National Ocean Month, 2017

Proclamation 9622 of May 31, 2017

National Ocean Month, 2017

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

National Ocean Month celebrates the mighty oceans and
their extraordinary resources. This month, we recognize
the importance of harnessing the seas for our national
security and prosperity.

Thirty-four years ago, President Ronald Reagan
proclaimed the creation of the U.S. Exclusive Economic
Zone, making clear America's sovereign right to
explore, exploit, conserve, and manage ocean resources
extending 200 nautical miles from our shores. This is
the world's largest Exclusive Economic Zone, spanning
more than 3.4 million square nautical miles--an area
larger than the combined landmass of all 50 States. We
must recognize the importance of our offshore areas to
our security and economic independence, all while
protecting the marine environment for present and
future generations.

Today, our offshore areas remain underutilized and
often unexplored. We have yet to fully leverage new
technologies and unleash the forces of economic
innovation to more fully develop and explore our ocean
economy. In the field of energy, we have just begun to
tap the potential of our oceans' oil and gas, wind,
wave, and tidal resources to power the Nation. The
fisheries resources of the United States are among the
most valuable in the world. Growing global demand for
seafood presents tremendous opportunities for expansion
of our seafood exports, which can reduce our more than
$13 billion seafood trade deficit.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, by virtue of the
authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws
of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2017 as
National Ocean Month. This month, I call upon Americans
to reflect on the value and importance of the oceans
not only to our security and economy, but also as a
source of recreation, enjoyment, and relaxation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two
thousand seventeen, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and forty-
first.