CONTACT:  Lori Arguelles           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                   6/11/98

Demonstrating the Administration's commitment to addressing critical ocean issues, President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore are participating in the National Ocean Conference in Monterey, Calif. They are joined by scientists, academics, environmentalists, business leaders and representatives of local, state and federal government, who gathered in Monterey today to begin forming a common vision for the future of the ocean.

The National Ocean Conference, the first of its kind, is designed to achieve several goals, including demonstrating the interlinked nature of ocean issues, bringing together various interest groups to work together on common ocean interests, begin building a common vision for the future of the ocean, and encouraging greater public awareness of ocean issues.

Attendees will examine the opportunities and challenges involved in restoring and sustaining irreplaceable ocean resources, from the following four perspectives:

Environment--Only through careful stewardship can we maintain the health of our oceans and the economic opportunities they provide, such as fishing and tourism. With many marine resources already over-stressed, we must increase efforts to prevent overfishing, coastal pollution, and other threats to our beaches and the ocean environment.

Commerce--Oceans help sustain one of every six jobs in the United States through fishing, shipping, tourism research, etc. With growing international trade and rising demand for ocean resources, our ports, coasts and ocean waters become ever more vital to our economic future.

Exploration and Research--We must expand scientific efforts to catalog marine species and other ocean resources, identify promising new medicines and other materials, understand how the oceans regulate our climate, and gain the insights needed to restore and sustain marine ecosystems.

Global Security Freedom of the seas is vital to national security and international trade, and the presence of our naval forces around the world promotes peace and stability. We must work with other nations to ensure that our oceans remain free and open.

Oceans sustain life on Earth and provide us with many vital resources. They are a source of food, energy, commerce, medicine, and recreation. They shape our weather, link us to other nations, and are critical to our national security. In the 21st century, the oceans will become increasingly important in meeting mankind's everyday needs.

The conference is organized by the U.S. Department of Commerce and Navy, who will produce a report on the proceedings of the conference.