(202) 332-0063 ext. 226 or
email: pbaker@COREocean.org
June 16, 2001
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Contact: Pamela Baker-Masson (202) 332-0063 ext. 226 or email: pbaker@COREocean.org |
For immediate release June 16, 2001 |
Presidential Ocean Commission Panelists Named
CORE READY TO SUPPORT COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. - Yesterday the White House announced the 16 members of the President's Commission on Ocean Policy. The Commission on Ocean Policy will bring together representatives of state and local government, academia, industry, and public interest groups to thoroughly reevaluate our Nation's current ocean and coastal policies.
The Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education (CORE) will be represented by CORE President Emeritus ADM James D. Watkins who was one of 16 members selected to the commission. ADM Watkins has previously served as chairman of the Presidential Commission on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Epidemic in late 1987 and his experience with the AIDS commission will be of great value to the Commission on Ocean Policy. In addition several other members are now or have been affiliated with CORE institutions.
"This is the single most important event in ocean resources management in over 30 years!" stated VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., Ph.D., CORE President. "This commission will have an unparalleled opportunity to affect our nation's future quality of life across an exceedingly broad range of issues, such as climate change, fisheries management, transportation, and public health."
CORE member institutions have been world leaders in ocean science research and the development of techniques to improve our understanding and monitoring of ocean resources. A large part of the Commission's work will be in development of policy that will significantly affect the future course of U.S. leadership in ocean research.
"We need new ocean policies that will enable increased scientific understanding of ocean processes and the comprehensive monitoring of our ocean environment," VADM Lautenbacher continued. "Policies that support such critical national needs as integrated ocean and coastal observing systems, marine life management systems, marine biotechnology, aquaculture, bio-prospecting, ocean science education, to name a few are all critically needed. I am confident that this talented commission will take a hard and serious look at these key policy issues."
The Commission on Ocean Policy is charged with the responsibility of developing a comprehensive national ocean policy, and the Commission will report to the President and Congress in 18 months with recommendations for a national ocean policy to include such issues as:
It has been over three decades since the U.S. conducted such a thorough review of national ocean and coastal activities. The Stratton Commission, convened by the Congress in 1966, resulted in the establishment of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and laid the groundwork for such landmark legislation as the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, the Coastal Zone Management Act, and the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Act.
Based in Washington, D.C., CORE represents 63 of the U.S. oceanographic research institutions, universities, laboratories and aquaria. As the centralized voice for these institutions, CORE conducts a wide range of educational, research, and public policy activities and works to promote, develop and support efforts to advance knowledge and learning in the science of oceanography. For more information visit http://www.COREocean.org.
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