan is increase understanding about the working waterfronts in our coastal areas. Specifically, we want to increase awareness of approaches to protect and manage the working waterfront infrastructure that marine-dependant industries require to remain competitive.

11. Introduction: What is a Working Waterfront? Sites and facilities providing physical access to the sea for commercial fishing and other marine commercial activities, including other facilities and services, which may not be located immediately at the shore, needed to support these activities. The work of the waterfront includes fishing, small business, manufacturing, tourism, scientific research, the arts, aquaculture, transportation, and stewardship.

12. Determine the Initial State of Knowledge What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the working waterfront today?

13. Which of the following do you feel are important values of the working waterfront? • provides a link between land and sea • provides physical access to the ocean/sea • provides a location for infrastructure and services to marine-dependant industry • provides economic value • provides social and cultural values • provides environmental values Definite value Some value No value

14. Which of the following do you consider to be challenges facing the working waterfront in your jurisdiction? loss of working waterfront changing global and local economies changing demographics (out-migration, rural to urban) changing climate (storm surge, flooding, erosion) marine ecosystem failure (loss of fish stocks) water quality /availability (salt water intrusion) energy costs aging of infrastructure Definitely a challenge Somewhat of a challenge Not likely a challenge Definitely not a challenge

15. Which of the following do you consider to be challenges facing the working waterfront in your jurisdiction? • sales of waterfront lots to non-fishing owners • conversion of wharves to non-commercial or recreational marine uses • disputes over legal access rights • revoking permission for access Definitely a challenge Somewhat of a challenge Not likely a challenge Definitely not a challenge

16. How confident are you that users of marine resources will continue to have access to the waterfront in your jurisdiction? Are you…. • Very confident • Somewhat confident • Slightly confident • Not at all confident

17. What priority should be given to each of the following potential solutions? • Non-regulatory Options: • education about commercial fishing and working waterfronts • formation of a commercial fishing heritage trust with other coastal communities • obtain land for public water access (purchase, work with land trusts or purchase development rights) • encourage car-pooling to reduce parking problems • create fund for investments in the waterfront • hire a full-time harbor master • Implement user fees • tax policy changes A high priority A low priority or Not a priority Do not know what this means

18. What priority should be given to each of the following potential solutions? • Regulatory Options: • policies and strategies in comprehensive plan • require permits for nuisance conditions • provide fishers first right and refusal on waterfront properties • restrictions on residential uses in shoreland areas • zoning including restrictions on non-marine related uses • consider other zoning systems – performance/tiered • plan use of interior lands for water-independent uses A high priority A low priority or Not a priority Do not know what this means

19. What programs or projects has your organization put in place that may help address these challenges?

20. Determine the Final State of Knowledge What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the working waterfront today?