News Room

Including NOAA in Government Reorganization Could Have Unintended Consequences

Media Contact: Katie Cline

January 13, 2012

Washington DC – In response to the president’s proposal to reorganize the Department of Commerce - including moving NOAA to the Department of Interior - Ocean Conservancy’s Director of Government Relations Emily Woglom issues the following statement:

“While NOAA’s placement in Commerce is a historical oddity, the two major analysts for U.S. ocean policy, the Pew Ocean Commission and the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, both called for creating an independent and strengthened NOAA, or consolidating natural resource agencies only after strengthening NOAA. 

“Our chief concern is NOAA’s strength and ability to do its job as our nation’s lead civilian ocean agency. The issues facing our ocean are more pressing than ever, and in turn, the administration must not only maintain but build the strength of the agency overseeing such an important ecosystem. The United States’ Exclusive Economic Zone -- the area of the ocean managed by NOAA -- is 1.5 times larger than the entire landmass of the lower 48 states. Such a large and important area merits an elevated and independent voice in government.

“Finding ways to make government work better is extremely important. Right now, NOAA is doing a good job and should be provided the resources and position it deserves to be a leader for America’s interests in the ocean.

“The primary purpose of today’s announcement is to streamline work associated with business and the economy, which is a laudable goal. Ocean Conservancy is concerned about the unintended consequences a rapid reorganization of NOAA could have for the ocean. NOAA is currently making important strides to prevent overfishing, and the administration’s Implementation Plan for the National Ocean Policy, released yesterday, is an important step forward for ocean protections. Our priority is to ensure that ocean conservation has a strong voice in the federal government. Reorganization for NOAA at this time could potentially diminish or distract from the agency’s vital mission. 

“We need to see a lot more details because the full implications of this decision are unknown and could be far-reaching. Currently, our nation’s ocean and wildlife conservation laws are written under the authority of the Commerce Department. With the change of authorities, those laws may have to be opened up and amended, making them vulnerable to further drastic and potentially harmful changes.”

Ocean Conservancy is the world's foremost advocate for the oceans. Through science-based advocacy, research, and public education, we inform, inspire and empower people to speak and act for the oceans. Ocean Conservancy is headquartered in Washington, DC, and has offices in Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific, with support from more than half a million members and volunteers. To learn more about Ocean Conservancy visit www.oceanconservancy.org