The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy yesterday called for a new management approach to protect the nation’s coastal waterways from pollution, overfishing and mismanagement, saying billions of federal dollars are needed to balance commercial and recreational use.
“Our oceans and coasts are in trouble, and we, as a nation, have a historic opportunity to make a positive and lasting change in the way we manage them before it’s too late,” said retired Adm. James D. Watkins, chairman of the commission that spent nearly two years on the study.
“If the recommendations contained in our report are adopted, we will create sustainable oceans and coasts for many, many years.”
The draft report includes more than 200 recommendations, including the “critical action” to establish a White House office to coordinate ocean policy and to double congressional funding and appropriate billions of dollars a year: $1.3 billion the first year; $2.4 billion the second year and $3.2 billion the third and subsequent years.
Water-pollution reduction goals should be set, and the commission recommended that the United States accede to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, an agreement on navigation, research and conservation issues signed by 119 countries.
Millions of Americans flock to the coastline each year where they spend billions and support millions of jobs, making tourism and recreation one of the fastest-growing business sectors, said the report in the first major review in 35 years.
“These concrete quantifiable contributions to the national economy are just one measure of the oceans’ value,” the report said. “We also love the oceans for their beauty and majesty, and for their intrinsic power to relax, rejuvenate, and inspire. Unfortunately, we are starting to love our oceans to death.”
The cruise industry brings in another $11 billion, and commercial fishing exceeds $28 billion a year. Offshore oil and gas production is valued at nearly $40 billion, with $5 billion in royalties going to the U.S. Treasury.
Oceana, an environmental-advocacy group, credited the report for acknowledging numerous problems including the use of bottom-trawling nets. However, Oceana says, the report failed to offer detailed solutions or to set national standards.
“Unfortunately, many of the recommendations rely too heavily on voluntary approaches and minor changes to existing systems that have proven ineffective,” said Ted Morton, Oceana’s federal policy director.
The U.S. ocean zone extends 200 nautical miles offshore and is the largest in the world spanning 13,000 miles of coastline with 4.4 million square miles of ocean — larger than the 50 states.
Rep. Richard W. Pombo, California Republican and chairman of the House Resources Committee, called the report “an obviously substantive review.” Key to the study are recommendations that scientists, fishermen and the government work together to improve the ocean’s environment, he said.
Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest, Maryland Republican and chairman of the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans, said the report provides a framework for Congress and the private sector to plan and implement new stewardship tactics.
Governors must submit comments on the plan by May 21 to the commission, which will incorporate the feedback and present the report to President Bush and Congress for action.
The Ocean Conservancy endorsed the report’s findings and called on Mr. Bush to become the “Teddy Roosevelt of the Oceans” and approve its findings.
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