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Message from the MARCO Management BoardWelcome to our latest issue of MARCO News. This issue focuses on celebrations: World Oceans Day and MARCO's five-year anniversary. We are pleased to take a step back to acknowledge and share these important milestones with you. We appreciate your continued interest and engagement in our work to advance a shared vision for the long-term health and productivity of our region's ocean.
The MARCO Management Board
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Celebrate World Oceans Day - Sunday, June 8
Celebrated since 1992, World Oceans Day is a time to reflect on the significance of the world's oceans and the many goods and services they provide. We at MARCO encourage you to consider the importance of oceans to all of our lives.
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MARCO Turns Five
In June of 2009, the Governors of the five Mid-Atlantic states (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia) signed the Mid-Atlantic Governors' Agreement on Ocean Conservation that formed MARCO. The agreement identifies four priorities for shared action to improve ocean health:
- Coordinate protection of important habitats and sensitive and unique offshore areas on a regional scale.
- Promote improvements in the region's coastal water quality as a necessary focal point for regional action.
- Collaborate on a regional approach to support the sustainable development of renewable energy in offshore areas.
- Prepare the region's coastal communities for the impacts of climate change on ocean and coastal resources.
MARCO has furthered these shared priorities by:
- Developing the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal to assist stakeholders and planners by increasing their digital access to spatial ocean use and resource data.
- Advancing regional ocean planning by creating opportunities for stakeholder engagement through a Stakeholder Liaison Committee and supporting a regional ocean characterization effort.
- Increasing the understanding of the regulatory landscape to support the sustainable development of offshore wind energy by developing "A Guide to State Management of Offshore Wind Energy in the Mid-Atlantic Region".
- Preparing for the impacts of climate change and sea level rise by increasing knowledge of the vulnerabilities of infrastructure and resources in the region.
With your support, MARCO has come a long way in five years, and looks forward to continuing its work in the Mid-Atlantic. Share this:   
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ABOUT MARCO
Established in 2009 by the Governors of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, MARCO provides a forum for our coastal Mid-Atlantic states to collaborate on shared regional priorities related to marine habitats, renewable offshore energy, climate change adaptation, and ocean water quality. MARCO initiated and oversees the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal to assist the region with ocean planning efforts. For more information about MARCO, visit our website, MidAtlanticOcean.org.
CONNECT WITH US!
Thank you for your continued interest in MARCO. We welcome questions and feedback you may have, including content for upcoming issues of MARCO News. To provide comments or suggestions, or to join our email distribution list, please click "Join Our Mailing List" below, or contact us at info@midatlanticocean.org.
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Photo Credits: Header (L-R): Coral, NOAA-OER/BOEM; Wind turbines, Ralf Hettler; Kayaks, Raul Rosa; Shipping container, Dan Barnes; Schooling fish, Jet Chen Tan; U.S. Naval ships, Gina Addison. Body (top-bottom): Fin whale off the Maryland coast, Riverhead Foundation, NMFS permit #15575; Corals, Deepwater Canyons 2013 - NOAA-OER/BOEM/USGS. Footer (L-R) Fishing boat, William Sherman; Diver, Michael Eversmier; Beach scene, Chris Parypa.
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