BOSTON (AP) - A major survey is aiming to get a handle on the reach and economic impacts of recreational boating in the Northeast, so the activity gets proper consideration as ocean development forges ahead.
Offshore wind turbines and aquaculture pens are a few of the projects being discussed. Such projects will inevitably affect the hundreds of thousands of boaters that share the waters.
But there aren't much data about boating, even though it's been a big part of the local culture for centuries.
About 68,000 boaters were invited to participate in the online survey, run by the nonprofit SeaPlan.
The survey will get information about commonly used routes, so those can be considered when projects are planned. It's also expected to show regional boaters contribute billions of dollars to the economy.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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