The Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission voted Nov. 16 to support a Working Waterfronts State Master Plan. The plan is being compiled, MPPDC officials said, to help communities protect, restore and enhance their water-dependent commercial and recreational activities.

While supporting the plan, the commission recommended the state change the term “global warming” to “climate change” in various places throughout the document, said Beth Johnson, finance director for MPPDC.

“Working Waterfronts provide critical access to Virginia coastal waters for people engaged in commercial and recreational fishing, seafood processing, boat building, repair and maintenance, aquaculture, port activity, and other water-dependent businesses,” the MPPDC resolution said. Also, the resolution noted that Virginia is “slowly losing its working waterfronts—an issue that may have long-term consequences of local economies, the environment, coastal culture ...