WASHINGTON – The Trump administration announced today that it is slashing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s workforce, which will have a significant impact on ocean health—and more. Jeff Watters, Ocean Conservancy’s vice president of external affairs, issued the following statement in response:

“The indiscriminate firing of employees is going to sabotage NOAA’s ability to do essential work that every single American relies on. NOAA is the eyes and ears for our water and air – the agency tracks our weather and climate; monitors tides and surf forecasts; allows for the safe deployment and navigation of satellites, ships, and doppler radar. It acts as a first responder with its weather and hurricane emergency alerts; its tsunami warning centers; its oil spill response capabilities; its marine mammal stranding network; and its harmful algal blooms early warning systems. NOAA even keeps seafood on the table. Americans depend on NOAA each and every day, and so does the health of the ocean.”

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