KEEP THE OCEAN WORKING

Working Together for the Future of our Ocean and Economy

We make our living off the ocean, studying the ocean, enjoying the ocean. Because we use the ocean, we need ocean planning. It is common-sense and science-based. Ocean planning is about better data, better collaboration, and practical solutions that benefit us all. It ensures that the ocean—one of America’s greatest natural assets—remains a natural and economic resource for generations to come.

Read stories in support of ocean planning

Aquaculture Rhode Island

Cindy West

Owner, Cedar Island Oyster Farm

"Family owned and operated"
Ports, Maritime & Shipping Virginia

Bobby Clinton III

Port Compliance Director, McAllister Towing of Virginia

"It is our legacy to help renew and protect the oceans and waterways of our planet"
Aquaculture Connecticut

Bob Rheault

Executive Director, East Coast Shellfish Growers Association

"Growing opportunities for shellfish growers"
Renewable Energy

Liz Burdock

Executive Director, Business Network for Offshore Wind

Tourism and Recreation Connecticut

Megan Strand

Program Director, New England Science & Sailing (NESS)

"Building brighter futures through ocean adventures"
Conservation Maine

Brian Marcaurelle

Program Director, Maine Island Trail Association

"Protecting the wild islands of coastal Maine"
Science Maine

Kate Williams

Wildlife and Renewable Energy Program Director, Biodiversity Research Institute

"Improving our understanding of ocean wildlife"
Recreational Fishing Maryland

David Sikorski

Conservationist and Recreational Fisheries Advocate

"Fishing with an eye toward the future"
Commercial Fishing Massachusetts

Beth Casoni

Executive Director, Massachusetts Lobsterman's Association

"Strengthening the future for our lobstermen"
Ports, Maritime & Shipping Delaware

Capt. Stephen Roberts

Pilots’ Association for the Bay & River Delaware

"Ensuring the safety of our mariners, the environment and the security of our industries"
Tourism and Recreation New Hampshire

Wendy Lull

President, Seacoast Science Center

"Education that connects communitites to the ocean"
Ports, Maritime & Shipping

Jason Kelly

Executive Vice President, Moran Shipping Agencies, Inc.

"Largest independent steamship agency in North America"
Tourism and Recreation New York

Paul Sieswerda

Executive Director, Gotham Whale

"Connecting urban coast and wild ocean"
Science Massachusetts

Kevin Stokesbury, Ph.D.

Chair Department of Fisheries Oceanography, School for Marine Science and Technology, University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth

"Science for the ocean economy"
Tourism and Recreation Maine

Allyson Cavaretta

Director of Sales and Marketing, Meadowmere Resort

"Promoting healthy oceans for visitors near and far"
Commercial Fishing Maine

Richard Nelson

Lobsterman

"Old school fisheries in a modern ocean"
Ports, Maritime & Shipping Maine

Chris Mayo

Kennebunkport Harbormaster and Cape Porpoise Pier Manager

"Balancing ocean health in a busy harbor"
Ports, Maritime & Shipping Rhode Island

Robert Blackburn

Director, Port of Davisville

"Representing Rhode Island’s premiere gateway port to markets throughout Southern New England"
Commercial Fishing New York

Bianca Piccillo & Mark Usewicz

Founder, Mermaid's Garden Sustainable Seafood

Conservation New Jersey

Helen Henderson

Atlantic Coast Program Manager, American Littoral Society

Tourism and Recreation New York

Arthur H. Kopelman, Ph.D.

President, Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island

Conservation Delaware

Matt Gove

Mid-Atlantic Policy Manager, Surfrider Foundation

Commercial Fishing New York

Sean Barrett

Fishermen, Conservationist, Restaurateur & Co-Founder, Dock to Dish

Tourism and Recreation Maryland

Kristen Berry

Director, JWorld Annapolis

"Maintaining the traditions and safety of the sailing sport"
Ports, Maritime & Shipping Connecticut

Captain Sean Bogus

President, Northeast Marine Pilots Association

Ports, Maritime & Shipping Rhode Island

Marcia Blount

President, Blount Boats

"Building state of the art vessels for traditional and future ocean uses"
Science New Jersey

Tony MacDonald

Director, Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute

"Bridging science and policy to enhance the quality of life for future generations"
Renewable Energy Massachusetts

Bill Staby

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Resolute Marine Energy

"Generating clean energy from ocean waves"
Ports, Maritime & Shipping

Carleen Lyden-Kluss

Executive Director & Co-Founder, NAMEPA

"Shipping industry leader preserving the marine environment"
Renewable Energy Oregon

