““Opportunity Opportunity Streams”Streams”

The Strategic Positioning of Washington’s Coastal The Strategic Positioning of Washington’s Coastal

CommunitiesCommunities

Ocean Policy Working GroupOcean Policy Working GroupOlympia, Washington Olympia, Washington

June 9, 2006June 9, 2006

Kevin Ranker, San Juan County Council

We love the edgeWe love the edge

• Population on the coastPopulation on the coast

The Crowded Coast: Population Trends, 1970-2000

On this water planet we love the edge

“75% of Americans will live within 80 miles of the coast by

2025”

Source: US Oceans Commission, 2005

The Ocean CommissionsThe Ocean Commissions

Baja to Bering, Coastal Society, the Puget Baja to Bering, Coastal Society, the Puget Sound Initiative and the Puget Sound Sound Initiative and the Puget Sound

Salmon Recovery PlanSalmon Recovery Plan

So… what are the common So… what are the common themes?themes?

Coast and Ocean in Crisis…Coast and Ocean in Crisis…

• ““The oceans and coasts are in trouble and The oceans and coasts are in trouble and we must change the way we manage we must change the way we manage them…” - USCOPthem…” - USCOP

• “…“…as much as we love our oceans - our as much as we love our oceans - our ignorance has been destroying them.” - Pew ignorance has been destroying them.” - Pew Oceans CommissionOceans Commission

So… what are the common So… what are the common themes?themes?

All of these reports, initiatives and All of these reports, initiatives and organizations have recognized the organizations have recognized the importance of importance of – conserving areas of high biodiversityconserving areas of high biodiversity– reducing human induced threatsreducing human induced threats– applying a more practical approach applying a more practical approach

known as ecosystem-based known as ecosystem-based managementmanagement

– sustainable economic development sustainable economic development

So… why should we So… why should we care?care?

Little progress at national and regional Little progress at national and regional level… focus has shifted to state and level… focus has shifted to state and local opportunitieslocal opportunities – Tens of millions of federal and private dollars Tens of millions of federal and private dollars

invested in USCOP, Pew, salmon recovery efforts invested in USCOP, Pew, salmon recovery efforts and marine priority areas workand marine priority areas work

– ““U.S. Gets a D+ on Ocean Policy Reform” – Joint U.S. Gets a D+ on Ocean Policy Reform” – Joint Oceans Commission Oceans Commission

– There is a very real need to demonstrate There is a very real need to demonstrate successessuccesses

The real work will The real work will happen at the local and happen at the local and

state-based levelstate-based level• Market-based approach for diversifying and Market-based approach for diversifying and

strengthening our local economies strengthening our local economies (Marine-(Marine-based Manufacturing, Marine Trades, Seafood based Manufacturing, Marine Trades, Seafood industry, Technology, Research and Education) industry, Technology, Research and Education)

• Provide logistical and financial support for Provide logistical and financial support for local, state and tribal management – linking local, state and tribal management – linking our work to recommendations our work to recommendations (CAO, SMP, (CAO, SMP, HPA, Spills, etc.)HPA, Spills, etc.)

• Because of the reports and initiatives there Because of the reports and initiatives there is momentum that could be acted uponis momentum that could be acted upon

The nation’s largest The nation’s largest philanthropic organizations philanthropic organizations are looking for a return on are looking for a return on

their investmenttheir investment

Competition: Central California, Oregon, Gulf of Maine, Chesapeake Bay,Competition: Central California, Oregon, Gulf of Maine, Chesapeake Bay, Puerto RicoPuerto Rico

Funding - privateFunding - private

• Private Funding for Marine InitiativesPrivate Funding for Marine Initiatives– Moore Foundation - $33 million annuallyMoore Foundation - $33 million annually**– Packard Foundation – $14 Million AnnuallyPackard Foundation – $14 Million Annually– Pew Charitable Trusts – $10.5 Million AnnuallyPew Charitable Trusts – $10.5 Million Annually– Rockefeller, Homeland, Surdna, Sloan, Bullitt, Rockefeller, Homeland, Surdna, Sloan, Bullitt,

Ford, Ocean Foundation, etc. – $3 Million Ford, Ocean Foundation, etc. – $3 Million Annually (Approximately)Annually (Approximately)

Total Annual: $60.5 MillionTotal Annual: $60.5 Million

Funding - federalFunding - federal

• Federal Funding for Oceans:Federal Funding for Oceans:– NOAANOAA– National Fish and Wildlife FoundationNational Fish and Wildlife Foundation– EPAEPA– Congressional AppropriationCongressional Appropriation– ESA Salmon, Orca, etcESA Salmon, Orca, etc– ??

