On June 19, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that formally overhauls America’s ocean policies by putting the focus on the economic growth of coastal communities and ocean industries.
The Trump administration will also create a new Ocean Policy Committee that it says will “streamline federal coordination.” The committee will be co-chaired by the Council on Environmental Quality and the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
“From sea to shining sea, Americans benefit from the ocean’s bounty—from the industries it supports and the jobs it creates,” Trump said in a statement.
The ocean economy is a sizeable sector. In 2015 alone, it contributed $320 billion to U.S. gross domestic product and supported 3.2 million jobs, according to the White House.
Ocean industries in the United States employ millions of workers that contribute to the American economy. The executive mentions national defense and domestic energy production as priorities.
“Domestic energy production from Federal waters strengthens the Nation’s security and reduces reliance on imported energy,” the order reads. “Our Armed Forces protect our national interests in the ocean and along the Nation’s coasts. Goods and materials that support our economy and quality of life flow through maritime commerce.”
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