May 5, 2004 “Our waters can be blue and productive; our technology green and job creating,” said Rep. Woolsey WASHINGTON, D.C. - As acting Top Democrat of the U.S. House Science Committee, Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) spoke today during a committee hearing regarding the need to protect the fragile environment of the Marin and Sonoma county coastline, and the work done by local institutions to protect and restore local fisheries. Today’s Science Committee hearing was about the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy. Rep. Woolsey understands that the local coastline, and the world’s oceans must be protected for future generations. This week she joined Reps. Sam Farr (D-CA), Lois Capps (D-CA) and other members of the California Congressional delegation in sending a letter to Governor Schwarzenegger calling on him to reinforce California’s role as a leader in coastal and ocean protection and to support the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy when the “California Ocean Summit” convenes tomorrow, May 6th. The following are Rep. Woolsey’s words as written: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank the witnesses for coming here today to share their expertise with us. As usual, I expect this will be one of your open and honest “good science” hearings, Mr. Chairman. As you know I represent the 6th District of California, an area that encompasses the entire coastline of Marin and Sonoma Counties and most of the north shore of the San Francisco Bay. “Historically, fishing has always been an important part of our economy, but in recent decades it has dwindled to near disappearance. San Francisco Bay once supported a herring fishery and was famed for its wild oysters - both are completely gone. No longer is the bay front city of Sausalito home to a fishing fleet, and the commercial fishing fleet of Bodega Bay is just a remnant of past days. Once the Russian River which empties into the Pacific Ocean in Jenner, supported a world-class steelhead run, and large populations of Coho and Chinook salmon. Now all three species are on the endangered species list. “These tragic depletions and disappearance of our fisheries are symptomatic of many things: over fishing; inland habitat destruction; climatic changes; coastal development - all of which are addressed by the Oceans Commission Report, and all of which we must deal with seriously. “On a more positive note, I would like to mention that there are many efforts going on in my district to both understand marine issues; to protect our fisheries and to restore them. The Bodega Marine Lab is at the forefront of many areas of marine research, including the effects of currents on sea life; the San Francisco Estuarine Reserve is developing best practices for restoration of our baylands; the Marine Mammal Center is researching diseases and poisons that effect marine mammals; the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary are studying aquatic populations on the continental shelf; and the Russian River Watershed Council and the Gualala River Watershed Council are preparing science-based watershed management plans. All of these efforts are important and all of them need and deserve federal support. “Finally, it is important that we do no more harm to our marine resources, including our sparkling beaches. The oil exploration moratorium off of our California coast needs to be extended indefinitely. The Oceans report should be the wake-up call that we need to do things differently. Instead of drilling every last drop from the most fragile places on this planet, we need to make energy conservation a national priority (first by raising CAFÉ standards) and then husband our amazing technological know-how to begin the necessary transition to clean, renewable energy. “Our waters can be blue and productive; our technology green and job creating. I look forward to hearing from today’s witnesses about the best ways to ensure that we leave our oceans in good shape for generations to come. Thank you.”