Finally there is a very personal value to the ocean. Often, we are drawn to the ocean only 

 to stand and stare and listen. The ocean is beautiftil to almost everyone, for reasons each of us 

 understands and none of us knows. It has inspired some of the world's finest paintings, poetry, 

 stories, and music. 



Preserving Ocean Resources 



Although some progress is evident, signs of trouble in the seas should continue to 

 concern us. Over-fishing, changes in coastal habitat, and pollution have combined to impact 

 dramatically living resources in our marine waters. In both the United States and globally, with 

 few exceptions, stocks are declining and the majority of fisheries are thought to be fully or over- 

 utilized. Some species (cod, haddock, and flounder, for example) have nearly disappeared off 

 the New England coast. Recent trends in catches, trade, contribution to food supplies, and 

 overall economic viability of the fishing industry are not encouraging. As a result of effective 

 conservation practices, a few marine mammals and sea turtles in U.S. waters appear to be 

 recovering after years of declining numbers, but habitat loss and human activities are 

 jeopardizing other species, such as salmon. Less-studied marine organisms are probably being 

 lost before ever being identified, much less protected. We continue to lose important habitats 

 such as wetlands, sea grass beds, and coral reefs. These are more than just environmental issues. 

 The serious decline of fisheries have sparked confrontations in the past, and environmental 

 degradation has created situations of friction, dislocation, and mass migration in various regions 

 of the world. 



Concerns about ocean pollution also are warranted. About 40% of our estuarine and 

 coastal waters are not fishable or swimmable - primarily because of excess nutrients and bacteria 

 from agricultural runoff and municipal wastewater discharges. Although the quality of our 

 shellfish harvesting waters has improved over the past five years, 30% of these areas still have 

 some form of harvest restrictions. In 1996 over 2,500 closings and advisories were issued for 

 coastal bathing beaches due to bacterial contamination. Sediments in coastal areas near 

 industrial facilities and ports, especially in areas where water circulation is slow, show elevated 

 concentrations of chemical contamination. Concerns about dredging contaminated sediments in 

 port areas have delayed the maintenance of major ports and waterways. Oil contamination, not 

 only from tankers, but from municipal and industrial operations on the land, continues to be a 

 problem. Major tanker spills contribute only about five percent of the oil contaminating the 

 ocean. In fact, at least 75% of all pollutants that contaminate the ocean are from land-based 

 sources. 



Despite these very real concerns, there is much to be optimistic about with respect to the 

 future of the ocean. The ocean remains a largely unexplored frontier that represents a critical 

 source of food, energy, and other natural resources for the next millennium. Only recently have 

 the seas yielded their secrets of the deep ocean floor, home to communities of organisms whose 

 productivity is based on chemosynthesis instead of photosynthesis. Whole new ecosystems have 

 been discovered within the last year, some of which might be the basis of new drugs and medical 

 treatments. 



Opportunities for New Partnerships 



Ocean policy is such a large, cross-cutting field that no single agency of the Federal 

 government, on its own, has the necessary legal authorities, human and financial resources, and 

 experience to move the country ahead in ocean science and management. As a result of the 

 Stratton Commission, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the Department 

 of Commerce was formed almost 30 years ago to unify many ocean-related functions in one 

 agency. At that time other agencies also expanded their ocean missions. New partnerships 



IV 



