more help for marine sanctuaries

The call to action was actually last month.

I thought I had responded, but it had slipped my mind until today.

Well, now my politicians know.

I hope they are listening and reading.

Elections for Georgia's representatives are in November.

Of this year.

Just sayin'.

As for what was requested from the National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation, that alerted me to a group I didn't even know existed.

Have you heard of the Congressional National Marine Sanctuary Caucus?

That's a bipartisan coalition who are the champions of the ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes in Congress. 

This political group of politicians raised awareness and strengthened commitment to the sanctuary system and its importance to conservation, heritage, public recreation, education, local economies and jobs across the country.
It would seem probable that every Congress member of a state with a seacoast would want to be part of such a group, right?

Nope.

Not even one elected official from Georgia is on that caucus.

So, I've written them the following letter to request they consider membership.

I'll be curious to see who joins.

 

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"As a citizen of a city and state with Atlantic Ocean shores, I ask you to join the National Marine Sanctuaries Caucus, a bipartisan coalition of Congressional champions dedicated to our national marine sanctuaries.
 
The National Marine Sanctuary System is our essential network of protected waters. Encompassing more than 600,000 square miles of our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes, national marine sanctuaries, they are home to millions of species, preserve our nation’s maritime heritage, and promote access for exploration and world-class outdoor recreation. Sanctuaries are vital to maintaining healthy ocean and Great Lakes ecosystems that underpin our productive coastal economies. Few places on the planet can compete with the diversity of the National Marine Sanctuary System, which protects America's most iconic natural and cultural marine resources. Living on the coast or inland, our national marine sanctuaries belong to all Americans.
 
National marine sanctuaries conserve unique habitats that are home to millions of species, from magnificent humpback whales to colorful clownfish. Sanctuaries support our health and the economy. They are living laboratories that improve our understanding of our ocean and Great Lakes, and they protect sacred sites and the resting places of shipwrecks that tell the story of our shared cultural heritage.

National marine sanctuaries foster economic growth, support jobs and businesses, generate billions of dollars in local revenues, preserve underwater and maritime treasures, and provide valuable public access for ocean recreation, research, exploration, and education. Across all national marine sanctuaries, approximately $8 billion annually is generated in coastal and ocean-dependent economies from diverse activities like commercial fishing, research, and tourism and recreation activities. We have seen the benefits that national marine sanctuaries provide for local communities and our nation.
 
Sanctuaries embody our nation’s commitment to conserve the best of our ocean and Great Lakes for future generations. And our national marine sanctuaries need the strong commitment of our political leaders today.  Join the National Marine Sanctuary Caucus, co-chaired by Reps. Jared Huffman and Garret Graves."

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Interested in spurring your Congress representative into action.

Just go to this website and let them know.

Thanks!