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

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CHAPTER 1RECOGNIZING OCEAN ASSETSAND CHALLENGESAmerica’s oceans and coasts are priceless assets. Indispensable to life itself, <strong>the</strong>yalso contribute significantly to our prosperity and overall quality of life. Toooften, however, we take <strong>the</strong>se gifts <strong>for</strong> granted, underestimating <strong>the</strong>ir value andignoring our impact on <strong>the</strong>m. Then our use of <strong>the</strong> oceans becomes abuse, and<strong>the</strong> productive capacity of our marine resources is diminished.The nation needs a comprehensive national ocean policy, implementedthrough an integrated and coordinated management structure thatresults in greater participation and collaboration in decision making.By rising to <strong>the</strong> challenge and addressing <strong>the</strong> many activities thatare degrading <strong>the</strong> oceans and coasts, America can protect <strong>the</strong>marine environment while creating jobs, increasing revenues,enhancing security, protecting cultural heritage, expanding trade,and ensuring ample supplies of energy, minerals, healthy food,and life-saving drugs.Evaluating <strong>the</strong> Vast Wealth ofU.S. <strong>Ocean</strong>s and CoastsAmerica is a nation surrounded by and reliant on <strong>the</strong> oceans.From <strong>the</strong> fisherman in Maine, to <strong>the</strong> homemaker in Oregon, to<strong>the</strong> businessperson in Miami, and even <strong>the</strong> farmer in Iowa, everyAmerican influences and is influenced by <strong>the</strong> sea. Our grocery stores arestocked with fish, our docks bustle with waterborne cargo, and millions oftourists visit our coastal communities each year, creating jobs and pumpingdollars into our economy. Born of <strong>the</strong> ocean are clouds that bring life-sustainingrain to our fields and reservoirs, microscopic plankton that generate <strong>the</strong> oxygen webrea<strong>the</strong>, energy resources that fuel industry and sustain our standard of living, and adiversity of biological species that is unmatched on land. Careful stewardship of our oceanand coastal resources is imperative to conserve and enhance <strong>the</strong> financial, ecological, andaes<strong>the</strong>tic benefits we have come to rely upon and enjoy.Economic and Employment ValueAmerica’s oceans and coasts are big business. The United States has jurisdiction over 3.4million square nautical miles of ocean territory in its exclusive economic zone—larger30 A N O CEAN B LUEPRINT FOR THE 21ST C ENTURY

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