Support the National Ocean Policy

Let's make healthy oceans a reality

In 2010, President Obama established the National Ocean Policy in order to protect, maintain, and restore our ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources. This plan could make a huge difference for our nation's waters—if it gets off the ground.

We're almost there. We have the framework and resources to get the National Ocean Policy up and running. Now we need YOU to petition the National Ocean Council to enact this positive policy for the oceans. Our oceans need you. Sign to express your support for the National Ocean Policy.

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Dear National Ocean Council,

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Draft National Ocean Policy Implementation Plan (NOP).  We appreciate your leadership in establishing an ocean policy and draft implementation plan, and we encourage you to continue that leadership by maintaining and strengthening the conservation provisions within the NOP.  I support the NOP as it provides the foundation for an effective and efficient framework for a new approach to managing the ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes natural resources for present and future generations.

The abundance of resources, natural beauty, and economic value of our oceans and coasts are essential to our wellbeing and our Nation’s prosperity, but we have not always given it the care that it deserves.  Issues such as overfishing, pollution, unsustainable development, and devastating oil spills threaten the fragile health of the marine ecosystems, as growing and competing uses and interests are currently inadequately managed by the Federal agencies responsible.  The outline suggested by the NOP would improve the functionality of this system so the Federal agencies work together through a network of information sharing, research, and transparency.

The use of an ecosystem-based management approach would greatly improve our current systems of management in addressing ocean issues.   It requires extensive research and science-based methods to study the complex relationships among species, their habitats, and human impacts before action is taken to address an issue or protect a resource, which should include identifying and protecting important ecological areas. It is essential that sound methods of science be applied and information sharing be used to study the unique functions of the various ecosystems, in order to ensure that the proper protection, maintenance, and restoration will be planned and implemented.

Even with great leadership, the goals of the NOP will not be achievable unless there is sufficient funding.  The budget for the NOP must be made public and reflect the commitment the Federal government has to making the National Ocean Policy a success.  The funding and implementation of this policy will help ensure the coasts remain a place where our children can whale watch, swim in the water, and enjoy fishing on healthy populations of fish.

Oceana | Protecting the World's Oceans

Support the National Ocean Policy