Today, the Obama Administration took another important step to implement the nation’s first comprehensive ocean policy by launching a series of events aimed at gathering public input from the communities and economies that depend on and care for our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes.

“The Consortium for Ocean Leadership applauds Senators Whitehouse and Snowe for introducing S.973, a bill to establish a National Endowment for the Oceans, Coasts, and Great Lakes (NEO),” said Robert B. Gagosian, President & CEO of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership.

We know we cannot let our oceans go unprotected. Not only would it be a tragedy for the millions of marine species that rely on these precious ecosystems, but it could devastate our economy.

With coastal communities throughout the country struggling in this economy, and coastal ecosystems facing a barrage of environmental challenges, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) today introduced legislation to protect our oceans and coasts, and the research, tourism, and fishing jobs they support.

[ June 7, 2011 to June 9, 2011. ] As the premier ocean-focused conference held annually in Washington, DC, Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW) brings together Members of Congress and Congressional staff; federal, state, and local government institutions; and experts from industry, academia, and the nonprofit community in an effort to shape marine policy discussions and incite lively conversation about current ocean and coastal issues.

Congress has been on recess for two weeks in April and will reconvene on May 2. However, a government shut-down was averted at the eleventh hour as President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) and Speaker of the House Boehner (R-OH) reached a budget accord.

Under an unprecedented agreement, BP has agreed to provide $1 billion toward early restoration projects in the Gulf of Mexico. This is the largest agreement of its kind ever reached. These projects will begin to address impacts to natural resources caused by the Deepwater BP oil spill.

On the first anniversary of the BP oil well blowout, regional and national leaders urged Congress to hold BP accountable by passing legislation to dedicate BP’s Clean Water Act (CWA) fines to restoring the Gulf’s damaged environment and economy.

U.S. Sen. David Vitter is asking oil giant BP to put up cash now to help Louisiana with its restoration efforts after last year’s oil spill, rather than wait until a complex tally of what the company will owe is complete.

A strong case can be made that fishing is America’s oldest profession. Europeans were using parts of what is now Atlantic Canada as seasonal fish camps as far back as the early 15th century—even before Columbus confused the Caribbean for the shores of India.

Six months into the fiscal year, Republicans and Democrats continue to battle over the FY11 budget. Senate Majority Leaders Harry Reid (D-NV) announced that negotiators had reached a tentative agreement to cut $33 billion in spending from the FY10 levels.

In the wake of Japan’s tsunami disaster, NOAA is urging Americans who live and vacation at the coast to take the threat of tsunamis seriously.