9:00 a.m. -
11:00 a.m.

CHOW Symposium Registration

11:00 a.m. -
11:45 a.m.

Welcome and Opening Keynote Video

From before our nation’s founding to the present day, the ocean has played a key role in determining the ultimate fate of the American economy. Secretary Bryson will discuss the importance of economic growth and job creation at this make-or-break moment for the middle class, highlighting the important role of coastal economies and maritime commerce and exporting, among other topics. The opening keynote address provided an essential foundation for later sessions by revealing the scope and depth of the ocean’s significance to our modern economy.

The Honorable John Bryson | Secretary of Commerce

11:45 a.m. -
1:00 p.m.

Exhibitors' Lunch

Lunch will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees are encouraged to visit exhibition booths and our CHOW 2012 Store in the lobby.

1:00 p.m. -
2:00 p.m.

Oceans and Growth in America Video

Over the course of our history, ocean highways have enabled the migration of people, ideas, and skills to American shores. Americans have always looked to the sea as a source of economic opportunity. Our introductory seminar session will highlight the ocean’s fundamental contributions to the ongoing growth of the United States by focusing on how the sea has affected the expansion and distribution of human populations, the development of new industries and technologies, and the economic wealth they create. While national conversation has rarely considered the full-scale complexity, impact, and value of America’s ocean-related businesses, this seminar offers a broader perspective on how ports, marine resources, access to new markets, and the sea have and continue to be cornerstones of American prosperity.

Linwood Pendleton | Director of Ocean and Coastal Policy, Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, Duke University

2:15 p.m. -
4:15 p.m.

The Ocean in American Life Video

Today’s era of increasing global interconnections and rapid scientific advancement makes us more aware than ever before of how daily life in the United States is affected by the sea. But this is no modern phenomenon – maritime commerce, the need to protect our ocean interests, ocean energy sources, food from the sea, and coastal recreation have been critical threads in the fabric of American life for the past three centuries. Focusing on the ocean as a vehicle for seaborne trade, a contributor to America’s national security, and a source of food, energy, and enjoyment, this session concludes CHOW 2012’s opening day with relevant stories of the sea’s current and historical significance. The discussion will explore the trends, major changes, and recurring themes in America’s long relationship with the ocean – insights that will be critical as we seek to forecast, understand, and adjust to the sea’s future role in American life.

Moderator
Paul F. Johnston | Curator of Maritime History, Smithsonian Institution

Discussants
Paul Anderson | Chief Executive Officer, JAXPORT
Presentation

Mechelle Kerns Galway | Professor, United States Naval Academy History Department
Presentation

Alan D. Thornhill | Chief Environmental Officer, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Department of the Interior
Presentation

W. Jeffrey Bolster | Professor, History Department, University of New Hampshire
Presentation

Ted J. Balestreri | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Cannery Row Company
Presentation

8:30 a.m. -
10:00 a.m.

Please join us for light breakfast refreshments starting at 8:15 a.m.

Capitol Hill Ocean Week Authors' Coffee Video

From Coleridge and Melville to Hemingway and Steinbeck, authors have long looked to the sea as a source of meaning and inspiration, a force to be overcome, and the very heart of exciting and challenging adventure. This year’s Authors’ Coffee will highlight ocean themes and images that resonate throughout our literary culture by telling stories that demonstrate the timeless intensity and importance of human connections to the sea. Prominent authors will discuss their recent works in the context of maritime literature’s long history, enabling us to rethink the universal symbolism of the sea – and our changing relationship with this blue planet – through the lens of the written word.

Moderator
James P. Delgado | Director of Maritime Heritage, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Silent Killers: Submarines and Underwater Warfare

Authors
Bruce B. Parker | Visiting Professor, Center for Maritime Systems, Stevens Institute of Technology
The Power of the Sea: Tsunamis, Storm Surges, Rouge Waves, and Our Quest to Predict Disasters
Presentation

Mark Collins Jenkins
The War of 1812 and the Rise of the US Navy

Callum Roberts | Professor of Marine Conservation, University of York
The Ocean of Life

Brian Skerry | National Geographic Magazine
Ocean Soul
Presentation

Click here to browse our featured authors' recent works at the CHOW 2012 Store.

10:15 a.m. -
11:45 a.m.

America's Ocean Culture Introductory RemarksVideo

The sea has shaped American society just as it has shaped our coastlines, and the ocean’s unifying influence on our culture is so pervasive that we often overlook its significance. While separated by geographic distances and demographic differences, American communities are strongly linked by the shared cultural experience of growth and development in a nation shaped by the sea. Starting with a review of the ocean’s role in contemporary American culture, the discussion will explore, through regional case studies, how seemingly dissimilar communities reflect the sea’s common influence through remarkably comparable traditions, beliefs, and forms of expression.

Introductory Remarks
The Honorable Lois Capps | Member of Congress, CA-23

Moderator
Juliet Eilperin | National Environmental Reporter, The Washington Post

Discussants
Craig R. McClain | Assistant Director of Science, National Evolutionary Synthesis Center
Presentation

Judy Haner | Marine and Freshwater Program Director, Alabama, The Nature Conservancy
Presentation

Jerry Enzler | President and CEO, National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium

Steve Carr | Chief Technology Officer, Ventura County Office of Education
Presentation

12 p.m. -
12:50 p.m.

