[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 126, 112th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
PROCLAMATION 8836--JUNE 1, 2012

Proclamation 8836 of June 1, 2012

National Oceans Month, 2012

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Our oceans help feed our Nation, fuel our economic engine, give mobility
to our Armed Forces, and provide a place for rest and recreation.
Healthy oceans, coasts, and waterways are among our most valuable
resources--driving growth, creating jobs, and supporting businesses
across America. During National Oceans Month, we reaffirm our commitment
to the oceans and celebrate the myriad benefits they bring to all
Americans.
From tourism and fishing to international commerce and renewable energy
production, coastal and waterside communities help maintain vital
sectors of our Nation's economy. Yet, while our livelihoods are
inseparable from the health of these natural systems, our oceans are
under threat from pollution, coastal development, overfishing, and
climate change. That is why I established our first ever comprehensive
National Ocean Policy. The Policy lays out a science-based approach to
conservation and management, and brings together Federal, State, local,
and tribal governments with all those who have a stake in our oceans,
coasts, and the Great Lakes--including recreational and commercial
fishermen, boaters, offshore and coastal industries, environmental
groups, scientists, and the public. Through the Policy, we have already
expanded access to information and tools to support ocean planning
efforts. Together, I am confident we will sustain these precious
ecosystems and the diverse activities they support.
President John F. Kennedy once told us, ``We are tied to the ocean. And
when we go back to the sea--whether it is to sail or to watch it--we are
going back from whence we came.'' During National Oceans Month, let us
celebrate our heritage as a seafaring Nation by instilling an ethic of
good ocean stewardship in all Americans.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2012 as National
Oceans Month. I call upon Americans to take action to protect, conserve,
and restore our oceans, coasts, and the Great Lakes.


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of June,
in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.
BARACK OBAMA