Oceans and Marine Conservation

The federal government plays a central role in conserving U.S. oceans and marine life through agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, using tools that include marine protected areas, fisheries management, species protections, habitat restoration, and international agreements to sustain ecosystem health and maritime economies.

Marine Protected Areas and Species Protections

Federal designations of marine protected areas (MPAs) and Endangered Species Act listings aim to safeguard critical habitats and support population recovery while policymakers balance conservation with coastal uses and commercial activities.

Sustainable Fisheries and Seafood

U.S. fisheries management sets catch limits, monitoring, and gear rules to prevent overfishing and promote long-term stock health; for an accessible overview of government actions that support sustainable seafood, see How American Government Supports Sustainable Seafood (govfacts.org).

International Cooperation and Current Policy Landscape

The U.S. engages in international agreements to protect areas beyond national jurisdiction and to address threats like climate change and overfishing; recent years have seen both global advances—such as the UN high-seas treaty—and contentious domestic policy changes affecting protections and regulatory approaches.