Barack Obama's Outlook On The Ocean
Beginning with these 3,400 questions, Science Debate 2008 worked with the leading organizations listed to craft the top 14 questions the candidates should answer. The following is Barack Obama’s response to the question regarding ocean health:
“Scientists estimate that some 75 percent of the
world’s fisheries are in serious decline and habitats around the world
like coral reefs are seriously threatened. What steps, if any, should
the United States take during your presidency to protect ocean health?”
Oceans are crucial to the earth's ecosystem and to all Americans because they drive
global weather patterns, feed our people and are a major source of employment for
fisheries and recreation. As president, I will commit my administration to develop the
kind of strong, integrated, well-managed program of ocean stewardship that is essential to
sustain a healthy marine environment.
Global climate change could have catastrophic effects on ocean ecologies. Protection of
the oceans is one of the many reasons I have developed an ambitious plan to reduce U.S.
emissions of greenhouse gases 80 percent below 1990 by 2050. We need to enhance our
understanding of the effect of climate change on oceans and the effect of acidification on
marine life through expanded research programs at NASA, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). I will propel the U.S. into a leadership position in
marine stewardship and climate change research. Stronger collaboration across U.S.
scientific agencies and internationally is needed in basic research and for designing
mitigation strategies to reverse or offset the damage being done to oceans and coastal
areas.
The oceans are a global resource and a global responsibility for which the U.S. can and
should take a more active role. I will work actively to ensure that the U.S. ratifies the
Law of the Sea Convention – an agreement supported by more than 150 countries that
will protect our economic and security interests while providing an important
international collaboration to protect the oceans and its resources. My administration will
also strengthen regional and bilateral research and oceans preservation efforts with other
Gulf Coast nations.
Our coastal areas and beaches are American treasures and are among our favorite places
to live and visit. I will work to reauthorize the Coastal Zone Management Act in ways
that strengthen the collaboration between federal agencies and state and local
organizations. The National Marine Sanctuaries and the Oceans and Human Health Acts
provide essential protection for ocean resources and support the research needed to
implement a comprehensive ocean policy. These programs will be strengthened and
reauthorized.
You can read the answers to all of the top 14 questions here.
