The National Ocean Policy Coalition supports the development and implementation of a sound, balanced ocean policy that:
1. Recognizes the critical role our oceans, coastal areas and marine ecosystems play in our nation’s economy, national security, culture, health and well-being;
2. Conserves the natural resources and marine habitat of our oceans and coastal regions;
3. Adheres to and respects the long-held principle of multiple use of our public lands and oceans without exclusionary zoning;
4. Enhances commercial and recreational activities, such as oil and gas development, minerals development, marine transport, commercial fishing, recreational fishing and boating, and tourism, that depend on our oceans and their resources and benefit our nation;
5. Enhances the National Security and sovereignty of the United States, putting the interests of the American people first;
6. Seeks to enrich our understanding of the oceans and the resources and benefits that they can provide to our nation;
7. Supports and enhances basic research that will give us a better understanding of the oceans and their ecosystems so that better informed decisions can be made about their use;
8. Acknowledges the role that various federal agencies play in managing ocean policy based on their mandates and jurisdiction and avoids ceding all regulatory power impacting the oceans and coastal areas to one agency;
9. Recognizes that while creating a cohesive national ocean policy is a desirable goal, change in the authority and roles that federal agencies, states and other entities play managing our ocean resources need to be in accordance with federal law; and
10. Acknowledges that federal authority should be limited to federal waters and should not infringe on state authorities to manage resources and activities under state jurisdiction.
