Ocean planning is a public process to plan for the future development and conservation of the ocean. As new industries compete for ocean space, we need to ensure that the marine ecosystem and recreational uses will be protected for future generations.
Surfrider represents coastal recreation users in ocean planning efforts in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Washington State. Our goal is to protect outstanding ocean and coastal places before they become threatened by development.
Please take action to support ocean planning and visit our regional pages to learn how to get more involved!
Join Today!Please make your voice heard and ask your representatives to support the National Ocean Policy and oppose any proposal that would restrict its funding or implementation!
The Surfrider Foundation and its partners are conducting coastal and ocean recreation studies in regions across the United States. The studies collect data from recreational users on non-consumptive activities such as beach going, surfing, kayaking, diving, and wildlife viewing.
Study results include spatial data (e.g., maps) and economic impact data. This information fills a key gap in our understanding of coastal and ocean uses and is being used to inform regional ocean planning efforts.
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Surfrider is an active participant in ocean planning in Washington State, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Northeast. Please click the links below to learn more about Surfrider’s efforts in these processes and how you can get involved!
What do some members of Congress have against the ocean? The House of Representatives recently passed several amendments that brazenly attack our National Ocean Policy. These provisions would restrict federal leadership and funding to protect our nation’s ocean, coast, and Great Lakes, and could be included in the final 2016 spending bill.
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Learn the facts!
Visit our Ocean Protection page for more information
Ocean planning is a public process that brings together different ocean stakeholders– including recreation, conservation, fishing, energy and government– to make informed decisions about how to use the ocean sustainably. Ocean planning reduces conflict among different uses, protects the natural environment and provides clear guidelines for private industry and developers. The Surfrider Foundation is a key stakeholder in ocean planning efforts, making sure recreational ocean users are heard in the public process.
Across the country, states and regions are beginning to use ocean planning to address the many competing uses off their coasts. In particular, ocean planning is being used to identify locations for renewable energy projects that will reduce impacts on the environment and existing users (e.g., surfers, fishermen). Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Oregon are some of the states that have developed spatial plans for their ocean waters, with other regions and states in the U.S. now following suit.
The Surfrider Foundation believes that ocean planning provides an important opportunity to protect 'special places' such as ecological and recreational areas before they are threatened by potential development. In New England, the Mid-Atlantic, and the West Coast, Surfrider Foundation has emerged as a key stakeholder in ocean planning, representing recreational ocean users in the public planning process.
Surfrider's engagement in MSP includes:
