PRESS RELEASE: Ocean Leaders send letter to Clinton and Trump
For Immediate ReleaseFor more information contact:David Helvarg, Blue Frontier(202) 491-6296 or (510) 778-8470helvarg@bluefront.org Ocean Leaders send letter to Secretary Clinton and Mr. Trump: What will you do as President for the Blue in our Red, White and Blue? This past week a letter went out to campaign representatives for Secretary Hillary Clinton and Mr. Donald Trump from 115 ocean leaders in business, science, conservation, education and other fields seeking clarification on what they will do if elected President to protect our public seas, ocean economy and maritime security (see the letter below). The aim is to get a response by early September on how the next President will act on key coastal and ocean issues.These include the fight against illegal pirate fishing, establishment of marine protected areas – like National Parks in the sea - and coastal adaptation to sea level rise and other climate challenges.The letter also calls for appropriate levels of funding for frontline agencies involved in exploration, conservation and maritime law-enforcement including the U.S. Coast Guard and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.The Ocean leaders who’ve signed this letter include CEOs of seafood and other businesses, directors of major science labs, aquariums and diver organizations, well known ocean explorers, authors, artists, marine conservationists, members of Congress and former heads of EPA and NOAA.For more information on the attached ocean letter feel free to contact David Helvarg, Executive Director Blue Frontier at helvarg@bluefront.org.Also feel free to contact the Clinton and Trump campaigns directly. Their responses have been respectfully requested by September 7. Dear Secretary Clinton,Dear Mr. Trump,As citizens we call on the next President of the United States to support our nation’s marine and coastal economy and assure the sound stewardship of our coasts and ocean. Our nation’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), stretching 200 miles out from our shores, is the largest in the world: a blue frontier more extensive than our continental landmass. With increased scientific knowledge and understanding of this great frontier comes both an opportunity and a responsibility to protect, preserve and restore the blue in our red, white and blue.Recognizing that the protection of coastal communities, ocean-dependent jobs and businesses, the marine environment and America’s maritime heritage has long been a nonpartisan goal, we ask you as one of the two leading candidates for President of the United States, to respond and commit to the following principles and actions:I. International ArenaSupport initiatives to protect our global commons on the high seas and the polar seas through agreements to restore fish and other marine wildlife, reduce marine pollution, encourage scientific collaboration and protect vital habitats including seamounts, coral reefs and coastal mangroves. An excellent example of this kind of commitment was the broad bipartisan support that led to the IUU (Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported) Fishing Enforcement Act of 2015.Based on the early work of Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush who established the highest level of protection for the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument of Hawaii, and Presidents Bush and Barack Obama in establishing and expanding the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, we call for similar support for global efforts to create additional marine reserves based on the best-available science. We expect the next president to support the continued protection of unique ocean habitats similar to the United States’ National Parks system. These areas can act as a world repository of marine biodiversity for our own and future generations.II. United StatesContinue to expand a national ocean policy that coordinates federal efforts to eliminate agency conflicts and redundancy while working with traditional and emerging users of our public seas, coasts and Great Lakes. This policy should embrace local, state, tribal and regional initiatives to ensure healthy and productive seas. The next administration should also continue to promote best fisheries and aquaculture management practices to sustain our living resources and the jobs that go with them including market transparency and traceability. You should address emerging