Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment | Gulf of Maine Association Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment Framework For Action Every five years the Gulf of Maine Council renews its commitment to working in partnership toward a healthy Gulf of Maine ecosystem. With this Framework for Action the Gulf of Maine Council sets forth its shared vision for sustaining a healthy Gulf of Maine for future generations. Importance of Stewardship The beauty and natural resources of the Gulf of Maine watershed have fostered a culture of stewardship to ensure that these resources are sustained for future generations. To stand at the edge of the sea to sense the ebb and flow of the tides to feel the breath of a mist moving over a great salt marsh to watch the flight of shore birds that have swept up and down the surf lines of the continents for untold thousands of years.