Commissions cp neg

National ocean policy increases public participation – reform comes from the bottom up.

A common misconception about marine planning is that regional planning bodies wield the power to make decisions about who can use the ocean and where certain activities can occur. In fact, regional planning bodies do not have this power; their purpose is simply to create a marine plan, which is not a regulatory action. With input from the public, ocean industries and all interested stakeholders, regional planning bodies first define what ocean issues they want to address in their regions and how they want to do so. Federal agencies can then use the resulting marine plan to ensure they fully understand and take into account regional priorities when exercising their existing statutory decision-making authorities. This coordinated planning process stands in sharp contrast to last-minute, project-by-project choices that so often can run afoul of one another and ultimately waste time and money. A common example of the need for this process comes from Rhode Island waters, where plans for a wind energy facility proceeded for months, and at significant expense, until it was discovered that the site in question was already being used for military training exercises. When people begin to discuss what activities are already happening and what uses may come in the future, they inevitably start discussing what kind of science and data they need, what the conflicts are and how they can be avoided—a process that can benefit all parties. We are already seeing that simply getting the federal agencies, states and stakeholders together (whether in person or remotely) to discuss marine activities in the region yields benefits. Marine planning will always have constraints, including that our information about ocean resources and ocean uses will never be perfect, but it is an ongoing process that is meant to be flexible as states of knowledge, and even values, change over time. Because these are inherently bottom-up, democratic processes, interest in a given region is the driving force for creating a regional planning body, and four regions have already established bodies: the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic, the Caribbean and the Pacific Islands. In other regions, discussions are underway to better understand how marine planning could work for those regions. In regions that choose not to establish a body, federal agencies are committed nonetheless to working cooperatively with each other and with states, tribes and stakeholders as they carry out their missions.

2NC AT: NOP=Increase Regulation/Bureaucratic Oversight

NOP doesn’t result in increased regulation – merely streamlines squo laws and agencies.

Marine Conservation Institute 11—a tax-exempt nonprofit ocean conservation organization working to identify and protect vulnerable ocean ecosystems worldwide (“FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NATIONAL OCEAN POLICY AND COASTAL AND MARINE SPATIAL PLANNING,” Marine Conservation Institute, 8/9, http://www.marine-conservation.org/media/filer_public/2011/08/09/faq_-trajan.pdf)//FJ

“The National Policy does not establish any new regulations or restrict any ocean uses or activities. It does not require new legislation in order to be implemented and does not supersede or alter any agency or department’s existing authority.” —Final Recommendations of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force, 2010 The National Ocean Policy was created because we have too many laws and regulations, which need harmonizing and streamlining if we are serious about better ocean governance. The challenge today is to make ocean governance effective. What is needed is an overarching approach that manages and protects both our ecosystems and the economies they support. An overarching strategy would coordinate mandates, integrate planning amongst sectors and create a broader view of the benefits and impacts stemming from the use of our ocean resources. Our ability to care for our nation’s coastal and marine resources as a whole depends on an approach that is holistic, not helter skelter.

2NC NOP Solves Economy

NOP supports the economy – increases productivity of coastal regions

Center for American Progress 11—an independent educational, public policy research, and advocacy organization (“National Ocean Policy Ensures Economic Growth, Security, and Resilience,” Center for American Progress, 10/24, http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/green/report/2011/10/24/10485/national-ocean-policy-ensures-economic-growth-security-and-resilience/)//FJ

National Ocean Policy will preserve the health of oceans and the local economies they support In addition to supporting COP, the National Ocean Policy contains eight other national priority objectives, including the establishment of a science-based strategy to align conservation and restoration goals at federal, state, tribal, local, and regional levels and the strengthening and integration of federal and nonfederal ocean observing systems and data management into one national system, to then be integrated into international observation efforts. Our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes are critical components of our nation’s economy. U.S. coastal counties are home to more than half of all Americans, generate an estimated $8 trillion per year, and support 69 million jobs. Tourism, recreation, and fishing contributed $18.9 billion to Florida’s GDP in 2005. In addition to the benefits the entire nation will reap from implementation of the nine priority objectives in the NOP, Florida’s coast is particularly vulnerable to sea level rise as a result of global climate change, and its reefs are at significant risk from ocean warming and acidification. The NOP’s goals include strengthening resiliency of coastal communities to these threats. As of 2007 more than 85 percent of California’s gross domestic product and nearly 12 million jobs came from economic activity in these coastal estuarine areas. California’s state government has prioritized ocean conservation and has used the concept of COP in implementation of the Marine Life Protection Act, which used stakeholder input to develop the boundaries of marine protected areas within its state waters. And in Michigan, a state deeply affected by the economic downturn, 15 percent of all jobs are associated with the Great Lakes, and they make up 23 percent of the total payroll. While some would imply that the administration is over-reaching its authority by extending ocean policy to the Great Lakes, the core missions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, BOEMRE, and other federal agencies with oversight of ocean activities already encompass the Great Lakes. This is appropriate as activities on the Lakes, including fishing, boating, shipping, and energy development, are equivalent to their maritime counterparts. Declining ocean health and a lack of effective coordination among regional groups, states, and federal bodies is putting this great economic engine at risk. Wise investment in the future of our oceans will provide a tune-up for our marine economic engine that will keep it running smoothly for future generations. On the other hand, failing to address these inadequacies will inevitably prove disastrous.

