As Tricia Jedele recently reported, the US Senate is debating the funding for ocean management programs this week. The National Ocean Policy is certainly one Obama Administration initiative that deserves adequate funding and particularly, as we in New England know better than most, the program for comprehensive ocean planning is one that we can all benefit from. Ocean plans in Massachusetts and Rhode Island are going to be instrumental in helping to protect ocean habitat and maintain healthy and safe coasts while the uses of the ocean increase. A New England comprehensive ocean planning process that engages all New England states and relevant federal agencies, will make sure that current uses like fishing are respected and will help to responsibly develop clean, renewable wind energy projects that also have the benefit of reducing carbon pollution and create new jobs. Who can argue with all of that?

Only in the World’s Greatest Deliberative Body can one person make a political statement out of opposing a regional process that seeks to bring the fishing, energy, shipping and other industries, scientists, community leaders, recreational boaters and divers, wildlife advocates and state and federal agency managers together to help decide the best way to use and protect our Greatest Natural Asset. Ill-formed political gambits will usually receive a well-deserved response — and this one has. Conservation groups and ocean users across the country have responded to tell the Senate to stop the attacks on ocean planning and get on with the program. We’re not done with this bill yet, and surely more attacks will come in the future, but it is clear that the National Ocean Policy has its political base as well.