None The Nature Conservancy in Washington Press Releases Search All Press Releases Robin Stanton The Nature Conservancy rstanton@tnc.org, (206) 343-4345, ext 338

Mapping the Future of the Ocean

Collaborative effort can improve future energy projects.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON — October 2009  —  Wind power. Tidal power. Wave energy. People have turned to the ocean for millennia for food, recreation, transportation and spiritual sustenance. We are increasingly turning to the ocean to meet our renewable energy needs.

How do we satisfy all these needs while maintaining a healthy ocean?

The leadership of the West Coast Governors’ Agreement on Ocean Health launched on Oct. 5 an 18-month collaborative process to develop a report that will inform future permitting and siting of renewable energy projects along the entire west coast of the United States.

The states of California, Oregon, and Washington, with support from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Environmental Protection Agency, came together in 2008 to develop an Action Plan to improve our marine resources.

The three states, along with The Nature Conservancy, NOAA, and the Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service hosted a two-day workshop in Seattle Oct. 5 and 6 to discuss what data, information and tools should be considered in siting ocean renewable energy projects.

“Our oceans are a vital resource,” Gov. Chris Gregoire said. “It is imperative we take care of our waters, and understand how future development may have an impact on wildlife and recreation. I am pleased we are bringing together a group of experts to identify thoughtful strategies to accommodate new uses such as renewable energy, while ensuring a healthy ocean.”

Invited representatives from local, state and federal agencies, tribal governments, energy commissions, energy technology and ocean-related industries, nongovernmental organizations, and academia will gather together to reach a greater understanding of the issues involved in planning for ocean health and the tools that will enable a broad spectrum of stakeholders to work together.

Marine spatial planning is one of those tools. It’s designed to bring together diverse users of the ocean to provide information and data for decision-makers to make informed and coordinated decisions about how to use marine resources. Marine spatial planning uses a variety of tools, including maps, to create a comprehensive picture of a marine area and the activities that occur there.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.