NOP k2 revitalizing stability

Huffington Post 13 – Huffington Post, “Why We Need a National Ocean Policy”, 4/24/2013, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sea-to-table/why-we-need-a-national-oc_b_3149217.html

¶ ¶ This week over one billion people in 192 countries celebrated Earth Day. We planted trees, shared recycling tips, pledged action to combat climate change, and took a moment to reflect on what nature has given us. Wendell Berry once said, "The earth is what we all have in common," but consider these statistics: 71 percent of the Earth's surface is covered in water, and 80 percent of the Earth's population lives near the ocean. Yet 95 percent of the Earth's ocean remains unexplored, and we know more about the mountains of the moon than about this great abyss. With more than half of the United States' population living within fifty miles of our coasts, one in every six jobs in the U.S. is marine-related. If we care about our economic stability, our health, and our environmental future, it's time that our purview of the Earth becomes less terrestrial.¶ ¶ Earlier this month the White House finalized the National Ocean Policy, a plan to manage the nation's oceans and reconcile the interests of over two dozen federal agencies. Initiatives of the new plan include monitoring ocean acidification and pollution, regulating aquaculture, improving access to renewable offshore energy, and protecting coastal communities. The policy also intends to improve fishery management in order to meet the growing demand for sustainable seafood. Not everyone is happy about the new policy, arguing that the Obama administration is overreaching. We disagree. If we want a sustainable future, the importance of managing our oceans, arguably our most critical natural resource, cannot be underestimated.¶ ¶ Anyone who doubts the need for ocean regulation need only to look to the United States, where better management of fish stocks has brought the fishing industry, and the local economies that depend upon it, back from the brink of ruin. Worldwide the situation is grimmer. Over one billion people depend on fish as their primary source of protein, yet 85 percent of the world's fisheries are considered overexploited. Only 25 countries control more than 75 percent of the world's fish stocks - imagine what could happen if these countries worked together? How many people could be fed? Our hope is that the U.S. National Ocean Policy sets a precedent for a global effort toward greater ocean stewardship.¶ ¶ If the Earth were a body, the ocean would be our most important organ. It's our planet's breath, the force that governs our climate and atmosphere, a source of food and economic stability. Its potential to sustain us is vast if only we nurture it properly. A healthier ocean benefits us all.

Ocean planning brings our economy billions of dollars – studies confirm

Chasis 12 - Chasis is a director and part of NRDC's ocean initiative, (Sarah Chasis, “Ocean Planning Would Bring Billions of Dollars of Economic Benefits, New Study Confirms”, 4/6/2012, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-chasis/ocean-planning-would-brin_b_1345424.html

Smart ocean planning can bring our economy billions of dollars of benefits according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study examined where to best locate new offshore wind farms in coastal waters around Massachusetts, confirming that smart-planning will help us determine the most efficient way to balance different human activities in our oceans and ensure the continued health of ocean resources. With industrial pressures on our oceans only increasing, this study shows that comprehensive ocean planning is the right choice for our economy, coastal communities, and ocean life.¶ We demand a lot from our oceans. From fishing and tourism to shipping and energy development, we expect our oceans to deliver valuable resources for generations to come. However, with all these different human activities currently handled on an ad hoc basis -- it’s a first-come, first-served system for industries like fishing and oil-extraction -- it’s not surprising that our seas are suffering under a barrage of problems. Pollution, overfishing, ocean acidification, and loss of wildlife habitat are putting our food sources, ocean-related jobs, and important marine ecosystems in jeopardy.¶ Comprehensive ocean planning, also known as marine spatial planning (MSP), offers a common sense solution through smart planning. It allocates space in the oceans for various uses, balancing multiple demands and the need to protect ocean ecosystems and habitats. It identifies and can help quantify the trade-offs among different siting options. In other words, this smart planning strategy can identify the most efficient solution, minimizing conflicts between different industries, while protecting the marine environment and wildlife.

NOP generates more funds and prevents losses in the industries – Massachusetts study proves

Chasis 12 - Chasis is a director and part of NRDC's ocean initiative, (Sarah Chasis, “Ocean Planning Would Bring Billions of Dollars of Economic Benefits, New Study Confirms”, 4/6/2012, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-chasis/ocean-planning-would-brin_b_1345424.html
¶ The Massachusetts study shows clearly how our economy can benefit from such spatial planning. New wind energy zones, off Massachusetts and other coastal areas, could contain hundreds of turbines that—if located incorrectly—could harm fish habitat, alter commercial fishing patterns, and displace endangered whale species. The study assesses the potential conflicts among offshore wind energy, commercial fishing, and whale-watching sectors and identifies and quantifies the value of choosing optimal wind farm locations that minimize conflicts among these sectors. The study concludes that optimal siting of offshore wind zones could generate more than $10 billion in extra value to the energy sector and prevent more than $1 million in losses to the fishery and whale-watching sectors, as contrasted to the status quo.¶ ¶ It’s this same emphasis on finding efficient, win-win solutions that forms the backbone of our nation’s first National Ocean Policy, established by President Obama in 2010. Up until now, some 140 laws and 20 agencies have governed our seas, each with their own agendas and often conflicting mandates. The National Ocean Policy requires that all agencies that play a role in ocean-related work finally coordinate their efforts. ¶ ¶ This is a major step to reduce waste, inefficiency, and delay in our government. The National Ocean Policy calls for agencies, together with states and Tribes, and with stakeholder and public input, to develop comprehensive regional ocean plans. As shown in the Massachusetts Bay example, such planning can mean a stronger economy and more jobs for hardworking Americans.¶ ¶ With our oceans contributing more to our nation’s economic output than the entire U.S. farm sector, we can’t afford to just cross our fingers and hope for the best. The National Ocean Policy will help us efficiently protect our ocean resources and our economy for generations to come.

