FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Release 10.2
PCCS, Tanya Gabettie
508.487.3622 Ext. 103

PCCS Issues State of the Bay 2007

The document, divided into three sections, was compiled by the Cape Cod Bay Ocean Sanctuary Program, a policy and conservation initiative of PCCS. Over 40 people from 35 agencies and non-profit organizations helped shaped the State of the Bay 2007 Report and data from the '06 field season of the Center's Cape Cod Bay Monitoring Program were used to compile the document.

"The data from the '06 season suggest that during much of the year, the Bay is relatively healthy," reports Amy Costa, Ph.D., director of the Center's Monitoring Program, who composed Part I. Costa's research, however, concludes that water quality deteriorates during the summer when the population spikes.

The State of the Bay 2007 Report represents the first-ever account of the health of the Bay. "It is imperative, that over the coming years, as impacts of population growth continue to manifest themselves on Cape Cod, that the waters of the Bay are closely monitored," Costa added.

In Part II, entitled, A Chorus of Conservation, 18 essays by scientists, policy specialists, law enforcement officers, historians and teachers, share their thoughts regarding stewardship of Cape Cod Bay.

Resource managers from every town lining the Bay, from Provincetown to Marshfield voice unique concerns in Part III. What concerns a Harbormaster in one town is often wholly different than what a Conservation agent in another town is interested in.

Cape Cod Bay is a 604-square mile ecosystem stretching from Race Point in Provincetown to Brant Rock in Marshfield and is the southernmost region of the Gulf of Maine. Parks line its shore, and people use the Bay for recreation and work. This unique ecosystem is a National Estuary, a critical habitat for endangered right whales, a State Ocean Sanctuary, and four Areas of Critical Environmental Concern are located in it.

"The wonder of the State of the Bay 2007 Report lies with the generous contributors from the many jurisdictions and constituencies who are willing to devote their professional lives to this ecosystem, and tell people about what they're worried about," explains Theresa M. Barbo, editor of the Report and Director of the Cape Cod Bay Ocean Sanctuary Program. "Most of the contributors are members of the Sanctuary Program's Cape Cod Bay Council, an advisory group we value greatly," she added.

"I invite you to read and learn more about this special place in the marine world deserving of our attention, appreciation and protection," said PCCS Executive Director Richard Delaney.

Funders to the Cape Cod Bay Ocean Sanctuary and Monitoring Programs are: Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Frankel Foundation, Gulf of Maine Council, Kingman Yacht Center, Thomas P. Niles, Norcross Wildlife Foundation, Seamen's Bank Long Point Charitable Foundation, Sheehan Family Foundation, and The Sunfield Foundation.

View the entire document here.

**

**

# #

Theresa M. Barbo Director, Cape Cod Bay Ocean Sanctuary Program
Cell: 774.263.4219
Email: ccbay@coastalstudies.org