Ocean Report Card…Found Wanting

I waited with great expectations. Promises had been made that the grades would be improved this time around. I opened up the report card with much anticipation. However, this feeling was short-lived. Grades had improved, but only from a D+ to a C- average. Slight improvement, but not enough to merit much praise. And if it were up to me, there would be no extra-curricular activities until real effort had been made to improve these grades. In past times, there may have even been a trip to the woodshed. But this is not any ordinary report card.

What am I talking about? I am talking about the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative’s U.S. Ocean Policy Report Card that was announced Jan. 30. This Report provides a retrospective assessment of the nation’s collective progress during calendar 2006 toward implementing the recommendations of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the Pew Oceans Commission Reports. If you are interested in the full report card and comments, visit the website: http://www.jointoceancommission.org.

What about efforts in research, science and education since that’s where our interest is as NMEAers? There was a minor improvement from a D to a D+ over the year. There was a positive step this past year in the development of an Ocean Research Priorities Plan and Implementation Strategy. This Plan provides the nation with a guide to enhance support for ocean science research and education. But the Plan was not supported with an adequate budget to match. Again, promises made, but not fulfilled. The report states, “without additional funding, the energy and effort going into emerging plans and priorities (for ocean science research and education) will have been wasted, and the health and productivity of our oceans and coasts will remain imperiled.”

So what does this mean for NMEAers? Over the years we have had a number of false starts and false promises, but that has not deterred us from doing our jobs or moving the mission of NMEA forward. In the early years of NMEA, we struggled financially but managed to move forward to today where we are a fiscally sound organization due to the hard work and dedication of our members and the astute decisions of our board members. We also have a real NMEA office with wonderful membership support provided by Johnette Bosarge. In the early years, the idea of a self-sufficient office was only a dream.

In the dark days of current federal, state, and local budgets, it is easy to get pessimistic. However, we continue to reach our goals and dreams due to the will and determination of the NMEA members. As previous writers of Gamming have said, it is the people that make NMEA great. We are a group of dedicated educators who make a difference in our schools and communities in making known the “world of water – both fresh and salt.” We are also a resourceful lot, but funds do help. We need to continue with our message on the importance of our ocean and marine resources and impact they have on our daily lives, but we also need to let individuals know that time is of the essence. There are national, regional, and state plans in place, but the plans (like the promises of a better report card) carry little weight unless there is effort and funding to make these plans a reality.

I often use a quote by Margaret Mead, famous anthropologist, who said you should “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” NMEA may be a small organization by numbers, but it is one that is having an influence on young and old in moving the awareness, use, and application of marine and ocean sciences forward. Best wishes to all in your efforts. You are making a difference.

I look forward to rekindling my spirit, learning new things, renewing old friendships and making new ones in Portland, ME this coming summer at this year’s annual NMEA Conference, Downeast 2007 with Ideas, Innovations, and Inspirations. I hope to see you there.

Mike Spranger is Assistant Director for Extension and Education with the Florida Sea Grant Program and Associate Dean for Environmental and Natural Resources, University of Florida IFAS Extension. Mike served as NMEA President in 1995-96.