Almost 200 attendees to the BVS IV prepared for a full day of discussing important ocean policy issues on Capitol Hill. Sean Cosgrove, of the Conservation Law Foundation, led a presentation on the benefits of the National Ocean Policy.

Over 200 ocean advocates from 23 states converged on Washington two weeks ago to deliver a very important message – full implementation of the National Ocean Policy is vital to ensure healthy and resilient oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes. The Blue Vision Summit which took place May 14- 16 was a gathering of ocean and coastal leaders, focused on finding solutions to the challenges facing our oceans. This year regional ocean planning was highlighted as one of those solutions and it was evident that New England is leading the charge.

During the three day conference packed with ocean themed workshops and Hill visits, key members of New England’s Congressional Delegation demonstrated enthusiastic commitment to working towards an ocean stewardship and planning model that will support healthy and economically valuable oceans for New England.

Senator Whitehouse from Rhode Island opened the Blue Vision Summit by thanking the conference participants for their work in support of the oceans and for bringing the message that ocean health is important, to Washington. The Senator highlighted that the health of the oceans is tied to the well being of our economy, particularly in coastal states like Rhode Island.

Senator Whitehouse returned the next night for the 2013 Peter Benchley Ocean Awards to present this year’s Excellence in Policy to Congressman Ed Markey from Massachusetts for his work to protect the ocean from the impacts of overfishing, climate change, and pollution. An award Senator Whitehouse received last year.

Congressional leadership and support of the NOP did not stop there for New England, Maine’s Shelly Pingree spoke to the participants of the Blue Vision Summit and reminded people that living on an island off the coast of Maine gives her a clear perspective on how so many jobs depend on having clean water and healthy oceans.

The workshop wrapped up with a call to action for people to return to their home states and continue to advocate for full implementation of the national ocean policy. New England is doing just that with a series of public meetings throughout New England to discuss regional planning draft goals