those declines in order to protect species better before they need to 

 be listed. 



The third environmental stewardship program element is coastal 

 ecosystems health. Maintaining biodiversity and long-term produc- 

 tivity is NOAA's vision for the Nation's coastal and marine habi- 

 tats. To move toward this vision, the paradigm for managing coast- 

 al ecosystems must shift from a fragmented to an integrated proc- 

 ess, from a site-specific to ecosystem-wide context, and from a reac- 

 tive to a preventive approach. 



Today, over 54 percent of the United States' population lives in 

 the coastal zone, including the Great Lakes, which consists of only 

 10 percent of the total land mass of the United States. 



Coastal recreation and tourism attracts millions of visitors each 

 year. Over 75 percent of total commercial landings and 80 to 90 

 percent of the recreational catch comes from species that are de- 

 pendent on coastal habitats during some part of their life cycle. 

 Seventeen million Americans use these waters for recreational 

 fishing, generating $18 billion annually. 



The Plan proposes a five-point program to improve the health of 

 coastal ecosystems: 



First, we plan to integrate coastal ecosystem management within 

 NOAA and other Federal and State agencies. By 2005, we hope to 

 have 35 federally-approved State coastal management programs. 

 We will work with them in the development of coastal nonpoint 

 source pollution control programs. 



The second element of the coastal ecosystem program calls for 

 actions to better assess threats to the health and productivity of 

 the Nation's coastal resources. Just two examples are, first, water- 

 shed assessments to determine the effects of cumulative coastal de- 

 velopment, toxics, habitat loss and nutrient over-enrichment; and, 

 second, improved delivery of critical information on sensitive estua- 

 rine habitats for response to spills. 



The Plan's third element proposes a joint NOAA-State effort to 

 monitor changes in the health of coastal ecosystems. 



The fourth element proposes to increase our understanding of 

 the causes and significance of ecosystem changes. For example, eco- 

 system health studies are planned for selected regional watersheds 

 to determine the cumulative effects of human-induced ecosystem 

 stress in order to provide an improved scientific basis for manage- 

 ment decisions in those areas. 



As another example, NOAA participated in the development of 

 an Aquatic Nuisance Species Program designed to prevent the po- 

 tential introduction and dispersal of aquatic nuisance species in 

 U.S. waters through prevention, control, research and education ef- 

 forts. The program will address our responsibilities under the Non- 

 indigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990. 

 The final element of the coastal ecosystem health program pro- 

 poses an education and outreach program first, to improve public 

 understanding of the value of coastal ecosystems; second, to trans- 

 fer technology; and, third, to develop training programs. 



Taken together, these efforts to apply NOAA-wide capabilities, in 

 partnership with academia and other governmental resource man- 

 agers, will enhance our ability to manage and conserve marine spe- 

 cies and ecosystems before they are damaged. 



