Today, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation applauds the grantees, federal and state agencies, tribes and stakeholders who have contributed to the Northeast Ocean Plan and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Action Plan, both now formally approved by the National Ocean Council.
The completion of the two ocean plans is a strong step toward improving management of our oceans and coasts and will lead to healthier ocean ecosystems, better informed federal and state decisions, and are designed to more effectively involve the public and those stakeholders who are most interested in ocean and coastal issues. The plans provide a roadmap that will support the regions’ thriving “blue economies” — which support recreation, fishing, aquaculture, and renewable energy — while also protecting ocean habitat and wildlife.
The two regional ocean plans were shaped by years of public engagement, scientific study, data analysis, collaboration and significant input from the general public and stakeholders interested in the future of the Mid-Atlantic’s and New England’s ocean and resources.
“This is a tremendous milestone for the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions,” said Denny Takahashi-Kelso, program director for the Moore Foundation’s Marine Conservation Initiative. “These plans, which were truly shaped and developed by the stakeholders who call the regions home, will guide critical planning decisions and ensure our oceans remain healthy and thriving for decades to come.”
Earlier this fall, the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Bodies submitted their draft plans to the National Ocean Council for review. These regional planning bodies were created by the National Ocean Policy, which was established by President Obama’s Ocean Policy Task Force after a year-long public and stakeholder engagement process in 2010.
The NOP guides the protection, maintenance, and restoration of our nation’s oceans and coasts, and requires Federal agencies to work in a more coordinated, goal-oriented framework with states, tribes and stakeholders. The Regional Planning Bodies coordinate and implement regional ocean planning with state, Federal, tribal and Fishery Management Council representatives.
The Moore Foundation’s Marine Conservation Initiative has long supported organizations working to advance regional ocean planning, which brings communities together to look comprehensively, scientifically and region-wide at existing and future ocean activities, and to integrate ecosystem health and human uses (like recreation, shipping and renewable energy generation).
- Read the full Northeast Ocean Plan here.
- Read the full Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Action Plan here.
- Read the White House blog here.
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation fosters path-breaking scientific discovery, environmental conservation, patient care improvements and preservation of the special character of the Bay Area. Visit www.moore.org or follow @MooreFound.
Message sent
Thank you for sharing.