• Biology: Marine Protected Areas
  There is increasing interest from federal and state agencies, industry and other non-governmental organizations on how best to establish and implement marine protected areas. At the conference, we will explore the opportunities and challenges facing the use of marine protected areas as management tools for stewardship of U.S. ocean resources.
  
  
• Pollution: Coastal Ocean Pollution's Impact on Commerce, Ecosystems and Human Health
  The susceptibility and response of natural systems to pollutants is highly variable and the effects of pollutants are poorly understood. Therefore, understanding how the entire physical, biological and geochemical system absorbs and responds to contaminants is essential for wise management and the ability to mitigate the impacts. Recent emerging capabilities for predictive modeling of coastal systems provides opportunities to develop a framework for managing and mitigating the effects of pollutants in the ocean. The conference will address such a framework.
  
  
• Governance: Ocean Management for the 21st Century
  At the conference, we will assess the challenges and opportunities for developing an effective and coordinated governance framework to guide U.S. ocean and coastal management for the 21st century. Two issues, for example, will be the establishment of a Commission on Ocean Policy and the National Ocean Partnership Program. Additionally, we will assess the current U.S. ocean governance process and explore possible opportunities to improve coordination and implementation of U.S. policies and plans regarding ocean resources. For example, improved technology has opened up new possibilities for exploration of marine resources by industries like pharmaceuticals. However, a variety of issues concerning ownership, patents, royalties, etc., are not clear.
  
  
• Security: Ocean Observation System and the U.N. Law of the Sea Convention
  Successful Naval operations require understanding of the complex maritime environment to maximize effectiveness (e.g. through forecasts of weather, sea conditions, and coastal morphology). The conference, therefore, will address the need for high quality ocean observations, taken more often and in more locations around the world. An integrated, sustained, global ocean observing system is a critical component of national and global security. The Law of the Sea Convention, meanwhile, provides a comprehensive framework governing uses of the oceans. Because the Senate has failed to ratify the Convention, the United States must operate outside of the Convention's principles and therefore, is forced to set up individual agreements. During the conference, we intend to discuss the effects of not ratifying the treaty and identifying alternative mechanisms for the U.S. to cooperate with the nations participating in the Convention.

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