On Thursday, September 26th, I spoke on a “Biodiversity Leaders for Harris-Walz” zoom call. This is the text of my remarks, including links to learn more.
Good evening. I’m Dr. David Shiffman, an ocean conservation scientist who studies threats to marine life and how we can solve those problems using wise evidence-based policymaking, through equitable processes in which everyone has a seat at the table. You can follow me on social media @ WhySharksMatter, where I’ll be sharing links to learn more about all of the issues I discuss here tonight.
The ocean connects and affects all Americans, but faces many threats, including climate change, habitat loss, pollution, and overfishing. Making the wrong policy choices here can have devastating ripple effects that last for generations, hurting coastal communities, costing countless jobs, and driving beloved species to extinction.
The Biden-Harris administration have been leaders in science-driven evidence-based policy for the ocean and coastal communities. They’ve committed the United States to the global goal of 30×30, fully protecting 30% of the ocean by the year 2030, and with the leadership of our amazing Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, have made huge progress accomplishing these important goals. In contrast, Donald Trump is the only US president in history to actually remove protections from a marine protected area, the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument.
The Biden-Harris administration have also taken other important steps in protecting wildlife and wild places and sustainably managing natural resources, resulting in the first-ever National Nature Assessment, the first ever National Ocean Biodiversity Strategy, the first ever Ocean Acidification Action Plan, and many more documents that will be held up as exemplars of science-based environmental policymaking for years to come. They’ve created new National Marine Sanctuaries, and started the process of protecting nearly 700,000 square miles of ocean, an area 4 times the size of California in the Pacific Remote Island National Marine Monument. They’ve also invested billions in decarbonizing the transportation sector through the clean ports program. The Harris-Walz administration would continue these amazing and important strides.
In contrast, Project 2025, a blueprint for a second Trump administration, would be a disaster for the ocean, marine life, and coastal communities. Among other things, it calls for the total elimination of NOAA, the US government agency that houses the National Weather Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service who makes sure that US fisheries are sustainably managed, and many endangered species biologists who work to protect whales, coral reefs, sea turtles, and more. I have friends and family in Florida and am worried about Hurricane Helene, and cannot imagine if US citizens had to rely on a paid subscription to a private company to get severe weather alerts as Project 2025 calls for! Even the CEO of Accuweather says that’s a terrible idea! Project 2025 would also cripple the EPA, making it easier for wealthy companies to pollute our drinking water and food and air while causing incalculable harm to the marine environment. They’d also destroy progress made on protecting wildlife and wild places, and would eliminate the Antiquities Act, a powerful tool that allows US Presidents to protect new areas.
The choice here could not be more clear. To protect the ocean, coastal communities that depend on a healthy ocean, and beloved marine life, we must make sure that Donald Trump is not elected to a second term, and that Kamala Harris is elected. We are not going back.
Thank you.