2NC NOP Solves Environment

NOP checks back on environmental issues

Migliaccio ’14 – Migliaccio is a Legal Extern at Vermont Supreme Court and is also part of the Ocean and Coastal Law Committee is a branch of Vermont Law School’s Environmental Law Society and is a forum for students, graduates and professors to pass on information regarding internships, jobs, and advocacy opportunities with regards to ocean and coastal issues. (Emily Migliaccio , “THE NATIONAL OCEAN POLICY: CAN IT REDUCE MARINE ¶ POLLUTION AND STREAMLINE OUR OCEAN ¶ BUREAUCRACY?”, 2014, http://vjel.vermontlaw.edu/files/2014/04/Migliaccio_FORPRINT1.pdf //HK
The Obama Administration’s call for a national ocean policy was a long time coming. For decades, policymakers have planned and devised various strategies for ocean management and protection, and over time¶ “various ocean law leaders, commissions, and scholars have called for the creation of a NOP.”93 After Congress enacted the Marine Resources and Engineering Development Act in 1966, ocean governance evolved. 94 Congress enacted legislation involving ocean resources and development,95 and federal and state ocean-policy committees published reports and recommendations for a national ocean policy.96¶ Building upon previous ocean governance efforts, President Barack Obama established the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force97 on June 12,¶ 2009 and charged it with developing recommendations to “better meet our Nation’s stewardship responsibilities for the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes.”98 President Obama’s initiative paved the way for the present¶ NOP—a policy that evolved through four stages. The first stage was the issuance of the Final Recommendations of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force (“Final Recommendations”) on June 19, 2010.99 In the Final Recommendations, the President detailed nine national priority objectives:¶ (1) ecosystem-based management; (2) coastal and marine spatial planning;¶ (3) inform decisions and improve understanding; (4) coordinate and support; (5) resiliency and adaptation to climate change and ocean acidification; (6) regional ecosystems protection and restoration; (7) water quality and sustainable practices on land; (8) changing conditions in the¶ Arctic; and (9) ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observations, mapping, and infrastructure.100¶ In the second phase, adopting the Final Recommendations of the Task Force, President Obama issued Executive Order 13,547.101 The Order “establishes for the first time a comprehensive, integrated National Policy for the stewardship of the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes.” 102¶ Specifically, the Policy aims to develop a more comprehensive management of the ocean with greater coordination across all levels of government in order to reduce duplication of federal agency policies and activities. Additionally, the Policy seeks to engage all stakeholders who use, care about, and depend upon ocean resources.103 In the Order, President Obama declares that the United States shall promote the policy by: (i) ensuring a comprehensive and collaborative framework for the stewardship of the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes that facilitates cohesive actions across the Federal Government, as well as participation of State, tribal, and local authorities, regional governance structures, nongovernmental organizations, the public, and the private sector; (ii) cooperating and exercising leadership at the international level; (iii) pursuing the United States’ accession to the Law of the Sea Convention; and (iv) supporting ocean stewardship in a fiscally responsible manner.104

NOP solves environmental degradation

Reuters 14 – Reuters, “Obama Moves to Protect Vast Pacific Ocean Areas”, June 17, 2014, http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/obama-moves-to-protect-vast-pacific-ocean-areas/
President Barack Obama's proposal, to go into effect later this year, would create a vast marine sanctuary and is part of an effort to safeguard more ocean territory, which is under threat from several factors, including overfishing and climate change, the White House said.¶ The announcement, part of the president's national ocean policy, coincided with an oceans conference held by the State Department on Monday and Tuesday at which Secretary of State John Kerry called for a global effort to protect the world's oceans, which cover more than 70 percent of the planet.¶ "We've already shown that when we work together, we can protect our oceans for future generations. So let's redouble our efforts," Obama said in a statement.¶ The president's plan would expand the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument from its current area of 87,000 square miles and would affect seven islands and atolls controlled by the United States.¶ The coral reefs and marine ecosystems of this section of the south-central Pacific Ocean are some of the most vulnerable areas to climate change and ocean acidification, the White House said.¶ The president will also direct federal agencies to create a comprehensive program to prevent illegal fishing and stop illegally caught fish from being sold, a move designed to spur the market for sustainably caught seafood.¶ "Because our seafood travels through an increasingly long, complex and non-transparent supply chain, there are numerous opportunities for seafood fraud to occur and illegally caught fish to enter the U.S. market," said Beth Lowell, campaign director at the ocean conservation group Oceana.¶ Obama also announced measures to protect coastal communities vulnerable to climate change, including an offer of $102 million in grants to restore flood plains and natural barriers along the Atlantic coast, and released a paper detailing the impacts of ocean acidification.¶ The measures will be carried out by executive order, and do not require congressional approval.¶ A comment period over the summer will allow the Commerce and Interior departments to hear objections and fine-tune the plan.

