WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Marine Manufacturers Association greeted the release of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy's Final Report with optimism about the future of U.S. oceans policy and is encouraged by the positive direction the Commission has set for the nation's ocean environment, for the marine manufacturing industry, and for the recreational boater.

The Final Report, which specifically mentions the $30 billion a year recreational boat building industry and its substantial social and economic impact on communities nationwide, contains changes NMMA recommended in May during the comment phase of this three-year endeavor. The Commission removed from its Final Report a recommendation specifically opposed by NMMA, which suggested transferring the Clean Vessel Act grant program for marine sanitation devices and pumpout facilities from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, authorized by Congress in 2000 and appointed by President Bush in 2001, released Sept. 20 the final version of its now 610-page report, An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century. The report contains 212 recommendations for changing the way the nation approaches ocean management and outlines series of regulatory and legislative reforms that would alter federal oceans policy across the board.

Commission Chairman Admiral James D. Watkins, USN (Ret.) unveiled the Final Report for Congress alongside Senators Ted Stevens (R-AK) and Fritz Hollings (D-SC), both of whom expressed strong support for the Commission's recommendations. Admiral Watkins emphasized the need for haste in moving forward: "We must act now for our oceans because by 2010 it will be too late."

The Commission submitted its Final Report to the Bush Administration earlier in the day, laying out its case for a rapid response from the White House. Under the Oceans Act of 2000, the bipartisan legislation which established the Ocean Commission, the President must now within 90 days submit to Congress his statement of proposals implementing or responding to the report.

"We applaud again the Commission for its hard work and dedication to this important cause. Healthy oceans are critical to our future," said Thom Dammrich, NMMA president. "Our industry and recreational boaters throughout America have a long tradition of sound environmental stewardship and look forward to working with the Commission, the President, and Congress in improving oceans management in a way that protects our nation's aquatic treasures," added Monita Fontaine, NMMA vice president of government relations.