A very interesting agreement to work together to protect the oceans of the West Coast.
An excerpt.
States link up to protect ocean
Terry Rodgers and Mike LeeCopley News ServiceSeptember 19, 2006
Copyright 2006 Copley News Service All Rights Reserved
LONG BEACH, Calif.
The governors of California, Oregon and Washington announced a landmark, bipartisan pact Monday to safeguard the ocean and lobby Congress and the president on coastal issues.
As an exclamation point, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger also signed seven bills Monday that his office said would "extend the state's leadership" on ocean protection. The legislation ranged from establishing a research program on sea otter deaths to controlling invasive species in ballast water discharged by ships.
The biggest buzz was generated by the new West Coast bloc, a signal that the three states are dissatisfied with the federal response to a wide range of marine threats.
The governors unveiled their Agreement on Ocean Health at the California and the World Ocean conference in Long Beach. Schwarzenegger was at the podium, while Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski and Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire, both Democrats, appeared live via satellite.
"Just as our Western states have started to work together to fight global warming and protect our air, we now join forces to make sure we are doing everything in our power to maintain clean water and beaches along our coasts," Schwarzenegger said. "It's harder for the federal government to ignore us when we speak with a common voice."
Members of the partnership said their efforts would bolster state economies by protecting the massive coastal tourism industry and enhancing keystone fisheries.
