04.20.04

Sen. Cantwell Welcomes Preliminary U.S. Ocean Commission's Policy Report

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy released a preliminary report detailing the first comprehensive governmental review of the nation's ocean policy in 35 years. It is the second major report released within the last year calling for significant changes in the way the country's oceans are managed. The privately created Pew Oceans Commission released a report -- "America's Living Oceans: Charting a Course for Sea Change" -- in June of 2003.

"Given that two major Oceans Commissions have made several findings and recommendations for change, I hope that Congress and the President will begin paying closer attention to the state of our oceans and coasts," said U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell.

"The oceans, coasts, and rivers of my state have always been of immense importance to our region's economy and identity. I know many of us in the Pacific Northwest feel that we come from a special place because of our ocean. We are fortunate to live, work and play near the same waters where orcas and salmon inhabit," Cantwell continued.

Senator Cantwell added, "Senator Magnuson understood this and was very active in the wake of the Stratton Commission, the last governmental commission to take a hard look at the nation's ocean policy. He was able to accomplish great things, not just for the state, but for the country as a whole. With his considerable legacy in mind, I will fight to build on his work as the Senate considers these issues in the coming months."

The U.S. Ocean Policy Commission's preliminary report makes nearly 200 recommendations for change, which it groups into three major themes:

· Creating a new national ocean policy framework for improved decision-making,

· Strengthening science to provide better information to decision makers; and,

· Enhancing ocean education to encourage future leaders and an informed citizenry.

These three themes are tied together by the Commission's emphasis on ecosystem-based management, a concept that defies easy definition but recognizes the fact that natural resource problems often involve complex interrelationships that do not coincide with political boundaries. The Commission is advancing regional level approaches, and cites Pacific Northwest efforts to protect endangered salmon runs as a potential model.

"We in the Northwest have long realized how problems in the ocean can extend well beyond the area we normally think of the coast, and vice versa," says Cantwell.

She added, "In Washington, we have shown that we can work creatively across federal, state, tribal, local, and even international, boundaries efforts to come up with workable solutions. I believe the strides we have made in this area and others can serve as models of how to promote economic growth while maintaining and restoring a healthy environment. I am glad to the Commission's report acknowledges these efforts."

The 16-member U.S. Commission was given its mandate by the Oceans Act of 2000, a piece of legislation sponsored by Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings. "Sadly, Senator Hollings will be retiring at the end of this, his 39th year in Congress. But his foresight has given us something that will help us guide our nation's oceans policy well into the future," said Cantwell. "I am sure he will have more say on the matter before he leaves the end of this year , but all of us who care about this nation's oceans and coasts truly already owe him a great deal of gratitude for his many years of leadership on the issue. I would also like to express my gratitude for the contributions of two Washington state members of the commission, William D. Ruckelshaus and Marc J. Hershman."

Cantwell is a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and its Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, and Coast Guard.