The President's Budget: A good start for oceans, but more is needed

At first glance, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration appears to be one of the winners in the President’s budget, with a slight uptick in funding.  However, the increase, largely attributable to a $2 billion investment in climate and weather observing satellites, masks a decrease in overall operations and research funding.  A close look at the numbers does reflect the President’s efforts to promote responsible stewardship of our nation’s ocean and coastal areas, but we’ll be looking to increase the investments needed to safeguard our ocean resources. 

The President’s budget signals momentum towards a unified national ocean policy by funding new programs and increasing the budget in key areas, including:

• $6.7 million to conduct and support coastal and marine spatial planning in U.S. waters;
• $20 million to establish a competitive grants program supporting regional ocean partnerships that improve fragmented planning and to support priority actions of existing regional partnerships;
• $7.5 million for integrated ecosystem assessments that provide a holistic approach to ecosystem-based management;
• $11.6 million for research into the effects of ocean acidification, an understudied problem highlighted in NRDC’s recent film, Acid Test. 

This is an important first step in President Obama’s commitment to protect, restore and maintain our oceans, coasts and Great Lakes resources.  However, the proposed budget falls short of what is needed.  To truly put us on track, Congress needs to fund a comprehensive Ocean Policy Initiative, and would include, for example:

• $25 million for habitat mapping and characterization instrumental to coastal and marine spatial planning;
• $50 million total for Regional Ocean Partnerships to address priority marine and coastal issues within each region;
• $10 million for ocean ecosystem assessments and planning, which can prioritize data needs and policy issues in regions;

Investing in a comprehensive approach is needed to effectively implement a national ocean policy and a framework for coastal and marine spatial planning.

Additional investment is also needed to ensure the sustainability of our nation’s fisheries.  The National Marine Fisheries Service is slated to see a $15 million decrease in their budget.  Critically important funding for fisheries observer and enforcement programs is down, as is funding for habitat conservation and restoration.  Funding for fisheries research and management remains mostly flat, with the big exception of $54 million in new funding for a National Catch Share Program.

Overall, we are encouraged to see President Obama’s commitment to advancing the protection and restoration of our nation’s ocean resources, but we’ll be looking to Congress to increase support for these programs.