Chris Mann, director of the Pew Environment Group's Campaign for Healthy Oceans, issued the following statement today in response to the markup of the National Endowment for the Oceans, Coasts and Great Lakes Act in the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
“Our nation does not end at the shoreline but extends up to 200 miles out to sea. For the United States, the ocean has always been an important component of our environmental heritage and our economic prosperity. However, decades of misuse and overuse have taken their toll on our waters. There is no quick fix for these problems; what we need is steady, long-term investment to protect, maintain and restore the health of marine ecosystems that provide a livelihood and source of income for millions of Americans. Today's committee vote on the National Endowment for the Oceans Act significantly advances that important goal."