The first-ever National Ocean Conference held June 11 and 12 has put the spotlight on ocean management with an intensity that is brighter than at any other time in our history. The critical issues affecting oceans clearly have gotten the attention of this administration, which unveiled a comprehensive national oceans policy during the conference.
Speaking from Monterey, California, President Bill Clinton pledged a $224 million initiative to enhance the health of our oceans while expanding ocean opportunities in responsible ways for the environment. His proposal included standing firm against off-shore oil drilling; rebuilding fish stocks and protecting essential fish habitats; protecting and restoring coral reefs; releasing previously classified data to help researchers track marine mammals, predict storms, detect illegal fishing, and gain new insights into the complexities of climate change; providing new submersibles and tools for mapping and exploring the ocean's depths; ratifying the Convention on the Law of the Sea; and creating an oceans commission charged with shaping a new strategy to preserve the natural resources of our oceans and seas.
The attention generated from this conference and the president's initiatives should encourage greater public awareness and support for coastal ocean issues. The information gathered from further ocean exploration, as well as the sharing of data between organizations identifying common ocean goals, should also improve our ability to effectively manage coastal resources.
Several of the stories in this issue of Coastal Services illustrate the technological leaps that are already being made that can help us do our jobs even more effectively. For instance, the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management Office partnered with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to put their entire library of coastal orthophotographs on the Internet. State and federal partners are also working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center to develop a regional ocean geographic information system.
This is an exciting time to be involved in coastal resource management. All of us working together and sharing information guarantees that we will stay on course.
-- Margaret A. Davidson
