National Oceans Month, 2009

Proclamation 8392 of June 12, 2009

National Oceans Month, 2009

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Oceans are the Earth's dominant feature. They cover
more than 70 percent of the planet's surface and affect
our lives in a variety of ways. This month we celebrate
the wonder of the oceans, and we commit to protecting
and sustaining them for current and future generations.

The oceans are critical to supporting life. From the
abyssal plains of the Pacific to the shallow coral
reefs and seagrass beds of the Florida Keys, oceans
support an incredible diversity of marine life and
ecosystems. The base of the oceanic ecosystem provides
most of the oxygen we breathe, so oceans are critical
to our survival. These bodies of water also drive
weather patterns and affect climate.

Our Nation's economy relies heavily on the oceans.
Goods and services are transported across them
constantly. They support countless jobs in an array of
industries, including fishing, tourism, and energy. The
economies of entire regions depend on the oceans.

The United States has been a leader in exploring and
protecting this critical resource. We have gained new
insights into the ocean ecosystems through research and
monitoring. We have promoted innovative conservation
efforts, such as setting aside special areas as
national marine sanctuaries. We have also reduced
overfishing, made great strides in reducing coastal
pollution, and helped restore endangered species and
degraded habitats.

My Administration continues to build upon this
progress, and we are taking a more integrated and
comprehensive approach to developing a national ocean
policy that will guide us well into the future. This
policy will incorporate ecosystem-based science and
management and emphasize our public stewardship
responsibilities. My Administration also is working to
develop a systematic marine spatial planning framework
for the conservation and sustainable use of ocean
resources. I am committed to protecting these resources
and ensuring accountability for actions that affect
them.

During National Oceans Month, we celebrate these vast
spaces and the myriad ways they sustain life. We also
pledge to preserve them and commend all those who are
engaged in efforts to meet this end.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as National
Oceans Month. I call upon all Americans to learn more
about the oceans and what can be done to conserve them.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twelfth day of June, in the year of our Lord two
thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.