| Oceans Month Kicks Off with Presidential Proclamation;
Featured Events Include Capitol Hill Oceans Week and Smithsonian Seafood Festival; Ocean Council Listening Sessions Begin June 9
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| Dear Fisheries' Stakeholders, Today, the Obama Administration proclaimed June as National Oceans Month, recognizing that healthy oceans matter to all Americans. In part, the President's proclamation states: "During National Oceans Month, we celebrate the value of our oceans to American life and recognize the critical role they continue to play in our economic progress, national security, and natural heritage. Waterborne commerce, sustainable commercial fisheries, recreational fishing, boating, tourism, and energy production are all able to contribute to job growth and strengthen our economy because of the bounty of our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes." Here at NOAA Fisheries, we are really looking forward to several Washington, D.C-based events including Capitol Hill Oceans Week and the Smithsonian Sustainable Seafood Festival. On June 7, NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco will deliver the keynote address at CHOW. And, on June 9, Dr. Lubchenco will participate in a Smithsonian-sponsored panel discussion of sustainable seafood with an emphasis on the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, on June 9 in Washington, D.C. and Alaska, the National Ocean Council will take another important step to implement the nation's first comprehensive ocean policy by launching a series of 12 public listening sessions aimed at gathering public input from the communities and economies that depend on and care for our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes. As part of this process, the council also launched a month-long online public review period for strategic action plan outlines to be developed over the summer. Feedback and comments gathered through this public engagement will assist the council as it implements a new National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, Our coasts, and the Great Lakes. |
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