www.floridaoceanalliance.org   

Research & Resources Last updated: 05/01/2007

Solving the Crisis in Ocean Governance
By Oran R. Young, Gail Osherenko, Julia Ekstrom, Larry B. Crowder, John Ogden, James A. Wilson, Jon C. Day, Fanny Douvere, Charles N. Ehler, Karen L. McLeod, Benjamin S. Halpern, and Robbin Peach
Environment Magazine (May 2007)

Florida’s Ocean and Coastal Economies Report Click here to view entire report NOAA maps of coastal economic measures from the NOEP Florida study Summary of Findings Ocean Economy In 2003, Florida’s direct Ocean Economy (GSP) was an estimated $13 billion ranking second in the nation behind California. Florida’s total Ocean Economy that same year (including multipliers) was an estimated $23.2 billion. The total Florida Ocean Economy (with multipliers) contributed 3.2% of Florida employment and 4.5% of Florida GSP in 2003. Employment forecasts for the Ocean Economy Project a 73% growth with more than 268,000 new jobs by 2015. Coastal Economy In 2003, Florida’s Coastal Economy (shoreline counties) contributed an estimated $402 billion, or 77% of the state’s total economy. Florida contributed 9.7% of the national Coastal Economy GSP in 2003, with only 4.6% of the national coastal county land area. In 2003, shoreline counties contributed more than 70% of all employment, population and housing in the state with only 56% of land area.

Special Salute to the Florida Oceans and Coastal Research Council's 2006 Research Plan

Florida's Coastal and Ocean Future
A new report by several leading environmental groups says Florida's coastline and oceans are in trouble.  Among the problems - short-sighted coastal development, pollution, and a fragmented system of state and local protection agencies that don't communicate with each other.

Read the full report at: http://www.nrdc.org/water/oceans/florida/flfuture.pdf

The World Ocean Observatory Newsletter is now online!
Check it out at http://www.thew2o.net/newsletter.html

Oceans Council presentation to the Florida Senate Environmental Preservations and Conservation Committee

Altered Oceans: A five-part series on the crisis in the seas.
by Kenneth R. Weiss and Usha Lee Mc Farling, photography and video by Rick Loomis

Key Findings of NOEP report on Florida’s Ocean and Coastal Economies (pdf)
If you wish to review the full report, here is the link: http://noep.csumb.edu/Download/Fl_study.pdf

State of the Oceans 2006
U. S. Senate hearing on the National Ocean Policy Study Subcommittee Hearing (8/3/06)

Download the Executive Order on Presidential Oceans Policy Committee (pdf)

The Florida Hurricane Alliance April quarterly reports and workshop presentations have all been uploaded onto the website

CEQ's Website, containing material on the White House response to the Ocean Commission response
View the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) Interagency Ocean Policy Group (IOPG) Web site. To consider the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy (USCOP) recommendations and help formulate the Administration’s response, CEQ assembled the IOPG, a representative body of Executive Branch programs dedicated to the management and conservation of our oceans and coasts.
 

Testimony of Dr. Shirley A. Pomponi (pdf)
Acting Managing Director, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution before the Committee on Science U.S. House of Representatives on U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy: Recommendations for an Updated National Ocean Policy
May 5, 2004

Testimony by Arthur B. Baggeroer (pdf)
Before The Subcommittee on Defense Senate Committee on Appropriations by Arthur B. Baggeroer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, on behalf of the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education
May 5, 2004
 

Preliminary Report of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy - Governors' Draft
Released by the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy on April 20, 2004, this document presents the Commission’s preliminary findings and recommendations for a new, coordinated, and comprehensive national ocean policy. Mandated by the Oceans Act of 2000, the Preliminary Report is now available for review and comment by the nation’s Governors and interested stakeholders.
See also
Article in Miami Herald
DEP Press Release
Commentary in St. Pete Times
Palm Beach Post Editorial
Stuart News Editorial
Florida Today
Keynews
Gainesville Sun (4/21)
Gainesville Sun (4/25)

Trouble at Sea By Richard D. West (pdf)
President Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education (CORE)
Press Release on Ocean Commission Report
 

The National Marine Protected Areas Center (Newsletter)
It is located within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the Department of Commerce. It fosters targeted research, assessment and policy analysis on aspects of the design, management and evaluation of MPAs. The MPA Center’s Training and Technical Assistance Institute in Charleston, South Carolina, pro-vides training, needs assessments and technical support to managers and stakeholders involved in MPAs. See www.mpa.gov

Plans for Earth Observing System Under Way
Washington Post Editorial by David Broder
The goal, as Lautenbacher explained in a joint interview with Leavitt, is no less than "bringing together all the systems we have into one global network" that will monitor changes in the oceans, the atmosphere and everything in between

2002 State of Florida's Ocean, Executive Summary
(Acrobat format, 140 kb; posted 2/7/02)

MSNBC Report: Oceans in crisis, will Bush step up?
His experts advise landmark changes in upcoming report
President Bush's oceans advisory panel is about to issue a report calling for a completely new approach to protecting marine life, but already the feeling among some experts is that the president won't have much of an appetite for heeding the advice. Great slideshow included in article.
 