NOP solves a litancy of impacts

Jarocki 14 – Nonpartisan examiner, (Gailann Jarocki), “Obama's new executive orders to preserve and protect the oceans”, http://www.examiner.com/article/obama-s-new-executive-orders-to-preserve-and-protect-the-oceans
This week, the State Department hosted the “Our Ocean” conference, an international conference on sustainable fisheries, marine pollution, and ocean acidification. Today, as part of the closing of the conference, Obama, in a video message announced his new executive actions to preserve and protect the oceans. During Obama's first term, he launched the National Ocean Policy in order to streamline more than 100 laws that govern our oceans and create a coordinated, science-based approach of management. The conference discussed the variety of issues that were contained in the recently release National Climate Assessment that confirmed that climate change is causing sea levels and ocean temperatures to rise.¶ Today, Obama announced the commitment to use his authority to protect our Marina landscape, as he has done for our mountains, rivers and forests. He seeks input from other shareholders and world leaders before making decisions about the geographic scope and details of future marine protections. He has directed federal agencies to develop a comprehensive program aimed at stopping illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. His administration will help establish a pathway to new marine sanctuaries, will implement his voluntary marine planning committees diverse coastal regional marine planning by the end of his term, and will address the impact of ocean acidification. It was announced, yesterday, that the Department of Interior has opened $102 million in competitive grants to build more resilience in coastal communities against future storms.¶ Obama, also stated that federal agencies are completing work on a new road map to streamline the permitting process for shellfish aquaculture by removing barriers in the permitting process. Currently, most seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported, resulting in a seafood trade deficit of between $8 and $10 billion a year. Farming more shellfish will also be an economic boon to local communities, creating jobs and investment on our shores.

NOP helps

-Costal communities

-Overfishing

-Illegal fishing

Banerjee 14 - Neela Banerjee covers energy and environmental policy out of the Washington, D.C., bureau. She writes about federal policymaking and broader national issues, such as climate change, hydraulic fracturing and the Keystone XL pipeline. Before joining the Los Angeles Times in fall 2010, Neela covered global energy, the Iraq war and domestic faith and ethics issues for the New York Times and served as a Moscow correspondent, (Neela Banerjee, “Obama to order major expansion of ocean sanctuary in Pacific”, June 17, 2014, http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-oceans-20140617-story.html
Illegal seafood accounts for one-fifth to one-third of wild-caught seafood imported to the U.S. in 2011, according to a recent study in the journal, Marine Policy. Further, about one-third of seafood is mislabeled, according to a study last year by the environmental group Oceana, which analyzed more than 1,200 seafood samples bought in 21 states. The study found that fish sold as snapper was misidentified 87% of the time and tuna, mislabeled 59% of time.¶ “Because our seafood travels through an increasingly long, complex and non-transparent supply chain, there are numerous opportunities for seafood fraud to occur and illegally caught fish to enter the U.S. market,” said Beth Lowell, director of Oceana’s Stop Seafood Fraud campaign. “By tracing our seafood from boat to plate, consumers will have more information about the fish they purchase.”¶ The White House plan would also improve monitoring of ocean acidification, fueled by the ever-greater amounts of carbon dioxide the oceans absorb. Atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased by about 40% since the preindustrial era, thanks to the combustion of fossil fuels, according to a report issued Tuesday by the White House Office of Science and Technology.¶ Oceans absorb about 25% of the carbon dioxide that human activity generates, and when the gas dissolves in seawater, some of it forms carbonic acid. Greater ocean acidity poses a threat to a range of marine life, including coral reefs and shellfish beds, like oyster hatcheries in the Pacific Northwest. Under the plan, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration would get $9 million over three years to better monitor the local effect of ocean acidification, which, in turn, could help individual coastal communities.

2NC NOP Solves Leadership

NOP solves leadership – coast guard

Conathan 11 - Michael Conathan is the Director of Ocean Policy at American Progress, (Michael Conathan) “National Ocean Policy: A Path to America’s Ocean Future”, October 26, 2011, http://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/green/report/2011/10/26/10451/national-ocean-policy-a-path-to-americas-ocean-future/
Finally, leadership at the highest levels of our nation’s ocean security forces is united in their support for the National Ocean Policy and comprehensive ocean planning. In 2009 Adm. Thad Allen, then-commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation that “A new national ocean policy, especially as it creates a unified framework for effective coastal and marine spatial planning, is critical to the nation and to the ability of the Coast Guard to execute its mission.” He went on to emphasize that planning would “better address the ‘gaps’ in current ocean management regimes and better manage ocean uses. This will allow the Coast Guard to more effectively execute its many missions in support of safety, security, and stewardship in our ocean and coastal waters.”¶ Adm. Allen’s successor as commandant, Adm. Robert Papp, has continued this support for comprehensive ocean planning and the National Ocean Policy, stating in 2010 that the final recommendations of the Ocean Policy Task Force, “provide a balance between protecting and preserving the marine environment, and promoting economic progress. The framework protects the interests of all users, improves ocean stewardship, and provides the foundation for improving maritime governance at the international, regional, state, and local levels."¶ Voicing the U.S. Navy’s support for the president’s Ocean Policy Task Force, Rear Adm. Herman Shelanski emphasized, "The U.S. Navy is committed to being responsible stewards of the environment. As such, we understand the importance of developing a new national ocean policy—one that includes ecosystem-based coastal and marine spatial planning and management in the United States. … we also believe such management should be balanced to maintain and enhance multiple ocean uses, including those that contribute to our nation’s security and global stability."