Jason Busch

Executive Director, OWET

"Harnessing the Pacific Northwest's marine energy"
Renewable Energy National

Sophie Hartfield Lewis

Head of Permitting, Marine Affairs and Real Estate, Orsted North America

Aquaculture New York

Murray Fisher

Chair, Billion Oyster Project

Aquaculture Connecticut

Bren Smith

Executive Director and Co-founder, GreenWave

National Security

Molly Donohue Magee

Executive Director, Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance (SENEDIA)

Ports, Maritime & Shipping California

Michael B. Jones

President, The Maritime Alliance

"Promoting sustainable, science-based ocean & water industries"
Recreational Fishing

Tom Raftican

President, The Sportfishing Conservancy

Renewable Energy California

Kevin Banister

Senior Manager of Business Development, Principle Power Inc.

Science

Gary Gysin

President and CEO, Liquid Robotics®

Ports, Maritime & Shipping New York

Eric Johansson

Professor of Marine Transportation, SUNY Maritime

Recreational Boating Rhode Island

Shelley Brown, PhD

Marine Scientist and Education Director, Sailors for the Sea

Commercial Fishing Maine

Rebecca Clark Uchenna

Marine Programs Associate, Island Institute

Recreational Boating National

Randy Repass

Founder, West Marine

"Working to conserve marine resources to help people enjoy and recreate on and around the water"
Science California

Mike Schaadt

Director, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

Aquaculture Virginia

Chris Ludford

Oyster Farmer and Owner, Pleasure House Oysters

Ports, Maritime & Shipping Maine

John Henshaw

Executive Director, Maine Port Authority

Recreational Fishing New York

Capt. John McMurray

Owner, One More Cast Charters, Inc.

Science New Jersey

Lisa Auermuller

Watershed / Outreach Coordinator, Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve

Conservation New York

Jon Forrest Dohlin

VP and Director, WCS New York Aquarium

Ports, Maritime & Shipping

Sean Kline

Director of Marine Affairs, Chamber of Shipping of America

Ports, Maritime & Shipping Connecticut

North Atlantic Ports Association

Ports, Maritime & Shipping Massachusetts

Ed Anthes-Washburn

Port Director and HDC Executive Director, Port of New Bedford

Renewable Energy Delaware

Stephanie McLellan

Director, Special Initiative on Offshore Wind

Recreational Fishing Connecticut

Charles Witek

Commercial Fishing Rhode Island

Capt. Chris Brown

Brown Family Seafood

"Delivering the finest seafood is a family affair"
Ports, Maritime & Shipping Massachusetts

Capt. Gary Oliveira

Providence Steamboat Company

"Providing ship assist services on Narragansett Bay"
Recreational Fishing Virginia

Jeff Deem

Recreational Fishing Representative

"A voice for recreational fishermen"
Commercial Fishing

John Williamson

Sea Keeper Fishery Consulting

"Building on the cultural heritage of our commercial fishing industry"
Aquaculture Maine

Hugh Cowperthwaite

Fisheries Project Director, Coastal Enterprises, Inc.

"Financing the future of our coastal economy"
Renewable Energy Maine

Paul Williamson

Former Director & Industry Coordinator, Maine Ocean & Wind Industry Initiative

"Building Maine's ocean energy future"
Ports, Maritime & Shipping Maine

Mark Klopp

President, Portland Pilots, Inc.

"Ensuring safety comes first in maritime navigation"
Aquaculture Rhode Island

Bill Silkes

Owner, American Mussel Harvesters, Inc.

"Providing renewable protein resources while balancing multiple ocean uses"

Why We Need Ocean Planning

The ocean and coasts are active places, and we’re putting more demands on them every day. Think about it: traditional uses such as fishing, boating, shipping, recreation, and tourism are all changing and expanding, and at the same time we’re pioneering new industries alongside them like wind energy and sand mining. Ocean planning is about thinking ahead and planning for how to make it all work. Otherwise, we put the ocean’s vast, yet fragile, resources at risk. Voluntary ocean planning allows us to coordinate all these uses in a way that benefits our economy, our communities, and ocean health. Ocean planning is a science-based and data-driven process that provides a tool for people and government to work together, share information and solve problems in a way that works for everyone. Ocean planning helps to identify and resolve potential conflicts early on, helping decision makers and stakeholders in both the private and public sectors do their jobs better. This creates better outcomes for everyone, supporting a healthy ocean and vibrant economy

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