WASHINGTON, D.C. – The following statement was issued by Jeff Watters, Senior Director of Government Relations at Ocean Conservancy, in reaction to the proposed 13% budget cut to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) by the Trump administration:

“Yet again, the Trump administration has proposed drastic cuts to NOAA that would put coastal communities across the country at risk. We are confronting increasing challenges in our ocean and along our coasts, including climate change, sea level rise, harmful algal blooms, shifting fish stocks, plastic pollution and so much more. Now is the time to build up federal programs that provide critical research, monitoring and on-the-ground support for coastal communities and businesses.

“Instead, for the fourth consecutive year, the Trump administration has released a shortsighted budget for NOAA that does not address the issues facing our ocean. Once again, the administration calls for the full elimination of vital programs like Sea Grant, Coastal Zone Management Grants, and the National Estuarine Research Reserve System as well as cuts across the board to programs, labs, cooperative institutes and grants. Simply put, this budget is a non-starter.

“Now more than ever, we need to invest in a healthy ocean and the communities, economies and wildlife that depend on it. Congress has rejected this administration’s extreme budget cuts in the past, and we urge them to again stand up for our ocean and coastal communities.”

###

Jeff Watters is available for interviews upon request.

Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.