As large as our oceans may seem, they and the marine life that inhabit them are being placed at risk with development pressures similar to those on our public lands.  The number of proposed activities is growing and includes wind and wave energy, liquefied natural gas, gas terminals, desalinization plants, oil exploration, recreation, commercial fishing and more.  When not managed properly, these activities imperil not only our ocean and coastal resources, but also our recreational fishing opportunities.

Keeping a close eye on how these precious resources are managed is the Angling 4 Oceans Coalition of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, which aims to shape important coastal fisheries laws.

“We’ve seen horrible and avoidable population declines in fish and wildlife populations following the most recent energy development boom in the Intermountain West,” said TRCP President and CEO George Cooper. “Our coalition supports developing offshore energy resources, but it will not tolerate the senseless repetition of past mistakes.”

As the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources gathered for its first hearing on offshore energy development in February, the Angling 4 Oceans Coalition called on the committee to employ its “CAST principles” to promote the conservation of marine fisheries.

The “CAST Principles” are as follows:

Conservation

Conservation concerns must top all others. Those places crucial to the vitality of fish populations, recreational anglers and coastal economies should be placed off-limits to leasing. Concurrently, the Minerals Management Service, the agency responsible for overseeing offshore development, must adopt and adhere to a new standard operating procedure that strives to balance the concerns of all ocean users.

Allocation

Allocations of the royalties paid to the federal government by industry for offshore energy development must be used in ways that benefit fish and wildlife resources, including expanded marine research and fisheries management initiatives, via state and federal programs.

Science

Science-based, adaptive management strategies that respond continually to emerging information should be required for all offshore energy development projects. These strategies should begin with species inventory, include population monitoring and analysis, and carry through to the mitigation phase. Where gaps in data exist, they must not be used to justify development. Rather, they must serve to highlight areas where additional study is immediately necessary.

Transparency

Transparency must characterize the management of all public trust resources. Not only does this mean that the decisions affecting our shared aquatic species must be made in a manner that allows public oversight, it also means that public comment must be addressed and integrated during the decision-making process. 

“The CAST principles are about conservation of coastal resources and associated economies today, and about a legacy for tomorrow,” said Aaron Adams, Director of Operations for the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust. “The responsible approach to offshore development called for by the CAST principles ensures a healthy future.”     top