2NC NOP Solves Energy

JOC supports NOP to improve sustainable energy – offshore wind

Conathan 11 - Michael Conathan is the Director of Ocean Policy at American Progress, (Michael Conathan) “National Ocean Policy: A Path to America’s Ocean Future”, October 26, 2011, http://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/green/report/2011/10/26/10451/national-ocean-policy-a-path-to-americas-ocean-future/

A June 2011 report by the nonpartisan Joint Ocean Commission, comprised of members of both the Pew and U.S. Ocean Commissions, expressed strong ongoing support for comprehensive ocean planning and the National Ocean Policy, stating, “the current sector-by-sector management system is incapable of providing the integrated, comprehensive, and flexible approach needed to ensure that conflicts among proposed uses are minimized and potential benefits enhanced.”¶ In fact, strategic planning maximizes organizational efficiency and use of taxpayer dollars. Contrary to the false depiction of the National Ocean Policy as excessive government regulation, it will bring all interested parties to the table before key management decisions are made. This will improve opportunities for industry, communities, nongovernmental organizations, and citizens to participate in the planning process and facilitate sustainable economic growth by providing transparency and predictability for economic investments. The alternative is allowing developers of individual projects to drive the regulatory process without adequate guidance from regulators or input from alternate stakeholders, a process that has been shown to lead to a seemingly endless string of lawsuits, political quagmires, and a poisonous investment climate.¶ There is no better example of the inefficiencies inherent in the piecemeal system than the offshore wind industry. Offshore wind is a viable and rapidly growing piece of the energy picture in other parts of the world. Today European countries have installed nearly 3,000 megawatts of offshore wind facilities, and Europe and China combined have permitted more than 40,000 megawatts of wind turbines in their oceans. The United States has permitted exactly 488 megawatts, and we have yet to break ground on our first turbine.

NOP solves – allows effective coordination

Moore 12 – Ceo of Deepwater Wind, (Will Moore, “National Ocean Policy makes smart business sense”, May 07, 2012, http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-a-environment/225779-national-ocean-policy-makes-smart-business-sense

If we don’t implement the National Ocean Policy, it is likely to cause delays in the development of offshore renewable energy, limiting the ability to hire new workers.¶ ¶ Deepwater Wind has already participated in creation of the Rhode Island Ocean Special Area Management Plan (OSAMP), a planning process akin to that outlined in the National Ocean Policy. Our experience is that the plan greatly increased certainty for our business and expedited our ability to move forward. ¶ Deepwater Wind’s Block Island Wind Farm is located in a renewable energy area identified through the OSAMP process. That planning – a result of a rigorous data collection and stakeholder engagement effort by Rhode Island’s coastal zone management agency – has greatly advanced the siting and approval process for what we believe will be a path breaking offshore project. ¶ ¶ In fact, the Block Island Wind Farm’s permit applications and other approvals are pending; we have an agreement with Siemens for their latest offshore wind turbine technology; and we are planning to start construction next year. This tremendous progress in building America’s first deep water offshore wind farm was made possible because of the data that was collected and the stakeholders that were engaged during the OSAMP process.¶ ¶ So for those of us with businesses and livelihoods that rely on the ocean, the benefits of the National Ocean Policy are clear.¶ ¶ The demand for ocean resources is growing by the day. Renewable energy, commercial and recreational fisheries and maritime industries, among others, are all interested in the same waters. Many times these areas intersect, and conflict between uses could result without sensible planning.¶ ¶ Fortunately, the National Ocean Policy is about minimizing those issues by coordinating existing activities and services, and in turn, reducing redundancy. Many elements of the policy, such as mapping and data collection – programs already in place and used on a daily basis by many businesses – provide the opportunity to reduce conflicts and improve regulatory timelines, meaning more predictability. Comprehensive ocean planning makes smart business sense.¶ ¶ Recently, the benefits of regional stakeholder engagement on ocean development could be seen in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. In February, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management determined Wind Energy Areas off the states’ coast.¶ ¶ After extensive input, the locations excluded sections deemed important fishing areas for the region. This accommodation was important because our planned 900-megawatt Deepwater Wind Energy Center will be located in these waters, supplying power to New England and Long Island. Cooperation with important stakeholders like the fishing industry only helps our chances of success. Efforts like this show that industries can co-exist in the same waters, but only if the sufficient coordination is in place. The National Ocean Policy provides that service. ¶ ¶ One of the National Ocean Policy Draft Implementation Plan’s objectives is to use the best available science and knowledge to inform decisions affecting our ocean, coasts and the Great Lakes. But if the policy’s implementation is blocked, and these services are negatively affected, how are companies supposed to make educated investments without the latest data and maps on ocean resources?¶ ¶ Another key tenet of the National Ocean Policy is providing weather and ocean data for coastal and offshore renewable energy development. But if implementation is prohibited, would that affect access to this key information? ¶ ¶ The United States has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to offshore renewable energy. However, with several plans for wind farms underway, we are on the brink of providing jobs to thousands of Americans and a secure energy source to even more.¶ ¶ The National Ocean Policy is about securing current and future jobs for everyone who depends on the ocean for their livelihood.

2NC NOP Solves Coral Reefs

Implementing the NOP addresses climate change and solves

Al Jazeera 14 - “Kerry: Global strategy needed to protect oceans”, June 16, 2014, http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/6/16/obama-kerry-oceans.html
Coral reefs are among the planetary systems that, if pushed beyond their limit, could trigger a chain reaction of abrupt climate consequences, according to a March report by the American Association for the Advancement of Scientists. Other systems that could cause such global disruption include large-scale ice sheet melting, the collapse of the Gulf Stream and destruction of the Amazon rain forest.¶ Once started, those chain reactions become unstoppable even if humans do not add any more CO2 into the atmosphere, the scientists warned.¶ Only 2 percent of the world’s oceans are protected areas that limit human activity and protect marine life, and countries should strive to raise that to 10 percent, Kerry said on Monday, adding that any global effort to protect the ocean should include ways to enforce those policies on a global scale.¶ Joining Kerry was Kiribati President Anote Tong, who said the small Pacific nation would ban commercial fishing from its Phoenix Islands Protected Area by Jan. 1.¶ The low-lying state, like many other Pacific island nations, is highly vulnerable to rising sea levels, one of the most severe effects of climate change. Most of Kiribati’s land is less than 80 inches above sea level.¶ He called climate change “the greatest moral challenge of our time” and said that “our hope of addressing climate change lies in the oceans.”¶ “This is about the survival of our people,” Tong said. “This is not about economics, not anymore. It is now about what we must do as responsible global citizens.”

