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Recognizing this interdependence and seeking to protect the ocean's biodiversity and economic benefits, the state of California is finalizing an important overview of coastal and marine resources management entitled, "California's Ocean Resources: An Agenda for the Future."
The agenda makes recommendations for actions to comprehensively coordinate, manage, conserve, and enhance California's ocean resources.
A draft agenda was presented for public comment at meetings along the coast from Eureka to San Diego in November 1995.
When completed this summer, the ocean agenda likely will call for creation of a cabinet-level council composed of state agency and department directors with ocean resources responsibilities. The council would serve as a forum for discussing common goals and consensus-based approaches to managing ocean resources.
The strong response to the ocean strategy confirms the great public interest in preventing ocean pollution, protecting and monitoring the quality of marine waters, and maintaining marine biodiversity. These activities are best achieved with coordination among local, state, and federal governments, private industry, and nonprofit groups.
Issues addressed in the agenda include: marine habitat and water quality protection, offshore oil and gas development, shipping safety, port development, research, education, enforcement, shoreline erosion, tourism, and recreation.
For more information about the agenda, or to be placed on the mailing list, please contact the Resources Agency, 1416 Ninth Street, Room 1311, Sacramento, CA, 95814. The agenda can be viewed on the Internet at (http://ceres.ca.gov/CRA/ocean/agenda.html).