PRESS RELEASE
September 10, 2007

SAN DIEGO – The Joint Ocean Commission Initiative has launched a campaign to improve local and state government efforts to protect ocean and coastal areas with the local support of San Diego County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price.

In a letter, Slater-Price requested a report from the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative, co-chaired by Admiral James D. Watkins, U.S. Navy (Ret.) and former Congressman Leon E. Panetta. The Commission will provide ideas on how local and state governments can implement the following in California, Oregon and Washington:

• Ecosystem-based management
• Improved regional ocean governance
• Sound science in decision making  

“Government must consider environmental concerns in its decision-making process,” Slater-Price said. “In San Diego County, we treasure our ocean and coastal areas as not only a beautiful resource, but also a tremendous tourism draw. We must work to protect that important resource.”

Joint Ocean Commission Initiative Co-Chair Leon Panetta said “protecting our oceans and coasts starts at the local level.”

The following California leaders, joined by 11 elected leaders from Oregon and Washington, requested input in the letter to the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative:
Senator Darrell Steinberg
Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee
Assemblyman Pedro Nava
Nancy Gardner, Newport Beach Council Member

The letter from Slater-Price and other officials requests that the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative, “provide a report identifying the highest priority actions that should be taken to ensure local governments and state legislators in Washington, Oregon and California are able to effectively advance our mutual interest in vibrant, sustainable, and resilient coastal communities and ocean resources.”

Slater-Price and other signatories of the letter expressed hope that, “a report back to us could provide broader West Coast recommendations as well as specific state-by-state recommendations that could build support for local initiatives and opportunities for action.”

Contact: Erica Holloway @ (619) 531-5857

The Joint Ocean Commission Initiative is a collaborative effort of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and Pew Oceans Commission to catalyze ocean policy reform. The Initiative is guided by a ten-member Task Force, five from each Commission, and led by Admiral James D. Watkins and the Honorable Leon E. Panetta, chairs of the U.S. Commission and Pew Commission, respectively. The primary goal of the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative is to accelerate the pace of change that results in meaningful ocean policy reform.