NOP solves for corals and environmental degradation

Lewis 14 - Digital News Producer, (Renee Lewis, “Obama announces creation of world's largest marine reserve”, June 17, 2014, http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/6/17/obama-oceans-protections.html

“I think today’s announcement is a success, but when you put it in context, it builds off of five and a half years of solid efforts by the president to keep moving forward on ocean issues,” said Emily Woglom, vice president for conservation policy and programs at the Ocean Conservancy. “It’s clear that Obama is turning towards his legacy.”¶ Earlier in his presidency, Obama had created a National Ocean Policy by executive order on July 19, 2010. The policy created a council of 27 federal agencies and departments, in an attempt to better cooperate, share information and streamline decision making.¶ That order aimed to better manage ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources, to develop and disseminate scientific information to various stakeholders, to share data about severe storms and sea level rise and to restore important habitats.¶ Unspoiled coral reefs¶ In Tuesday’s orders, the president also directed the government to create a program to deter illegal fishing and seafood fraud, as an estimated 20 percent of wild marine fish caught each year are part of the black market.¶ “Because our seafood travels through an increasingly long, complex and nontransparent supply chain, there are numerous opportunities for seafood fraud to occur and illegally caught fish to enter the U.S. market,” said Beth Lowell, campaign director at the ocean conservation group Oceana.¶ Anote Tong, president of Kiribati, a small Pacific island nation, spoke at the Our Ocean event and announced Monday that it would ban all commercial fishing in its own marine park, the size of California. The ban will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2015.¶ “We will also close the area around the southern Line Islands to commercial fishing to allow the area to recover,” Tong said. The area around Kiribati is home to some of the most unspoiled coral reef archipelagos in the Pacific.¶ “Diving in the southern Line Islands is like getting in a time machine and traveling back to the reefs of the past,” National Geographic explorer-in-residence Enric Sala said.¶ Obama also announced new measures to protect coastal communities that are vulnerable to climate change. He added that $102 million in grants would be offered to restore floodplains and natural barriers along the Atlantic coast.¶ The measures will be carried out by executive order, so they will not require congressional approval. ¶ Ocean acidification, also the result of global-warming-causing carbon emissions, was another item on the president’s agenda. He said funding would be offered for research into how the ocean’s changing chemistry is affecting marine life.¶ In an effort to curb climate change and ocean acidification, Obama announced last month new measures to cut carbon emissions — targeting a 30 percent reduction from the country’s power plants.¶ “This process is to identify and build support to protect special areas of the ocean — today is just the beginning,” Woglom said. “This conference is an opportunity to take this energy and high-level attention and make sure that Obama follows through in the next two and a half years to advance this as much as we can

2NC NOP Solves Fishing Industry

NOP is necessary to a stable fishing industry

McMurray 12 – president of One More Cast Charters, (John McMurray, “National ocean policy protects ocean health and benefit fishermen”, April 24, 2012, http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-a-environment/223325-national-ocean-policy-protects-ocean-health-and-benefit-fishermen

Recreational and commercial fishermen would indeed benefit from the National Ocean Policy. It would help us address all the factors that stand to jeopardize fish populations, from habitat destruction to water pollution. While ocean-use conflicts between industries like fishing and energy development continue to increase, the NOP will help us manage these conflicts by planning ahead to help keep, for example, energy plants off prime fishing grounds and unique habitat, so that all sectors can coexist. In fact, a recent Massachusetts case study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that planning ahead for ocean industry could generate more than $10 billion for the energy sector and prevent more than $1 million in losses to the fishery and whale watching sectors, compared to the status quo. Relying on partisan politics and fear mongering, some members of Congress have repeatedly forecast economic disaster and demolished livelihoods for fishermen as a result of the National Ocean Policy. The current claims that fishing will be banned or even substantially restricted under the National Ocean Policy link back to a wildly inaccurate rumor circulated in 2010 by an ESPN writer, of all sources. Even ESPN has since admitted that the rumor was false and characterized the article that kicked off the insanity as an opinion piece. Why in the world our representatives continue to fuel national panic about this common sense policy is beyond me.¶ Let’s be clear. Comprehensive ocean planning isn’t a new idea, and it shouldn’t be a partisan issue. The idea of a National Ocean Policy was proposed by a 2004 commission, appointed by President George W. Bush. Fishermen have been involved in NOP discussions for years, with hundreds of recreational and commercial fishermen, and the organized sportfishing lobbies, issuing comments on the policy. ¶ With the explosion of interest and money in offshore energy, such an Ocean Policy is simply a necessity if fishermen want to maintain access to historical fishing grounds. Fishermen have perhaps the most to lose if a minority in Congress succeed in defunding it. A healthy fishing industry depends on a National Ocean Policy. It will help us maintain access to historic fishing grounds, and address all those factors that harm commercial and recreational fishing, like habitat loss, coastal pollution and invasive species. Any attempts to defund or delay implementation of the National Ocean Policy are a dangerous political move that puts the health of our oceans, coastal communities, jobs and fishing industry at risk.

