WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) today applauds the passage of an amendment that would establish a National Endowment for the Oceans. The amendment, which Senator King cosponsored with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), passed 68-31 and will be included as part of the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA). The Senate is scheduled to continue debating the overall WRDA legislation throughout this week, with a vote on final passage expected in the near future.

The provision would establish a National Endowment for the Oceans, which would serve to support activities that protect, conserve, and restore the nation’s oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes.  To achieve this goal, the endowment creates a competitive grants program involving a rigorous application and review procedure as well as performance accountability measures for selected projects.

“Maine’s coastal waters are a cornerstone of our cultural heritage and our state economy,” Senator King said. “The endowment created by this amendment, when funded, would help to protect and conserve those natural marine resources for the benefit of our state and the enjoyment of its citizens and visitors alike for generations to come.”

BACKGROUND: The Endowment would be administered by the Secretary of Commerce and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF).  Two grant programs would be established: one nationally competitive program and one formula-based program for coastal states.Funds from the endowment, which would be identified at a later date, would be allocated as follows: 59 percent for grants in coastal and Great Lakes states, 39 percent for the national grants, and 2 percent for administrative purposes. Maine has 3,478 miles of shoreline and would be eligible to receive a percentage of the funding for coastal states. Those funds can be applied to approved coastal management plans to establish a competitive conservation grants program. Projects can focus on habitat restoration, data collection, ocean observation, cooperative fisheries science and marine debris removal and prevention.

In 2010, maritime activities like fishing, energy development, and tourism contributed $258 billion to U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) and supported 2.8 million jobs.

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