An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century - California Ocean ...

Recommendation 8–16The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation, Officeof Naval Research, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration should encourageincreased participation of traditionally underrepresented and underserved groups in theocean-related workforce. Ocean.ED should coordinate among these agencies and institutionsof higher learning.Specifically, Ocean.ED should:• ensure that the appropriate mix of programs and opportunities exists to provide underrepresentedand underserved groups ample access to and support for pursuing oceanrelatedgraduate education, including opportunities at Minority Serving Institutions andother universities and oceanographic institutions.• ensure that programs are established through a competitive process and evaluated forperformance on an annual basis.Bringing the Ocean and Coasts to All AmericansWhile the public has a general sense that the ocean is important, most people lack a fullawareness and understanding of the ocean, its health, the benefits it provides, and its connectionto the nation’s collective well-being (Box 8.4). This information gap is a significantobstacle in achieving responsible use of our nation’s ocean and coastal resources, empoweringpublic involvement in ocean-related decision making, and realizing support for wiseinvestments in, and management of, ocean-related activities.Although a healthy marine environment is a prerequisite for our continued enjoymentof ocean and coastal benefits, a recent survey shows that many people consider the healthof the marine environment a second-tier environmental concern, overshadowed by theproblems of air and water pollution and toxic waste disposal. The American public apparentlyfeels little sense of urgency for safeguarding our coastal and ocean resources. Inaddition, while most Americans realize the marine environment can be degraded as aresult of human activities, they are less clear about the role individuals play in contributingto this damage. Nearly half the public mistakenly agrees with the statement, “What Ido in my lifetime doesn’t impact ocean health much at all” (Appendix 4).Multifaceted ApproachesSuch public misinformation points to the urgent need for raising awareness about theoceans. This herculean task is currently being undertaken by a number of informal educationfacilities and programs, publicly and privately funded, struggling to make headway inadvancing public knowledge about the marine environment.The strength of the informal education community lies in the diversity of methodsused. The varied formats, styles of presentation, and depth of detail, coupled with widerangingmodes of access, result in an array of opportunities for reaching the public.Box 8.4 The Ocean Information GapAccording to a recent national survey on ocean awareness, nearly 60 percent of Americansdo not realize that more plants and animals live in the oceans than on the land; 75 percentmistakenly believe that forests, rather than oceans, are the planet’s major source of oxygen;and 40 percent are unaware of the essential role oceans play in regulating climate. iiBelden, Russonello, & Stewart and American Viewpoint. Communicating about Oceans: Results of a National Survey.Washington, DC: The Ocean Project, 1999.142 A N O CEAN B LUEPRINT FOR THE 21ST C ENTURY