Ocean Management Solutions Featured at Capitol Hill Ocean Week

The lead up to World Oceans Day on June 8, 2024 is often a time for big announcements in ocean stewardship. This year was no different, with the Biden administration’s announcement of three new strategies to advance ocean management and NOAA’s announcement of the National Marine Sanctuary, Lake Ontario (see below). These delivered a high note for the launch of Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW), where leadership and solutions for mitigating the impacts of climate change were highlighted including the path to 30X30; recognizing and incorporating indigenous knowledge, emerging technologies, and stronger collaboration efforts.  

What started as a small, daylong gathering in 2001 is now Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW), the nation’s premier annual conference examining current marine, coastal and Great Lakes policy issues. Convened by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation every June, CHOW brings together scientists, policymakers, scholars, businesses and conservation leaders to address pressing conservation, science, and management issues facing our oceans and Great Lakes. 

Foundation’s Ocean Awards Gala

CHOW is held in conjunction with the Foundation’s Ocean Awards Gala, which recognizes champions of marine and Great Lakes stewardship with Leadership, Lifetime Achievement, Conservation Innovation, and Sanctuary Wavemaker Awards. Awards honored Chair Violet Sage Walker of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, with special recognition for her father the late Chief Fred Collins; White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory; and National Geographic Pristine Seas. Read More

Collaboration on Climate  

Climate change was widely and repeatedly referenced as the core threat to the oceans, biodiversity, and a thriving blue economy. There were several powerful calls for the need for different sectors and groups (e.g., fishers, Indigenous communities, youth) to play a leading role in the effort to address this threat. Collaboration between tribal leaders, wind developers, fishing fleets, public-private partnerships, and those around the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary was elevated as an example of how this can be achieved. 

The Path to 30X30 

National progress toward The Biden’s Administrations' Protecting America goal of protecting 30% of our coastal waters by 2030 (30x30) was referenced in almost every session at CHOW. NOAA’s announcement of the 16th designated Marine Sanctuary in Lake Ontario supports the 30x30 goal.  Many panelists and attendees raised important questions around how durable protection is being defined and which areas will ultimately qualify. Read More

Support for Indigenous Knowledge  

Indigenous perspectives were evident across CHOW. Panel discussions ranged from issues of food sovereignty, to the need to redefine conservation approaches, to uplift Indigenous leadership. IN particular, the progress of restoring Loko i’a, fishponds used for traditional aquaculture, and in Washington, and the Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC) and Morro Bay Offshore Wind Leaseholder efforts to designate the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (CHNMS) that allows for the coexistence of responsible offshore wind were celebrated. Across discussions, co-management of shared oceans was a common theme. 

Emerging Technologies

Changes in ocean use are positioned to mitigate or increase resilience to climate change. Emerging technologies such as offshore wind development, marine carbon dioxide removal, eDNA, artificial intelligence, and “ropeless” fishing were highlighted as sustainable solutions to not only mitigate climate change, but also grow the blue economy and create economic opportunities for the next generation. 

Leadership

Leadership was the theme of 2024. As such leadership was referenced in nearly every session, including examples of brave, effective leadership, where ocean leadership is needed, and how to support the next generation of leaders. Leaders from across sectors and groups spoke, including Federal agencies, indigenous groups, private companies, and young people. Legislation, treaties, collaborations, diplomacy, and public engagement can all be leveraged to enact more effective and rapid changes. Today’s and tomorrow’s leaders are working to better coordinate and collaborate with a variety of stakeholders and break down the silos between disciplines to identify and implement effective solutions.