THE NATIONAL OCEAN POLICY AND OCEAN PLANNING
On July 19, 2010, President Obama issued Executive Order 13547 establishing our nation’s first comprehensive National Ocean Policy to protect, maintain, and restore our ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes natural resources for present and future generations. The National Ocean Policy is founded on the recommendations of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the Pew Oceans Commission and was developed through a lengthy process of engagement with industry representatives, coastal businesses, recreational users, scientists and other stakeholders. A National Ocean Council was established in order to tackle one of the strongest recommendations made by these two bipartisan commissions: to provide high-level and sustained coordination of the work of our federal agencies on ocean, coastal, island and Great Lakes issues.
Our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes are places of wonder and beauty as well as economic engines that provide valuable jobs, food, recreation, energy resources, and tourism. Ensuring the health and resiliency of our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes is crucial to the health of our nation’s economy. Our ocean and coasts support tens of millions of jobs that are a vital part of the U.S. economy. In 2004 alone, the ocean-dependent economy generated $138 billion of U.S. GDP and employed 2.3 million Americans. Coastal tourism & recreation dominate both employment and GDP in the ocean economy sectors with 1.7 million jobs and nearly $70 billion of GDP.
Given the natural beauty of these ecosystems and economic dependence we have on our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes, it is imperative that we implement the National Ocean Policy to ensure ecosystem protection and sustainable management of these ecosystems for future generations. Implementation of the National Ocean Policy also will help move us away from the fragmented management approach that has led to imperiled ecosystems and move our nation toward comprehensive ocean management and protection and restoration of our ocean, coasts, islands and Great Lakes.
The American Littoral Society has been working since 2009 to help establish the now National Ocean Policy. The Society is co-lead of the Healthy Oceans Coalition, a grassroots coalition comprised of conservation organizations and ocean users across the country engaged in supporting full implementation of the National Ocean Policy.
Our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes are places of wonder and beauty as well as economic engines that provide valuable jobs, food, recreation, energy resources, and tourism. Ensuring the health and resiliency of our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes is crucial to the health of our nation’s economy. Our ocean and coasts support tens of millions of jobs that are a vital part of the U.S. economy. In 2004 alone, the ocean-dependent economy generated $138 billion of U.S. GDP and employed 2.3 million Americans. Coastal tourism & recreation dominate both employment and GDP in the ocean economy sectors with 1.7 million jobs and nearly $70 billion of GDP.
Given the natural beauty of these ecosystems and economic dependence we have on our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes, it is imperative that we implement the National Ocean Policy to ensure ecosystem protection and sustainable management of these ecosystems for future generations. Implementation of the National Ocean Policy also will help move us away from the fragmented management approach that has led to imperiled ecosystems and move our nation toward comprehensive ocean management and protection and restoration of our ocean, coasts, islands and Great Lakes.
The American Littoral Society has been working since 2009 to help establish the now National Ocean Policy. The Society is co-lead of the Healthy Oceans Coalition, a grassroots coalition comprised of conservation organizations and ocean users across the country engaged in supporting full implementation of the National Ocean Policy.
The Time for Ocean Planning is Now
We all rely on the ocean. It generates two-thirds of the oxygen we breathe and is home to vibrant coastal communities, productive marine economies, and awe-inspiring beauty. Along the Atlantic Coast, the ocean and coast are woven into our lives. But the way we use the ocean is expanding rapidly and we are at risk of not fully protecting and conserving the ocean's health.
At the American Littoral Society, conserving the ocean and coast is our fundamental mission. We believe that the only way to fulfill that mission, in light of the increasing demands on the ocean, is with careful, coordinated planning among our state, federal and tribal governments. Besides creating a more informed, effective and coordinated approach for ocean resource management, "ocean planning" is crucial for making smart decisions about future uses, as well as strengthening the ways we can protect the mid-Atlantic ocean and coast.
Our region's first ever Ocean Action Plan was adopted in December 2016 by the National Ocean Council. The American Littoral Society will continue our work to ensure implementation of the Plan's actions represent a vision reflective of the public's desires for a clean and healthy ocean, and contains the tools to guide both current and future decisions effectively.
We all rely on the ocean. It generates two-thirds of the oxygen we breathe and is home to vibrant coastal communities, productive marine economies, and awe-inspiring beauty. Along the Atlantic Coast, the ocean and coast are woven into our lives. But the way we use the ocean is expanding rapidly and we are at risk of not fully protecting and conserving the ocean's health.
At the American Littoral Society, conserving the ocean and coast is our fundamental mission. We believe that the only way to fulfill that mission, in light of the increasing demands on the ocean, is with careful, coordinated planning among our state, federal and tribal governments. Besides creating a more informed, effective and coordinated approach for ocean resource management, "ocean planning" is crucial for making smart decisions about future uses, as well as strengthening the ways we can protect the mid-Atlantic ocean and coast.
Our region's first ever Ocean Action Plan was adopted in December 2016 by the National Ocean Council. The American Littoral Society will continue our work to ensure implementation of the Plan's actions represent a vision reflective of the public's desires for a clean and healthy ocean, and contains the tools to guide both current and future decisions effectively.
