JOCI grades United States on ocean policy'”where's the dunce cap?

William Atkins
Saturday, 14 June 2008 02:22

Science - Climate

The U.S. government was graded in six major areas:

International Leadership: C+ (Up from a D- in 2006.}

New Funding for Ocean Policy and Programs: D+ (Up from a staggering F in 2006.)

National Ocean Governance Reform (Enacting Marine-Conservation Laws): D (Down from C- in 2006)

Research, Science, and Education (Bolstering Ocean Research Efforts): C- (Up from a D+ in 2006)

Fisheries Management Reform (Reforming and Managing Fisheries): C+ (Down from a B+ in 2006)

Linking Oceans and Climate Change: C (A new category in 2007)

The U.S. government got its lowest grade for “National Ocean Governance Reform.”

With respect to this category and the very low mark by the U.S. government, the members of the JOCI stated, “The health of our ocean and coastal ecosystems is declining at an alarming rate in the face of increasing pressures such as coastal development, pollution, overfishing, and invasive species.”

It continues, “Our current governance approaches and structures greatly hinder effective mechanisms for reversing this downward trend. Significant obstacles include a lack of a clear national ocean policy, confusing and overlapping jurisdictions, and fragmented laws.”

The JOCI members sternly warn, “We must unify our nation around a common goal of protecting and restoring our ocean and coastal ecosystems so that they will continue to be healthy and resilient and able to provide the goods and services that people want and need. Sound ocean policy requires protecting our oceans and coasts while also understanding the relationships among social, cultural, economic, and ecological factors.”

Read the report in detail at “Joint Ocean Commission Initiative: U.S. Ocean Policy Report Card 2007” (pdf file).