President’s budget puts our ocean and ocean communities at risk

Today, the Trump administration released its budget that includes a devastating $902 million cut to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), jeopardizing both our ocean health and critical functions that we rely on every day. NOAA is essential for protecting endangered species, keeping trash off our coastlines and keeping our families safe in the event of storms.

This fight is just beginning. Congress has the power to stop this—but they need to hear from YOU today.

Our ocean contributes $359 billion to our national economy, and these cuts would have a devastating impact on the seafood, restaurant and tourism industries and local coastal economies. These proposed cuts are detrimental for our ocean and we can’t afford to put our families and thousands of coastal communities at risk.

Tell your members of Congress not to turn their backs on our families and coastal communities.

This isn’t just about the numbers—this is about people. These budget cuts have real world impacts on people’s lives: Local fishermen depend on NOAA’s Sea Grant program for coastal industries the same way farmers receive support from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and its elimination would disrupt entire businesses along our coasts and lakes. Veterinarians rely on NOAA to conduct vital research to protect whales from ship strikes and ocean toxins. States, tribes and families living on the coast count on NOAA’s Regional Coastal Resilience Grants to assess coastal risks and provide storm warnings. Congress has the power to stop this—but they need to hear from YOU. - Jeff Watters, Ocean Conservancy