NOPC Statement on the White House release of the Ocean Justice Strategy

The National Ocean Protection Coalition celebrates the Biden Administration’s first-ever Ocean Justice Strategy. Fulfillment of this Strategy will advance environmental justice for communities that rely on ocean, coast, and Great Lakes resources by offering goals, principles, and practices that the Federal Government can adopt to provide long-term, sustainable benefits for people, communities, and the environment.

We applaud the Administration for the inclusive process and the way it incorporated the recommendations of Tribal Nations, Territorial Governments, people of the U.S. Territories, and Native Hawaiian Organizations along with community advocates, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, industry partners, and members of the public from across the country. 

The Ocean Justice Strategy recognizes that including and elevating the voices of Indigenous Peoples and communities of color will lead to better outcomes for the ocean and is an important milestone towards equity and justice in ocean conservation. We also acknowledge that this is not a new conversation or movement–—for decades communities, individuals, and organizations have laid the foundation for this work. We value their unwavering dedication and ground-breaking contributions to an equitable and inclusive future. 

We commend the Administration’s leadership and look forward to supporting strong actions that will effectively implement this groundbreaking Strategy in 2024 and beyond.