NOP is actually good for the fishing industry

Chasis 12 - Chasis is a director and part of NRDC's ocean initiative, (Sarah Chasis, “The National Ocean Policy Will Help Fishermen”, 3/23/2012, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-chasis/the-national-ocean-policy_b_1373145.html

This week the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs held a hearing entitled “Empty Hooks: The National Ocean Policy is the Latest Threat to Access for Recreational and Commercial Fishermen.” Unfortunately, the title of this hearing is highly misleading. The National Ocean Policy will help fishermen by ensuring important fishing grounds are protected from pollution and habitat destruction, making fishing a viable livelihood today and into the future. ¶ Shortly before the National Ocean Policy was established, a firestorm broke out when a columnist for ESPN.com spread the unfounded rumor that the policy would close off large swaths of the ocean to fishing. Almost immediately, columnists from around the country proclaimed that President Obama was trying to ban fishing, except the rumor was false. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association issued a response stating in no uncertain terms “The Ocean Policy Task Force has not recommended a ban on recreational fishing.” ESPN, after severe criticism from other outdoor columnists, ran a clarification that it was an opinion piece.¶ The truth is the National Ocean Policy will be GOOD for fishing. Agencies are tasked with helping preserve and restore important fish habitat, not to ban or curtail recreational fishing. Comprehensive ocean planning helps us address various stressors on fish populations – from habitat loss to pollution – in a comprehensive manner and puts fishermen at the table so that their voice is heard at the start of the planning process. ¶ The National Ocean Policy is a landmark policy that calls on us to evaluate all of the uses of the ocean –fishing, tourism, industry, military, energy – and identify how to manage these uses more sustainably. Instead of the current first-come, first-served approach to using our ocean waters, it calls for the development of regional ocean plans that would benefit us all.

2NC NOP Solves Overfishing

NOP bolsters shellfish aquaculture

Haeck 14 - KIRO Radio Reporter, (Tim Haeck), “Obama oceans plan could boost state shellfish industry”, June 19, 2014, http://mynorthwest.com/11/2547824/Obama-oceans-plan-could-boost-state-shellfish-industry
President Obama's plan, announced this week, to protect U.S. oceans and coastal areas, could provide a big boost to farming in Washington. Seafood farming, that is.¶ The President, on Tuesday, declared the oceans are at risk from multiple threats. "Rising levels of carbon-dioxide are causing our oceans to acidify, pollution endangers sea life." So he announced his National Ocean Policy, which includes strategies to bolster the shellfish aquaculture. Around the Northwest, that includes the farming of fish, mussels, geoducks, clams and oysters.¶ One goal is to encourage shellfish farming and cut into a huge seafood trade deficit, estimated at $8-10 billion.¶ "I think it can be done," said Margaret Barrette, with the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association. Her organization represents 120 members large and small, mostly in Washington. "It will take some time and it will take a multifaceted approach, getting people to aim for fish that's wild here naturally, in the states versus going for a cheaper alternative from overseas."¶ Washington has about 300 shellfish farms but Barrette said a new farm has not opened in the last seven years.¶ "That's because the permitting process is a bit cumbersome and has been gummed up," said Barrette. "One of the things that President Obama's announcement calls out for is actually looking at improving the permitting process, removing barriers in this process and encouraging shellfish farming to work toward [reducing] this seafood deficit."

NOP prevents overfishing

Barclay 14 - contributing writer to the GSN magazine, (Lorrie Barclay, “White House details plan to protect Pacific waters”, 6-20-14, http://www.gsnmagazine.com/article/41524/white_house_details_plan_protect_marine_waters_pac
“If we ignore these problems, if we drain our oceans of their resources, we won’t be just squandering one of humanity’s greatest treasures, we’ll be cutting off one of the world’s major sources of food and economy growth, including for the United States,” President Obama said. “And we cannot afford to let that happen.”¶ President Obama’s proposal includes combating black market fishing and supporting fishermen. Black market fishing drains $23 billion per year from legitimate fishing enterprises, according to the White House.¶ Environmental groups have praised the initiative. “Healthy oceans are vital, not just for the creatures who live in them, but for human populations the world over,” John Hocevar, director of Greenpeace’s oceans campaign, told Government Security News. “However, climate change, overfishing, ocean acidification, and pollution have combined to push ocean health to the brink.¶ “The sanctuary will now be the world’s biggest, and it just about doubles the entire global area of ocean under full protection,” he said. “The expansion would mean five times more underwater mountains will be protected. It will end tuna fishing in the area, as well as providing safe harbor to whales and other marine mammals, sea turtles, and sharks.”¶ The proposal does not come without controversy. “Oceans, like our federal lands, are intended to be multiple-use and open for a wide range of economic activities that includes fishing, recreation, conservation, and energy production,” said House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA). “It appears this Administration will use whatever authorities -- real or made-up -- to close our ocean and coastal areas with blatant disregard for possible economic consequences.”

