Clear definition of critical management questions remains to be elucidated. 
Obviously, the Harbor and its sources of contaminants require attention. A more finely 
focused understanding of transport, dispersion, and deposition processes is lacking. 
Physical oceanographic data are lacking. Links between Boston Harbor and Massachusetts 
Bay must be established. Fisheries are stressed both in terms of their health and harvest. 
The patchiness of the benthic community and the character of the plankton community 
remain poorly defined. A well-defined, prioritized, basinwide management approach is 
badly needed. 
The Boston-area community has become increasingly concerned with problems 
in the coastal waters. Progress is being made toward improving municipal wastewater 
treatment systems around Boston Harbor and Massachusetts Bay. Continued cooperative 
efforts among Federal and state agencies, private institutions for research and education, 
and the public is the only way the Boston Harbor/Massachusetts Bay ecosystem can be 
managed effectively. 
1 want to thank all of the speakers today for the efforts they have put into 
preparing for this workshop. Jim Thomas wants to make some final comments. 
J. Thomas: Thank you, Betsy. On behalf of NOAA and the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, we want to thank you, Betsy, and you, Paul, for organizing such a fine 
day. And we particularly want to thank the speakers who came down here to Washington 
from the Boston Metropolitan area and shared with us their expertise and knowledge. And 
last, but not least certainly, we want to thank those of you who managed to survive and 
hang on all afternoon. Thank you very much, all of you, for coming. 
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