An effort is underway across America to create a National Ocean Policy which would establish a mechanism to protect, maintain, and restore the health of marine and Great Lakes ecosystems. Along with comprehensive marine spatial planning and management and a permanent, dedicated source of funding for ocean and coastal conservation and management, the establishment of a national oceans and Great Lakes policy is critical to reversing the decline of our aquatic ecosystems. The loss of productivity, biodiversity, and ecological integrity of our oceans and Great Lakes diminishes not only the economic, recreational, and social benefits they provide, but also their many ecological services, especially seafood.
The impetus for a national ocean policy grows out of the work of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, the Pew Oceans Commission, and legislation in Congress - Oceans 21 (The Oceans Conservation, Education, and National Strategy for the 21st Century Act). Oceans 21 has been re-introduced in the current Congress, and at the same time, groups concerned with ocean conservation are developing ideas for a Presidential Executive Order that would establish a national oceans policy.
Outreach to constituencies concerned with the health of the oceans and access to ocean resources is underway. The Marine Fish Conservation Network, a coalition of fishing groups, marine science groups and environmental organizations - whose mission is to advocate for national policies that promote healthy oceans and productive fisheries - is gathering information and ideas from the fishing community about a national oceans policy. Your participation in the requested survey will help inform the debate, provide valuable insights and ideas, and enable your voice to be heard on this important subject.
The Network has created an electronic survey to gather information from fishermen (as part of the contract with Pew Environment Group). I am writing to ask you to help us promote this survey by making sure we hear from as many fishermen as possible over the next three weeks. At the conclusion of the survey, our staff will tabulate and analyze the data. We especially value the insights and views of fishermen across the United States. The more participation in the survey, the more fishermen's perspectives will help in our advocacy.
You can take the survey here:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=kKLrlJ0tUZNc_2bDdKubDTAg_3d_3d