challenges from a changing climate including protecting coastal populations at risk, providing resources such as new Coast Guard icebreakers for the Arctic and research tools for science. You should address the impacts of sea-level rise, ocean acidification, ocean warming as well as new ocean uses including offshore wind and hydrokinetic energy sources.Recognizing that our EEZ frontier waters and our national economy depend on healthy seas, new discoveries and maritime enforcement, the next President should commit to fully fund the marine stewardship, exploration and law-enforcement missions carried out by the frontline agencies on America’s blue frontier including the United States Coast Guard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.We believe a commitment to these four action areas by the next President of the United States will help turn the tide in restoring a vital element of the American economy, our heritage and our security from sea to shining sea.We look forward to your response that we hope to receive by Sept. 7 and to hearing more on your plans. With regards and respect, Katherine AbbotPresident and CEOBoston Harbor Now Glenn A. ArthurChairmanNew Jersey Council of Diving Clubs Dana BeachExecutive DirectorSouth Carolina Coastal Conservation League Wendy BenchleyCo-FounderPeter Benchley Ocean Awards Jeff BenoitPresidentRestore America’s Estuaries Dr. Scott G. BorgesonCEOCargoMetrics Technologies Angel BraestrupExecutive DirectorThe Curtis & Edith Munson Foundation Peg BrandonPresidentSea Education Association/SEA Semester Graham CasdenChief Visionary OfficerOcean First Susan CaseyAuthor Gary Cherr, PhDProfessor Environmental Toxicology & NutritionDirector, University of California Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory Reverend Dr. Richard CizikPresidentNew Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good Representative Curt Clawson (R- 19th)Naples, Florida Dianna CohenCEO co-founderPlastic Pollution Coalition Philippe CousteauExecutive DirectorEarthEcho International Dr. Michael CrosbyPresident & CEOMote Marine Laboratory Mary T. CrowleyExecutive DirectorOcean Voyages InstituteProject Kaisei Anna CumminsCo-FounderThe 5 Gyres Institute Jim CummingsExecutive DirectorAcoustic Ecology Institute R. Mark DavisPresidentSailors for the Sea Richard DelaneyPresident and CEOCenter for Coastal Studies Jacqueline DixonDeanUniversity of South FloridaCollege of Marine Science Dr. Sylvia EarleOceanographerNational Geographic Explorer in Residence Representative Sam Farr (D-20th)Monterey, California Daniella V. FernandezFounder & ChairSustainable Oceans Alliance Alexandra S. GarciaExecutive DirectorInternational League of Conservation Photographers Sherri GoodmanFormer CEO, Consortium for Ocean LeadershipFormer Deputy Undersecretary of Defense (Environmental Security)Member, Joint Ocean Commission Initiative Leadership Council Gary GriggsDistinguished Professor & DirectorInstitute of Marine SciencesUniversity of California Santa Cruz Marce Gutierrez-GraudinsFounder/DirectorAZUL William E. HawkinsProfessor EmeritusDirector, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (Retired)University of Southern Mississippi Randy HayesExecutive DirectorFoundation Earth David HelvargExecutive DirectorBlue Frontier Wolcott HenryPresidentThe Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation Dr. Nigella HillgarthPresident and Chief Executive OfficerNew England Aquarium Elizabeth Lacey HooverChairmanHerbert W. Hoover Foundation Joseph Ierna Jr.Founder and Executive DirectorOcean CREST Alliance Jeremy JacksonProfessor of Oceanography EmeritusScripps Institution of Oceanography Phillip JohnsonExecutive DirectorOregon Shores Conservation Coalition Susan JordonExecutive DirectorCalifornia Coastal Protection Network Les KaufmanProfessor of BiologyBoston University Marine Program Kiho Kim, PhDProfessor & ChairDepartment of Environmental ScienceAmerican University Isabeella KirklandArtist Geraldine Knatz, Ph.D.Professor of Practice of Policy and EngineeringUSC Sol Price School of Public Policy Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher (U.S. Navy, Ret)CEO and Director, GeoOptics, Inc.Former Under Secretary of Commerce/NOAA Administrator (2001-2008)Member, Joint Ocean Commission Initiative Leadership Council Margaret Leinen, Ph.D.Director, Scripps Institution of OceanographyUC San Diego Vice Chancellor for Marine SciencesDean of the School of Marine Science Wayne LevinFine Art Photographer Roland