Does Washington State Does Washington State have a Competitive have a Competitive

Advantage?Advantage?• Ocean EthicOcean Ethic– Our coastline is charismatic and accessible Our coastline is charismatic and accessible – Local interaction with our coast & oceans Local interaction with our coast & oceans (as coastal population (as coastal population

grows, so does personal connection)grows, so does personal connection)– Local economy based on healthy ocean systemsLocal economy based on healthy ocean systems– Political CoverPolitical Cover

• ResearchResearch– UW, UC Davis, PSAT, COMPASS, PISCO, OCNMS, etc. UW, UC Davis, PSAT, COMPASS, PISCO, OCNMS, etc.

• Ecosystem-based managementEcosystem-based management– National models of EBM (MSA)National models of EBM (MSA)– Land/sea connections (forage fish/salmon, “sand shed” Land/sea connections (forage fish/salmon, “sand shed”

management – SW coastal erosion study)management – SW coastal erosion study)– Community-based management (MRC’s, watershed-based salmon Community-based management (MRC’s, watershed-based salmon

recovery plan)recovery plan)

• Improve Ocean LiteracyImprove Ocean Literacy– Education & Outreach (WSU Beach Watchers, UW k-12, NGO’s, Education & Outreach (WSU Beach Watchers, UW k-12, NGO’s,

etc.)etc.)

• Improved GovernanceImproved Governance– Puget Sound Partnership, Marine Managers Working Group (SJC), Puget Sound Partnership, Marine Managers Working Group (SJC),

NWSC/MRC’s, Salmon Recovery PlanNWSC/MRC’s, Salmon Recovery Plan

Does Washington State have a Does Washington State have a Competitive Advantage?Competitive Advantage?

• National models of National models of ecosystem-based ecosystem-based managementmanagement– EBM: an integrated EBM: an integrated

approach to approach to management that management that considers the entire considers the entire ecosystem and ecosystem and requires action at requires action at several scales – several scales – national, regional, national, regional, state, tribal and local.state, tribal and local. (compass, 2005)(compass, 2005)

A Competitive AdvantageA Competitive Advantage

• The region is already recognized as a The region is already recognized as a marine industry cluster marine industry cluster

– Fishing Industry (4,285 commercial permits, 200,000 Fishing Industry (4,285 commercial permits, 200,000 recreational) recreational)

– Aquaculture (Washington State a leader in shell fish)Aquaculture (Washington State a leader in shell fish)– Marine TradesMarine Trades– Northwest Marine TechnologyNorthwest Marine Technology– University of WashingtonUniversity of Washington– UC Davis SeaDoc SocietyUC Davis SeaDoc Society– Marine DesignMarine Design– Nordic TugNordic Tug– WestportWestport– SafeboatSafeboat– Clallam netWorks Marine Services Industry ClusterClallam netWorks Marine Services Industry Cluster– Etc.Etc.

We continue We continue to successfully to successfully position our position our communities communities as a tourist as a tourist destinationsdestinations

Market Advantage: Wild marine environment, beautiful shorelines, rivers and estuaries

We’ve only just begun…We’ve only just begun… to recognize the possibilities of to recognize the possibilities of our state as a regional hub for our state as a regional hub for marine-based marine-based researchresearch and and

educationaleducational clusters clusters

Conclusions Conclusions

– ““More than a year after reports of U.S. Commission on More than a year after reports of U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and Pew Oceans Commission report card Ocean Policy and Pew Oceans Commission report card shows little limited progress” – Joint Oceans shows little limited progress” – Joint Oceans Commission, February 2006Commission, February 2006

• It is absolutely critical that the It is absolutely critical that the recommendations and work of the recommendations and work of the Governor’s Ocean Policy Working Governor’s Ocean Policy Working Group and the Puget Sound Group and the Puget Sound Partnership turn into actionPartnership turn into action

“How inappropriate to call this planet Earth, when it clearly should be named Ocean.” Arthur

C. Clarke