Conservation Groups' Blueprint Offers Common Sense, Realistic Goals to the Bush Administration for Protecting America's Oceans

The Ocean Conservancy
Wednesday, 17 January 2001

Washington, DC – Today, the Center for Marine Conservation (CMC) and ten other conservation groups presented the Bush Administration Transition Team the comprehensive Conserving America's Oceans: A Blueprint. This blueprint outlines actions the new Administration can take, both in its first 100 days and beyond, to ensure that America's oceans are productive and healthy for future generations.

"Over the past several years, Americans have taken great strides in our appreciation of the oceans and our government has taken significant steps to ensure its protection," said Roger Rufe, CMC President. "However, our oceans still face significant threats, such as overfishing, habitat degradation, and pollution. The Bush Administration needs to keep the conservation momentum going - spearheading a positive, effective ocean legacy."

The groups urge the Bush Administration, through specific actions, to promote ocean governance, conserve and restore fish populations, clean America's ocean waters, recover and protect endangered marine wildlife, protect critical coastal and marine ecosystems, and address new emerging issues

Among CMC's most important priorities for the first 100 days of the Bush Administration are the appointments of experienced resource managers to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the appointments of strong marine conservationists to the Commission on Ocean Policy, and the demonstration of leadership and commitment to protecting America's coral reefs by finalizing and fully implementing the Tortugas Ecological Reserve in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and the Northwest Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve.

Beyond the first 100 days, CMC urges the Bush Administration to focus on some of the more prevailing problems with our nation's oceans such as overfishing, polluted runoff, and lack of protection for endangered marine wildlife. To address these threats, the blueprint calls for reauthorization and implementation of existing laws, including the Magnuson-Stevens Act (our national fisheries law), the Coastal Zone Management Act, the BEACH Bill, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

"This blueprint outlines some common sense, realistic expectations for the new Administration," said Rufe. "Given our increased reliance on the ocean for food, international trade, energy, tourism, and recreation - preserving the ocean's productivity and conserving its valuable, vulnerable resources should be a top priority for all of us."

The other groups who participated in the development of blueprint are American Oceans Campaign, Coast Alliance, Environmental Defense, Friends of the Earth, Marine Conservation Biology Institute, National Audubon Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, Oceanwatch, Surfrider Foundation, and the World Wildlife Fund.

Through science-based advocacy, research, and public education, the Center for Marine Conservation informs, inspires, and empowers people to speak and act for the oceans in order to protect ocean ecosystems and conserve the global abundance and diversity of marine wildlife. Headquartered in Washington, DC, CMC has regional offices in California, Florida, and Virginia and field offices in Alaska, Maine, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz, CA, and the Florida Keys.

For more information, or to contact The Ocean Conservancy, see their website at: www.oceanconservancy.org