Our oceans are currently managed under 140 laws implemented by 20 Federal agencies without a unifying vision to ensure the overall health and productivity of ocean ecosystems and resources and the services they provide.  Oceans-21 provides that vision and the mechanisms to implement that vision.  It establishes a national policy for the protection, maintenance, and restoration of marine ecosystem health and calls for implementation of that policy at the Federal level and through regional ocean partnerships.

We have heard for years from the scientific community, popular media, and two blue ribbon panels – the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and independent Pew Oceans Commission – that our oceans are in trouble and that we need to take strong and immediate action.  Oceans-21 responds to this call for action with common sense solutions.  The Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans subcommittee may schedule a mark-up on Oceans-21 in the coming weeks.  We urge you to encourage a mark-up of Oceans-21, to support strong provisions to protect and restore our ocean ecosystems and resources, to oppose weakening amendments, and, ultimately, to work toward enactment of this critical legislation.