An encouraging sign of a new awareness and public awakening about the critical needs of the marine environment has been the recent introduction by Senators Olympia Snowe (R-Me) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) of The National Endowment for the Oceans, Coasts, and Great Lakes Act, designed to enhance America's invaluable coastal and ocean resources through protection, research, and management. According to Senator Snowe, "…our coastal communities and economy are inextricably linked to the ocean's health and sustainability…the Act would help to fulfill our responsibility to preserve the vitality of the critical ecosystem it supports."
Its purposes "are to protect, conserve, re-store, and understand the oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes of the United States, ensuring present and future generations will benefit from the full range of ecological, economic, educational, social, cultural, nutritional, and recreational opportunities and services these resources are capable of providing."
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