sector

Tourism and Recreation

Activities such as surfing, sailing, beach going, wildlife viewing, sightseeing, photography and more are a critical part of our cultural fabric. From coast to coast, recreation and tourism drive local economies, contributing $97 billion in GDP, $45.7 billion in wages, and over 2 million jobs.

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New York

Arthur H. Kopelman, Ph.D.

President, Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island

Delaware

Matt Gove

Mid-Atlantic Policy Manager, Surfrider Foundation

Connecticut

Megan Strand

Program Director, New England Science & Sailing (NESS)

"Building brighter futures through ocean adventures"
Maryland

Kristen Berry

Director, JWorld Annapolis

"Maintaining the traditions and safety of the sailing sport"
New York

Paul Sieswerda

Executive Director, Gotham Whale

"Connecting urban coast and wild ocean"
New Hampshire

Wendy Lull

President, Seacoast Science Center

"Education that connects communitites to the ocean"
Maine

Brian Marcaurelle

Program Director, Maine Island Trail Association

"Protecting the wild islands of coastal Maine"
Maine

Allyson Cavaretta

Director of Sales and Marketing, Meadowmere Resort

"Promoting healthy oceans for visitors near and far"

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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