LewisPresident and CEOWaterfront Alliance Kurt LieberExecutive Director / FounderOcean Defenders Alliance (ODA) Kimball LivingstonCommodoreSt. Francis Yacht Club Pam LongobardiDistinguished University ProfessorProfessor of ArtGSU / Atlanta Tami LunsfordPresidentNational Marine Educators Association David McGuire, MEHDirectorShark Stewards Sunshine Menezes, Ph.D.Executive DirectorMetcalf Institute for Marine & Environmental ReportingUniversity of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Andreas MerklChief Executive OfficerOcean Conservancy Ali MillerPresidentColorado Scuba Retailers Association (CSRA)Partner, Denver Divers Todd MillerExecutive DirectorNorth Carolina Coastal Federation Kevin MillsPresident and CEOSouth Carolina Aquarium Ambassador John Norton MooreDirector, The Center for Oceans Law & PolicyThe University of Virginia Bill MottDirectorThe Ocean Project Peter NeillDirectorWorld Ocean Observatory Chad NelsenCEOSurfrider Foundation Wallace J. Nichols PhDFounderBlue Mind Fund Vicki Nichols GoldsteinFounder and DirectorColorado Ocean Coalition Timothy O’SheaCEO & Co-FounderCleanFish Dave Oakes, Ed.D.Co-directorCenter for Ecological Living and Learning Chris PalmerDirectorCenter for Environmental FilmmakingAmerican University Stephen PalumbiDirector, Hopkins Marine StationStanford University Daniel PingaroExecutive DirectorLaguna Beach Community Foundation Ellen Prager, PhDPresidentEarth2Ocean, Inc Louie PsihoyosExecutive DirectorOceanic Preservation Society DeeVon QuiroloPresidentNature Coast Conservation, Inc. Nancy Rabalais, PhD.Executive Director and ProfessorLouisiana Universities Marine Consortium John RacanelliPresident/ Chief Executive OfficerNational Aquarium Drew RichardsonPresident and Chief Executive OfficerPADI Worldwide Jim RiesPresidentOne More Generation David Rockefeller, Jr.Co-founderSailors for the Sea William D. RuckelshausFormer Administrator, U.S. Environmental Agency (1970-’73, 1983-’85)Member, Joint Ocean Commission Initiative Leadership Council Sean RussellDirectorYouth Ocean Conservation Summit Daniella RussoChief Executive OfficerThink Beyond Plastic™ Innovation Accelerator Karen SackManaging DirectorOcean Unite Carl SafinaEndowed Professor for Nature and HumanityStony Brook University Miyoko SakashitaOceans DirectorCenter for Biological Diversity Enric SalaExplorer-in-ResidenceNational Geographic Society Dr. Paul SandiferResearch Associate and DirectorCenter for Coastal Environmental and Human Health, College of CharlestonMember, Join Ocean Commission Initiative Leadership Council Shari Sant PlummerPresidentCode Blue Foundation Cynthia SarthouExecutive DirectorGulf Restoration Network Terry SawyerVice President and Co-FounderHog Island Oyster Co. Eric SchmidtExecutive ChairmanAlphabet, Inc. Wendy SchmidtPresident, The Schmidt Family FoundationCo-Founder, Schmidt Ocean Institute Jerry R. Schubel, PhDPresident and CEOAquarium of the Pacific David SchwartzPresident and CEOSchwartz and Associates Landscape Architecture Jason Scorse, PhDDirector, Center for the Blue EconomyMiddlebury Institute of International Studies Barton SeaverCenter for Health and the Global EnvironmentHarvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health Jennifer Seavey, Ph.D.Director, Shoals Marine LaboratoryCornell University Sarah ShawFounderNature Defense Foundation Brian SkerryPhotojournalist for National Geographic Magazine Bren SmithDirector, GreenwaveOwner/Farmer, Thimble Island Ocean Farm Stuart L. SmitsCEONew Energy Ventures Richard SnowPresident, C.E.O.The International SeaKeepers Society Rob Snyder, PhDPresidentIsland Institute Mark J. SpaldingPresidentThe Ocean Foundation Michael StockerDirectorOcean Conservation Research Michael SuttonChair, COMPASSChair, Ocean ChampionsSummer Faculty, Vermont Law School Liz TaylorPresidentDOER Marine/Deep Ocean Exploration and Research Chris TellisOwner and Harbor MasterYellow Ferry Harbor Kyle ThiermannJournalist/Professional Surfer Ray TollPresident, Marine Technology SocietyDirector of Coastal Resilience ResearchOffice of Research, Old Dominion University Dave TooleCEOOuthink Media Jim ToomeyCreator – Sherman’s LagoonSyndicated daily comic strip Don Walsh PhDExplorer & Oceanographer Rob Wilder, J.D. PhDChairWilderHill Clean Energy Index (ECO) David Wilmot, Ph.D.President and Co-FounderOcean Champions R. Scott WintersCEOCoral Restoration Foundation WylandMarine Artist and Conservationist William M. ZieflePresident & Chief Executive OfficerDivers Alert Network, Inc.