2NC NOP Solves STEM

NOP key to STEM – more investment is needed

Migliaccio ’14 – Migliaccio is a Legal Extern at Vermont Supreme Court and is also part of the Ocean and Coastal Law Committee is a branch of Vermont Law School’s Environmental Law Society and is a forum for students, graduates and professors to pass on information regarding internships, jobs, and advocacy opportunities with regards to ocean and coastal issues. (Emily Migliaccio , “THE NATIONAL OCEAN POLICY: CAN IT REDUCE MARINE ¶ POLLUTION AND STREAMLINE OUR OCEAN ¶ BUREAUCRACY?”, 2014, http://vjel.vermontlaw.edu/files/2014/04/Migliaccio_FORPRINT1.pdf //HK
Arguably one of the most important areas of the NOP is in the promotion and support for research and education on marine issues. The¶ JOC gave this category a “C” because although some progress had been made, there had been “funding and program cuts, as well as delayed implementation of critical tools, weakened ocean science, research, and education.” 170 One of the greatest improvements in this area was the installation of the data portal, ocean.data.gov, which “serves as a clearinghouse for access to non-confidential federal ocean data and planning tools.” 171 There have also been “strong regional efforts to coordinate on regional ocean and coastal research, observing, mapping, and restoration priorities.”172 However, more is needed in terms of funding and support for further education. Investments in research, science, and education on ocean and coastal issues are crucial, particularly in the context of marine pollution, because it will “produce a more informed citizenry; create better stewards of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources; and increase awareness of business opportunities related to these resources.” 173 With a greater knowledge base, people can participate in activities that address the issues facing our oceans and coasts. Furthermore, an educational system that incorporates ocean and coastal science is crucial to ensuring that the next generation of ocean scientists and engineers are sufficiently trained “to continue to lead an innovation-based global economy.” 174 Country-wide education would also bring more awareness to the pervasive interconnectivity of land and marine pollution, and hopefully illuminate the need for efforts across the nation, rather than just on the coasts.

JOC willing to push STEM

Ruckelshaus and Mineta - Co-Chairs, part of the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative, (William Ruckelshaus and Norman Mineta), April 29, 2014, http://www.jointoceancommission.org/documents/Joint%20Initiative%20STEM%20Letter%20to%20Senate%20CJS.pdf
The Joint Initiative is deeply alarmed by the major restructuring in the ¶ Administration’s proposal that would consolidate science, technology, ¶ engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs, including the elimination of ¶ funding for ocean education programs in NOAA. We appreciate your ¶ thoughtful response to the STEM consolidation proposal in the FY 2014 ¶ Omnibus Appropriations report, which noted that the proposal “failed to ¶ sufficiently recognize or support a number of proven, successful programs.” ¶ We believe NOAA education programs—especially the NOAA Competitive ¶ Education Grants Program, Ocean Exploration and Research education, and ¶ Sea Grant STEM education activities including all state Sea Grant Program ¶ STEM activities—fall into this category. ¶ By eliminating key ocean education programs at NOAA, we are concerned ¶ that ocean science content may be lost in the proposed consolidation, as it is ¶ not traditionally viewed as a “core science.” In addition, removing education ¶ programs from mission-driven agencies such as NOAA will isolate scientific ¶ research and its results from ocean education efforts. The Joint Initiative also notes that the National Ocean Policy Implementation Plan identifies ¶ priority education actions and proposes to use existing, proven networks to promote ocean ¶ literacy and develop the future ocean workforce. Many of the programs underpinning this ¶ effort would be terminated if the STEM consolidation proposal is adopted. NOAA education ¶ programs are critical given the tremendous growth in careers that require ocean-related ¶ education and knowledge. A recent report by the statutorily-created Ocean Research Advisory ¶ Panel (ORAP) forecast a need for approximately one million more college graduates than ¶ currently estimated in STEM fields over the next decade. This report underscores the need for a ¶ STEM literate, and ocean literate, workforce to fill positions in commerce, energy, ¶ transportation, energy, food production, national security, recreation, and tourism.

2NC AT: Spatial Planning Kills Investment

Spatial planning helps investment – streamlines complicated regulatory process – states prove.

Center for American Progress 11—an independent educational, public policy research, and advocacy organization (“National Ocean Policy Ensures Economic Growth, Security, and Resilience,” Center for American Progress, 10/24, http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/green/report/2011/10/24/10485/national-ocean-policy-ensures-economic-growth-security-and-resilience/)//FJ

Marine spatial planning is already working Several states, including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Oregon, have already implemented COP at the state level. They have taken proactive steps to identify areas most suitable for various commercial and recreational uses of ocean space, including fishing, energy development, sand and gravel mining, shipping traffic, conservation, recreation, and other activities. These efforts ensure the relative benefits of each action are considered and prioritized to meet economic, environmental, security, and social goals. In addition to their in-state work, Rhode Island and Massachusetts cooperated on a landmark agreement for the development of offshore wind energy. Announcing the agreement, former Rhode Island governor, Republican Don Carcieri, said, "The shared waters between Rhode Island and Massachusetts hold the key to the future of offshore wind developments along the East Coast and the country. It is in the best interest for both states to work together to expedite the federal permitting process through this collaborative effort. We share mutual interests in developing offshore wind projects, bringing greater economic development activity and economic security to the region.” At the federal level, the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement, or BOEMRE, has applied the principles of COP in its “Smart from the Start” initiative to streamline offshore wind permitting. Instead of waiting for developers to request permitting, this program is in the process of designating wind energy areas in federal waters in the northeast and mid-Atlantic. BOEMRE has taken input from other federal agencies and local stakeholders while designating these areas, and amended their initial proposals—reducing the size of the area proposed to be opened for development off the coast of Massachusetts by nearly 50 percent after receiving input from the fishing industry.

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