Washington, D.C., U.S.A.-based ocean advocacy organization Oceana recently launched a national business coalition to support policies intended to protect, restore, and maintain ocean abundance and biodiversity.
The National Business Coalition for the Oceans builds on a similar model used by Oceana in developing regional alliances along the Atlantic, Pacific, and Eastern Gulf coasts of the United States, the organization said. These alliances highlighted the business value of clean coastal economies, which support around 3.3 million American jobs and generate USD 250 billion (EUR 212 billion) in gross domestic product through activities like tourism, recreation, and fishing, according to Oceana.
“Protecting our oceans and the economy go hand-in-hand. Successful ocean businesses depend on clean and healthy oceans. Oceana has been working with community leaders, especially the business community, for nearly a decade and the National Business Coalition for the Oceans builds upon this foundation of collaboration,” Oceana Deputy Vice President for U.S. Campaigns Beth Lowell said. “This coalition brings together local business voices from across the country to support efforts to protect our oceans, coastal communities, and the businesses that depend on them. The National Business Coalition for the Oceans will help protect our oceans, not only for today, but for long into the future.”
The new coalition has received support from both businesses and the government.
“I applaud the launch of the National Business Coalition for the Oceans, as well as the business leaders who keep us moving forward and upward in protecting our critical coastlines. As we fight to fund a green recovery, we must not forget the power of the blue economy. It is crucial that we bring these on-the-ground experts together to have real, honest, and continued discussions about how to secure a brighter future for our invaluable oceans and coastal communities,” U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Massachusetts) said.
Thomas Kies, who serves as president of Business Alliance for Protecting the Atlantic Coast (BAPAC), welcomed the new collective in the mission to secure healthy oceans.
“BAPAC has shown the power of business voices when we come together to advocate for clean and healthy oceans, and we are thrilled to welcome in the National Business Coalition for the Oceans to the fight. BAPAC has fought for years to oppose dangerous offshore oil drilling because we know that our coastline is vital to our Atlantic businesses, and the National Business Coalition for the Oceans will help us highlight the economic activity that all of our nation’s beautiful coasts and oceans generate throughout the country,” Kies said.
Businesses interested in joining the coalition and working with Oceana can sign-up on the organization’s website, it said.