PowerPoint Presentation on the Economics of Beaches (pdf, 1.3 mb)
Presentation by Lenore Alpert and Dr. William Stronge from Florida Atlantic University at The National Conference on Beach Preservation Technology, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, February 11-13, 2004

Database of Information on Gulf of Mexico
GulfBase is an initiative of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies (HRI) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. One of the main goals of the HRI is to promote and support research focused on the sustainable use and conservation of the Gulf of Mexico. GulfBase.org is a centralized database of people, institutions, projects, and other information related to the Gulf of Mexico, including exploration history and geographic features such as bays, estuaries, lagoons, reefs and banks. (posted 3/04)

DEEP TROUBLE: THE GULF IN PERIL
Take a look at this 15 part series presented by the Naples Daily News going in depth into the crisis in the Gulf of Mexico. This website offers video, animation, and narrative to present it's case. The series started on Sept 29, 2003.

Pew Oceans Commission Releases Final Findings and Recommendations
Independent Oceans Commission calls for Immediate Reforms
Scientists, fishermen, conservationists, elected leaders, and business officials unveil recommendations to avert decline of ocean wildlife and collapse of ocean ecosystems
posted 6/4/2003

The Ocean Conservancy Applauds NOAA’s Protections of the Florida Keys from Large International Ships
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced today that it will provide additional protection to the Florida Keys from the risks posed by thousands of large international ships that pass through the area each year.
[more] posted 11/17/02)

Pew Oceans Commission - October E-Newsletter
Ocean ecosystems need greater protection, says new Commission report.
[more] posted 10/30/02)

Opinion: Growth trends pose global threat to ocean FLORIDA TODAY Oct 13, 6:53 PM
Early this year, with little fanfare, a new federal commission began an 18-month study of the world's oceans and related U.S. policies. The blue-ribbon panel is headed by James Watkins, a former chief of Naval operations who directed the Energy Department in the first Bush administration.
[More] (Posted 10/18/02)

On the Water's Edge: EPA's Ocean & Coastal Programs
by Suzanne E. Schwartz, Craig Vogt, & Katherine Bruce
an article on Terrain.org, a journal of the built and natural environments
Oceans and coastal waters are an integral part of our daily lives. Yet, despite their tremendous importance and incredible value, our oceans and coastal waters are under serious environmental stress from an array of different sources. This article provides background information regarding environmental aspects of oceans and coastal waters, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency activities to enhance and protect them. [More] (posted 9/16/02)
 

Testimony by John Ogden to House Fisheries Committee. Presented on June 27, 2002.

Pew Ocean Commissioners Host Members of U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy at Los Angeles Hearing

Remarks by Mr. James Murley for the US Ocean Commission meeting on Feb. 22 in St. Petersburg on the development and integration of Florida's policies with Federal laws and programs.

NOS's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) and Coastal Services Center (CRC), in conjunction with coastal managers, have been working on a web-based learning and reference tool called "Coastal Management for Practitioners." The first module, "Coastal Management Framework," has just been brought online.
Visit the site at: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/cmfp/admin/welcome.htm

Watch this video from the Heritage Foundation on:
"America’s First Maritime Line of Defense: The U.S. Coast Guard," recorded on 12/17/01.
(You may need to scroll down to see the listing for this event - requires Realplayer)

Check out NBC's EcoWatch series and weekly columns by FOA's own Dr. Ellen Prager on the "Secrets of the Sea"

• Watch video footage from the EcoWatch series
• Read a recent "Secrets of the Seas" article

Decline of Florida's Reefs is not a Mystery
Op-ed piece for the Miami Herald

Maintaining Diversity in the Oceans:
Issues for the New U.S. Administration
by John C. Ogden

Brochure on the Rosenstiel Oceanographic Labs
aboard Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas
Images of Page 1, Page 2 (Size: 100 kb each)

Comments on Corridors for Fiber Optic Cables,
by John Ogden

Oceans: The Source for All (size: approx. 1 mb)

Final Report of the Governor's Ocean Committee

Last updated: 05/01/2007