Sec. B-3. Staffing assistance; technical assistance. The Executive Department, State Planning Office and the Department of Marine Resources shall provide staff services to the council. The council may also seek or contract for technical assistance from any other agency or institution and any individual or group that it determines appropriate to support the study.

Sec. B-4. Issues to be considered. In developing its recommendations on bay management, the council shall:

1. Establish definitions, principles, goals and objectives for bay management in the State;

2. Drawing on national and international examples, define a range of approaches for bay management that is feasible for use in Maine;

3. Establish clear criteria and standards for bay management, including guidelines to inform voluntary planning efforts by citizen groups;

4. Identify data and information needs, mapping needs and information transfer needs for bay management;

5. Identify authorities that govern near-shore waters and identify changes needed to regulatory structures, including but not limited to statutes, regulations and grant programs;

6. Identify opportunities to create limited local authority for bay management; and

7. Identify state, local and volunteer resources and capacity needed for bay management.

Sec. B-5. Pilot projects. The council shall create one or more pilot projects of limited duration in a representative region or regions of the State where groups of marine resources users and other affected stakeholders investigate and discuss desired uses for specific land and water areas and determine methods for resolution of user conflicts. The council shall use the results of these pilot projects to shape the council's recommendations for bay management efforts.