Today the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative (JOCI) released its 2007 U.S. Ocean Policy Report Card, its third annual look at the country’s ocean strategy from the previous year.  The report card is a bipartisan look at the nation’s progress toward implementing the recommendations of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the Pew Oceans Commission, as well as the actions described in the Administration’s U.S. Ocean Action Plan. The Consortium for Ocean Leadership agrees with the general assessment of the report card that the U.S. has not made substantial progress and needs to be more diligent in the search for solutions to protect and restore our oceans.

“JOCI has again taken a hard look at our government’s policy regarding the ocean. The members of Ocean Leadership hope that this will draw more attention and funding for ocean research, education and conservation programs,” said Robert B. Gagosian, President and CEO of Ocean Leadership. “Ocean Leadership remains committed to pursuing government policy that will ensure healthy oceans for generations to come.”

The report card shows small progress in three categories, worse grades in two categories and the grade remained the same in one category.  In New Funding for Ocean Policy and Programs the U.S. received a D+ after two consecutive years receiving an F.  In Regional & State Ocean Governance Reform the U.S. again received an A-, and was the highest grade by JOCI. Two of the key recommendations made in this report card are for the development of an integrated budget for Federal Ocean and coastal programs and to include the oceans in ongoing plans to address climate change and President Bush’s American Competitiveness Initiative.

                             JOCI 2007 U.S. Ocean Policy Report Card

• National Ocean Governance Reform = D                   (2006=C-)
• Regional & State Ocean Governance Reform = A-   (2006=A-)
• International Leadership = C+                                     (2006=D-)
• Research, Science & Education = C-                           (2006=D+)
• Fisheries Management Reform = C+                           (2006=B+)
• New Funding for Ocean Policy & Programs = D+        (2006=F)
• Links Between Oceans and Climate Change = C         (New)

“This Report Card indicates that we are making progress, but we still have a long way to go to better understand the oceans so we can conserve and manage our coastal and ocean resources,” added Gagosian.

The Consortium for Ocean Leadership was formed by the merger of the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education (CORE) and the Joint Oceanographic Institutions (JOI). Ocean Leadership is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization that represents 95 of the leading public and private ocean research education institutions, aquaria and industry with the mission to advance research, education and sound ocean policy.  The organization also manages ocean research and education programs in areas of scientific ocean drilling, ocean observing, ocean exploration, and ocean partnerships.

For more information about the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative log on to www.jointoceancommission.org.