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Gore sets course for ocean protection

By Environmental News Network staff


Vice President Gore announced a new ocean monitoring system by 2002.

Web posted June 12, 1998
at 3:44 PM ET

(ENN) -- Vice President Gore, participating Thursday in the National Ocean Conference in Monterey, Calif., announced four new efforts to chart a sustainable future for the nation's oceans.

He promised increased exploration of the ocean, declassification of military information and technology, increased climate change research and protection of coastal waters.

"In the 21st century, the world will look increasingly to the oceans for food, fuel, new medicines and other resources," Gore said. "Already, we see troubling signs that marine resources are over-stressed. We must be careful stewards and ensure the oceans are protected for all time."

Exploration: A total of $12 million will be spent to bolster ocean exploration projects between 2000 and 2002. The money will be used to expand two shallow water observatories, Leo in New Jersey and Aquarius in Florida; develop two new deep-ocean observatories in the San Juan de Fuca Ridge and the Gulf of Mexico; develop two new submersible vehicles that can go deeper than any before; contribute $250,000 a year to a partnership with National Geographic Society and the Goldman Foundation to map and explore biodiversity in the 12 national marine sanctuaries; and assess the economic value of U.S. marine resources.

This initiative also calls for strengthening marine protected areas by completing an inventory of marine sanctuaries and revising sanctuary management plans by 2002.

Declassification of military data and technology: As a result of the Environmental Task Force that Gore originated while serving in the Senate, the Navy will release Arctic under-ice data collected by submarines that will enhance our understanding of the climate system. The Navy also will work with the private sector to release previously classified data once used to hunt submarines.

Data and technology once used to track submarines can now be used to track whale migrations, predict tsunamis, detect illegal fishing, and support climate change research, according to Gore. Over the next five years, the Defense Department will complete and release to the public computer-based nautical charts for most international waters.

Climate Change: An additional $4 million a year over three years will be provided to complete an ocean monitoring system by 2002.

The system will complement satellite measurements and provide a better understanding of the relationship between oceans and long-term climate change and predict regional impacts of climate change.

"We know that the oceans are a driving force behind global warming, and also behind extreme weather events such as El Niño," said Gore. "Understanding the ocean's role can help us to better protect America's families. Today, I am announcing that by the year 2002, we will develop a new ocean monitoring system, to give us a better understanding of the critical relationship between oceans and global warming. Through improved satellites and buoys that will actually measure ocean height and temperature, we will be able to predict the regional impact of global warming much more accurately."

Protecting Our Coastal Waters: As part of the president's Clean Water Action plan, EPA will launch a web site to inform the public of beach closings and advisories; federal agencies will work with states to research, predict, and control toxic algae blooms; and federal agencies will help states develop plans to reduce polluted runoff to coastal waters. The president will call on Congress to fully fund the five-year, $2.3 billion Clean Water Action Plan.

Also Thursday, Gored chaired a panel discussion that was broadcast live over the Internet. The session included reports from the committee heads of Oceans and Commerce; Oceans and Global Security; Ocean Environment and Health; and Ocean Exploration, Education and Research.

The majority of panelists urged the United States to ratify the Convention on the Law of the Sea, established by the United Nations in 1994 to regulate all use of the ocean. The United States had a hand in crafting the law, but Congress has not ratified it.

President Clinton will deliver the conference's keynote speech today. He has already announced an extension of the moratorium on offshore oil drilling, new protections for coral reefs and measures to restore damaged coral reefs.

The live Internet broadcast continues today at 9:30 a.m. Pacific time and runs until 2 p.m. Pacific time.

Upon arrival in Monterey, Calif., the vice president toured the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute's vessel and viewed a demonstration of its remotely operated vehicle.

Copyright 1998, Environmental News Network, All Rights Reserved


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