Marine Spatial Planning

It's time to make protecting ocean health our new year's resolution. Thankfully, our new national ocean policy offers a bright start for our ocean future.

An executive order establishing a national ocean policy for the practical use and long-term protection of our public seas could be one of Barack Obama's outstanding achievements.

The new framework for America's Marine Spatial Planning policy sets a solid time line for progress by identifying which coastal areas should be used for industrial purposes, and which need restoring and preservation.

A national ocean policy will help New York, the East Coast and the entire country better address all of these issues that affect its ocean and its Great Lakes resources.

Like the passage of a Clean Air Act or a Clean Water Act, President Obama is in the process of creating a landmark national healthy oceans policy and plan of action for our seas.

The US needs a comprehensive policy to protect our ocean, coasts and Great Lakes today and for future generations. Right now, our oceans are governed by over 140 laws and 20 different agencies.