The Role of States in Advancing a National Ocean Biodiversity Strategy

On September 6, NEC hosted a webinar on the recently released National Ocean Biodiversity Strategy. The Strategy outlines ways to set marine biodiversity goals, build capacity to protect ocean ecosystems, and convene diverse partners to ensure the sustainable use of ocean resources. 

Successful implementation of a National Ocean Biodiversity Strategy will require close partnerships between state and federal partners, Indigenous knowledge holders, frontline communities, the science and research community, and more. State legislatures have an important role to play in the development of policies that increase access to biodiversity data, leverage new technology to support biodiversity and resource protections, and inspire the public to discover and value ocean life.

This webinar featured remarks from the two of the lead writers of the Strategy, Gabrielle Canonico of NOAA’s Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) and Emmett Duffy of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Thomas O’Shea detailed the Commonwealth’s process of developing national leading Biodiversity Conservation Goals through 2050 and Florida state Representative Lindsay Cross spoke to efforts to protect ocean and coastal ecosystems across Florida. 

Check out NEC’s blog on how states are preparing to take on the National Ocean Biodiversity Strategy.