Reviving Our Oceans

The oceans are the planet's life support system. We depend on oceans to moderate our climate and filter pollution. We rely on the rich diversity of ocean life to supply us with food and medicines. Our oceans give us a place to play, to work, to rest and to discover. In recent years, however, two major independent commissions reported that our oceans are in serious trouble -- in a state, according to the Pew Oceans Commission, of "silent collapse," threatening jobs, cultures, coastal ecosystems and marine life.

Urgent Ocean Threats

Oceans are not, as once imagined, inexhaustible resources, so vast that human activity can barely make a dent. In fact, the evidence is just the opposite. Major threats to ocean health include the following:

• Overfishing and other destructive fishing practices that deplete our nation's ocean fish populations, reduce the diversity of underwater life and lower the resilience of marine systems.
  
  
• Nutrient pollution from farm and yard fertilizer runoff, sewage, and other land-based sources that contributes to harmful blooms of algae, which in turn lead to fish kills and swimmer illness, and ocean "dead zones"-- places devoid of marine life.
  
  
• Coastal development that destroys ecologically sensitive areas and critical habitat for valuable fish species, and also creates a network of paved surfaces that convey oil, grease, and toxic pollutants into coastal waters.
  
  
• Invasive species taking root in coastal waters, crowding out native species, damaging ecosystems, destroying the food chain, diluting gene pools and more.
  
  
• Climate change, which will profoundly impact coastal and marine ecosystems through rising sea levels (and the accompanying loss of coastal wetlands and other important coastal habitat), damage to habitat-rich coral reefs from increased temperatures and threats to shell-forming creatures from ocean acidification.
  
  
• Haphazard management of our oceans, coasts and Great Lakes by more than 20 government agencies administering more than 140 federal laws -- and no single body to oversee the countless other government actions that affect ocean health and productivity.

A Solution on the Horizon: OCEANS 21

While there are many things individuals can do every day to protect our oceans and coasts, some large scale problems need to be tackled by our government. The problems facing our oceans are far-reaching and disparate, and demand a comprehensive approach. By taking a more holistic approach to our oceans, we can start to revive our oceans and ensure a future in which our children can swim in clean water and enjoy fresh seafood.

A bill named OCEANS 21 -- The Oceans Conservation, Education, and National Strategy for the 21st Century Act -- introduced in January 2007, would vastly improve how we as a nation care for and manage our oceans, and the spectacular wildlife that call them home. OCEANS 21 provides a national vision for protecting, maintaining and restoring oceans while encouraging the development and implementation of local ocean plans, as people on the ground often have the best view of the problems and workable solutions. The legislation would implement key recommendations of the Pew Oceans Commission and the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy. OCEANS 21 has the potential to become one of our nation's seminal environmental laws, along the lines of the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.

More Solutions for Healthy Oceans

In addition to working with Congress to pass a strong OCEANS 21 bill, NRDC is working with organizations around the world to push for stronger controls on fishing in ocean waters beyond national jurisdiction -- on the high seas and in our states. Our vision for the continued health and vibrancy of our oceans includes:

• Ending Destructive Practices. We must end overfishing and maintain abundant and diverse ocean fish populations. We must reduce the nutrient pollution that creates dead zones in the ocean. And the United States should support international efforts to place a moratorium on unregulated bottom trawling on the high seas until an effective regime is in place to protect deep-sea corals and other vital ocean habitats.
  
  
• Creating Underwater Parks. We started creating parks and wilderness on land more than a century ago; it's time to do the same for the ocean. Studies show that marine protected areas have bigger fish, greater diversity of life and higher productivity than similar areas that are open to fishing. Establishing marine protected areas is one of the best ways we can ensure the ocean's ability to sustain and restore its extraordinary diversity of life.
  
  
• Prompting State Action. A number of states have been moving to protect their marine resources, which typically extend about 3 miles from shore. California and New York, for example, have passed ocean protection laws that set out a state ocean conservation policy, and create overarching councils to help implement that policy and coordinate the ocean work done by various state agencies.

Healthy oceans are a vital natural resource. By taking strong action to implement the recommendations above, the president and Congress -- and legislatures of coastal states -- can help avert an ocean crisis.

last revised 6.21.07