The Oceans Act of 2008, signed by Gov. Deval Patrick, requires the state's secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs to develop a comprehensive ocean management plan, following a scientific and stakeholder process leading to a draft plan by summer of 2009, the governor's office said.

"This is significant, one-of-a-kind legislation that sets specific guidelines for development projects in our state waters and provides safeguards for the health and preservation of our ocean," Senate President Murray, D-Plymouth, said in a statement. "We have well-established laws for the use of our land, and now we will have the necessary framework and process in place for the management of one of the Commonwealth's greatest assets -- our ocean."