Who We Are

We are ocean stakeholders. We represent a broad range of industries and interests, and we each use and rely on the ocean in different ways. We don’t agree on everything. But we all agree on the importance of ocean planning and seek to share in its benefits. We want to explain in our own words why we believe that ocean planning helps keep the ocean working, for all of us.

  • Ed Anthes-Washburn, Port of New Bedford
  • Lisa Auermuller, Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve
  • Sean Barrett, Dock to Dish
  • Kristen Berry, JWorld Annapolis
  • Marcia Blount, Blount Boats
  • Sean Bogus, Northeast Marine Pilots Association
  • Thomas BronstØm, General Manager of North America, DONG Energy Wind Power
  • Chris Brown, Brown Family Seafood
  • Shelley Brown, Sailors for the Sea
  • Liz Burdock, Business Network for Offshore Wind
  • Jason Busch, Oregon Wave Energy Trust
  • Beth Casoni, Massachusetts Lobsterman’s Association
  • Allyson Cavaretta, Meadowmere Resort
  • Bobby Clinton III, McAllister Towing of Virginia
  • Hugh Cowperthwaite, Coastal Enterprises, Inc.
  • Phil Cruver, Catalina Sea Ranch
  • Jeff Deem, Recreation Fishing Representative
  • Jon Forrest Dohlin, WCS New York Aquarium
  • Matt Gove, Surfrider Foundation
  • Jeff Grybowski, Deepwater Wind
  • Helen Henderson, American Littoral Society
  • John Henshaw, Maine Port Authority
  • Mary Ann Horrigan, New England Science & Sailing (NESS)
  • Eric Johansson, SUNY Maritime
  • Jason Kelly, Moran Shipping Agencies, Inc.
  • Sean Kline, Chamber of Shipping of America
  • Mark Klopp, Portland Pilots, Inc.
  • Arthur H. Kopelman, Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island
  • Chris Ludford, Pleasure House Oysters
  • Wendy Lull, Seacoast Science Center
  • Carleen Lyden-Kluss, North American Marine Environment Protection Association
  • Tony MacDonald, Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute
  • Brian Marcaurelle, Maine Island Trail Association
  • Evan Matthews, Port of Davisville
  • Chris Mayo, Wells Harbor Master
  • Stephanie McLellan, Special Initiative on Offshore Wind
  • Capt. John McMurray, One More Cast Charters, Inc.
  • Richard Nelson, Lobsterman
  • North Atlantic Ports Association
  • Bianca Piccillo & Mark Usewicz, Mermaid’s Garden Sustainable Seafood
  • Randy Repass, West Marine
  • Bob Rheault, East Coast Shellfish Growers Association
  • Stephen Roberts, Delaware Pilots
  • Mike Schaadt, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
  • Paul Sieswerda, Gotham Whale
  • David Sikorski, Conservationist and Recreational Advocate
  • Bill Silkes, American Mussel Harvesters, Inc.
  • Bill Staby, Resolute Marine Energy
  • Kevin Stokesbury, PhD, School for Marine Science and Technology, University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth
  • Cindy West, Cedar Island Oyster Farm
  • Kate Williams, Biodiversity Research Institute
  • John Williamson, Sea Keeper Fishery Consulting
  • Paul Williamson, Maine Ocean & Wind Industry Initiative
  • Charles Witek
  • Rebecca Clark Uchenna, Island Institute

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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