Protecting and Preserving our Oceans During National Oceans Month (and all year long)

June 23, 2022

From one perspective, the ocean looks vast and uniform. As a scuba diver I gained another perspective, experiencing the amazing details and diversity that hides under the waves. In EPA’s Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, I have been granted that same deep dive – this time of the rules, initiatives, and programs designed to address the challenges that face our oceans and coasts.

The year 2022 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act. In the 50 years since the act was signed into law, the Ocean Dumping Management Program has prevented the disposal of many harmful and toxic materials in the ocean. Because of MPRSA, the ocean is no longer considered an appropriate disposal location for sewage sludge, medical and industrial wastes, or incineration at sea.

Threats to Ocean Health

The world’s oceans have a unique relationship with weather and climate - the oceans influence weather on a local and global scale, while changes in climate can fundamentally alter many properties of our oceans. Americans who enjoy and make their living near the coast or from the ocean are already experiencing the impacts of warmer waters, flooding of coastal communities, stronger storms, and changes in ecosystems and biodiversity. Carbon emitted by human activities is absorbed by the oceans and leads to a change in the chemistry of the ocean known as ocean acidification.

To help address ocean acidification, our oceans programs and the National Estuary Program are working with federal partners on new scientific insights, methodologies, and tools to understand ocean acidification trends, impacts, and solutions that are vital to mitigate and adapt to climate-induced ocean changes.

Estuaries - places where freshwater from rivers mix with saltwater from the sea - face a host of common challenges. Because we love and depend on the water, more than half of the people in the United States live within 100 miles of the coast, including on the shores of estuaries. The Climate Ready Estuaries Program was initiated in 2008 to build capacity in the 28 National Estuaries and to help coastal communities adapt to the effects of climate change. This program helps coastal managers assess climate change vulnerabilities and implement adaptation strategies.

Partnering to Make a Difference

Coral reefs hold enormous ecological, economic, and cultural value to hundreds of millions of people around the world. They provide valuable benefits such as nutrition, economic security, and protection from storms, flooding, and erosion. EPA is a proud member of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, which coordinates activities among 13 federal agencies to preserve and protect coral reef ecosystems.

Vessels, marinas, and ports are a vital component of the nation’s economy, supporting the transportation network, international trade, and public recreation. They can also have adverse impacts on coastal ecosystems through the introduction of metals, nutrients, and aquatic nuisance species. We address these issues alongside our federal partners through the Vessels, Marinas and Ports Program and The Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA).

Despite their environmental and economic importance, wetlands located in coastal watersheds (coastal wetlands) in the eastern United States are being lost at twice the rate they are being restored. EPA chairs the Interagency Coastal Wetlands Workgroup, which focuses on better understanding the underlining causes of coastal wetland loss and recommending policies to protect and restore these wetlands.

We’re proud to participate in cross-agency initiatives such as the White House Ocean Policy Committee. This group focuses on advancing ocean science and technology, prioritizing ocean research and technology needs, and leveraging expertise in ocean research.

On an international stage, MPRSA implements the London Convention -- one of the first international agreements for the protection of the marine environment from human activities. Represented by the EPA and other federal agencies, the U.S. plays an active role in meetings of the London Convention and in the international ocean dumping prevention community.  

Oceans are much more than just a temporary escape from the daily grind or a nice background for vacation photos. Oceans generate more than half of the oxygen we breathe, absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and influence worldwide climate and weather patterns. In coastal communities and beyond, healthy oceans provide food, medicine, and cultural value. Our oceans are essential to the world’s economy, directly supporting millions of jobs in the transportation, fisheries, and tourism industries. We need your help to protect this important resource.

What You Can Do

Whether you live on the coast or hundreds of miles away from an ocean, there are many ways you can help protect and preserve ocean resources: 

• Limit Nutrient Pollution:
  • Minimize use of lawn fertilizers – excess nutrients from fertilizers can contribute to algal blooms and dead zones, and harm coral reefs.
  • Use phosphate-free cleaners – phosphates are a form of phosphorus that can contribute to excess nutrients. 
• Enjoy Oceans Responsibly: 
  • Recycle and dispose of waste properly – marine trash can be harmful to ocean life and coral reefs.  
  • Practice safe and responsible diving and snorkeling – avoid touching reefs, which can damage the delicate coral animals.
• Reduce your Carbon Footprint: 
  • Choose environmentally friendly transportation – emissions from vehicles increase the amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere and contribute to ocean acidification and increased ocean temperature. 
  • Turn off lights and unplug appliances when not in use – burning of fossil fuels for energy uses increases greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. 
• Learn More and Spread the Word: 
  • Visit EPA’s Oceans and Coasts website. 

About the Author

John Goodin
Director
Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds

John is the Director of EPA’s Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, where he leads multiple programs related to the protection and restoration of the nation’s waters. Among them are Clean Water Act efforts in collaboration with states to monitor and assess water quality, develop restoration plans and nonpoint source pollution reduction plans, promulgate rulemakings and guidance related to the Act’s jurisdiction, administer permitting responsibilities related to inland and ocean discharges of dredged and fill material, and advance state and local efforts under our National Estuary Program and Urban Waters program.