1、j a n u a r y 2 0 1 4 P o l i c y B r i e fNational Coastal Ocean MappingAdvancing National Defense and Ocean ConservationBy Monica Medina,joel Smith and linda SturgisThe United States is a maritime nation with an expansive coastal ocean that is integral to economic,environmental and national securi
2、ty.1 The coastal ocean hosts a wide range of users,including the U.S.military,coastal shipping companies,offshore energy producers,commercial and sport fishermen,recreational users and conservation groups.As a primary user of the coastal ocean,the U.S.military needs dedicated and charted offshore ar
3、eas in which to train and conduct exercises to prepare for war,thwart terrorist activities and prevent other threats against the United States.For the Navy,Coast Guard and Marine Corps,operating in the coastal ocean is critical to maintaining operational readiness.2 Although the ocean may seem vast,
4、a unified effort is necessary to balance increased offshore activity with the need to maintain U.S.military proficiency and national security and ensure the safety and sustainability of this vital resource.White House Executive Order 13547 adopted the final recommendations of the Interagency Ocean P
