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Saving our Oceans
By
David E. Wilson, Jr.
evelopment, collapsing fisheries, non-point source pollution, and
a lack of political leadership and public education have combined
to bring ocean health to a crisis level according to the Bush-appointed
US Commission
on Ocean Policy.
he 500-page report, released last month, says that the close to $100
billion annual commercial value of US oceans and the 1.5 million jobs
they support are in jeopardy if no action is taken to stop and reverse
trends.
cross the United States, more than 37 million people and 19 million
homes have been added to coastal areas over the past 30 years. Non-point
source pollution from development and agriculture has left hundreds
of miles of dead zones and polluted estuarine systems, especially
along the East Coast.
 iting
coastal development as a principal challenge, the report says that
the burgeoning coastal populations have created significant coastal
hazards, degraded wildlife habitat, altered natural hydrology, and
created coastal pollution problems. Invasive species, overexploitation
of fish stocks, lack of international cooperation, and degraded ocean
bottom and estuary habitats were also key concerns of the authors.
The report says the competing activities in coastal waters, such as
marine commerce, fishing, and oil and gas drilling, are unsustainable
at the current pace.
reated
as part of the Oceans Act passed by Congress in 2000, the group of
private sector and government representatives led by retired Admiral
James Watkins, united to stem these and other ocean-related problems
by developing a comprehensive national oceans policy.
he
centerpiece of their work is a call for $7 billion in funding which
would double the nation's current annual investment over the next
five years. The figure represents about 4 percent of the cost of the
war on Iraq.
he hallmark of the report is to ground ocean and estuary policy in sound
science based on ecosystem management rather than piecemeal fisheries plans
or political boundaries.
he commission also calls for better ocean education to promote public
stewardship and recommends that "coastal decision makers be given more
capacity to plan for and guide growth away from sensitive and hazard prone
areas."
he
funds would also pay for scientific research needs and the development
of pollution reduction goals and the implementation activities to
achieve them. Part of the future funding would come from an Ocean
Policy Trust Fund, dedicated from oil and gas royalties. A new National
Ocean Council would help coalesce non-federal input and oversee policy
issues.
lthough
the bulk of the report tells many of us things we already knew, the
funding and the change in direction to a more sophisticated land and
water-based ecosystem approach to ocean management is welcome news.
hough
miles from the Atlantic, Pennsylvania has been a major Chesapeake
Bay pollution contributor with massive conversion of lands for development
which has caused wildlife declines in the Keystone State and water
quality degradation in the watersheds that its land drains to. Of
course, all of our indiscretions eventually flow to the sea.
his report finally acknowledges that and could bring a new understanding
and a new assistance to communities which exist far from the sea, but have a
significant impact on its health.
Contact Dave Wilson
See past topics of In the Flow here!
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