Coastal waters in the United States are unhealthy, underexplored, and poorly managed, concludes a report by a federally appointed commission. Its members are calling for sweeping reforms to U.S. ocean policy and more research to reverse the serious declines caused by human activities that range from pollution to overfishing to chaotic coastal development. The preliminary report issued by the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy received strong support from a bipartisan group in Congress upon its release in late April. What remains to be seen, however, is whether that support translates into the political will to implement the recommendations, which could radically change the way Americans do business.
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