Box lunches will be available starting at 11:45 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis

Joint Ocean Commission Initiative U.S. Ocean Policy Report Card Release Video Report Card

The Joint Ocean Commission Initiative will release its 2012 U.S. Ocean Policy Report Card. The Report Card is an assessment of the nation’s progress toward implementing the National Ocean Policy.

The Honorable William Ruckelshaus | Co-Chair, Joint Ocean Commission Initiative Leadership Council

The Honorable Norman Mineta | Co-Chair, Joint Ocean Commission Initiative Leadership Council

1:00 p.m. -
2:00 p.m.

Did You Know? Ocean Technology Fuels the American Economy Video

Born of our ongoing attempts to master the sea, ocean technologies have catalyzed the expansion of economic opportunities in America. From technological innovations aboard ships – sailing vessels, nuclear submarines, and more – to transoceanic cables that are vital for communications, developments in ocean technology have consistently provided Americans with the fuel to grow new industries. This seminar digs deeper to broaden our understanding of the links between the sea, ocean technology, and the American economy.

James Bellingham | Co-Founder, Bluefin Robotics and Strategic Advisor, National Security Global Business Division, Battelle
Presentation

Frank Herr | Head, Ocean Battlespace Sensing Department, Office of Naval Research

2:15 p.m. -
3:45 p.m.

The Ocean Connection: Economic Prosperity in Times of Change Introductory Remarks Video

America’s ocean experience is rife with examples of economic transitions motivated by a combination of human activities and natural forces. Throughout our history, innovative ocean technologies and policies have enabled the American economy to adapt during times of change – sustaining American prosperity. This discussion centers on the connection between the ocean and the enabling conditions required to sustain America’s major economic interests, offering a better understanding of the roles of whaling, maritime commerce, energy from the sea, and aquaculture. The session reveals how geopolitical, economic, and environmental changes drive ocean innovation and creativity – in turn fueling the growth of new industries and economies.

Introductory Remarks
The Honorable Mark Begich | US Senator, Alaska

Moderator
Michael B. Jones | President, The Maritime Alliance

Discussants
Joe Roman | Fellow, Gund Institute for Ecological Economics
Presentation

John Odin Jensen | Maritime Studies and Policy Faculty, Sea Education Association
Presentation

Markian Melnyk | President, Atlantic Grid Development, LLC
Presentation

Don Kent | President/CEO, Hubbs-Seaworld Research Institute
Presentation

4:00 p.m. -
5:00 p.m.

How We Shape Our Ocean Video

Just as the sea has shaped our nation, our nation has been shaping the sea – and not always for the good. In recent years, marine science has revealed the serious ecological challenges posed by human actions such as overfishing, habitat destruction, and pollution – and the inextricable linkages between a healthy ocean and America’s social and economic wellbeing. This seminar explores why, in a changing world, it is critical that Americans consider how our role in shaping the sea ultimately shapes us.

Callum Roberts | Professor of Marine Conservation, Environment Department, University of York
Presentation Part 1 Presentation Part 2

9:00 a.m. -
10:30 a.m.

Please join us for light breakfast refreshments starting at 8:45 a.m.

Capitol Hill Ocean Week Screenings:
The Ocean in Our Lives, Through the Eyes of Filmmakers Video

Films play a critical role in influencing the way that people everywhere understand and relate to the ocean. The success of ocean-starring blockbusters like Jaws, Titanic, and Finding Nemo shows how the visual narrative of film captures the public’s imagination, increasing ocean literacy and even inspiring people to action. Capitol Hill Ocean Week’s inaugural screenings session will review how filmmakers harness the power of motion pictures to reveal the depths of our connection to the sea. Short clips will let us examine the ocean through their eyes, offering a unique perspective on how they have used film to affect the way that Americans think about the ocean’s possibilities.

Moderator
Chris Palmer | President, One World One Ocean Foundation

Filmmakers
Lou Douros | Director/Story Development, Akua Films
In the Wake of Giants
Presentation

Karen Anspacher-Meyer | Executive Director, Green Fire Productions
Ocean Frontiers
Presentation

William Gelner | Executive Creative Director, 180 LA
Project Shiphunt
Presentation

10:45 a.m. -
11:45 a.m.

What Does the Future Hold? Video

Current projections indicate that our ocean nation is in line to experience an accelerated rate of change during the 21st century. The increasing needs of human communities, combined with a changing physical environment, are already producing unanticipated consequences for the future of our ocean and ourselves. This seminar explores the sources, patterns, and predominant causes of change affecting America, reviewing a realistic range of scenarios to outline what our future may hold.
Presentation

Marcia K. McNutt | Director, US Geological Survey

Margaret A. Davidson | Acting Director, NOAA/NOS/OCRM

11:45 a.m. -
1:00 p.m.

Exhibitors' Lunch

Lunch will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees are encouraged to visit exhibition booths and our CHOW 2012 Store in the lobby

1:00 p.m. -
2:45 p.m.

Shaping the Nation's Future: Land and Sea Video

America’s finite ocean territory and marine resource base require that we begin to make proactive decisions about our nation’s ocean priorities, carefully selecting the tradeoffs that we are willing to accept in our relationship with the sea. By reviewing land-based, indigenous, and international perspectives on aligning the needs of humans and the natural world, the discussion will offer guidance on what works and what doesn’t. In responding to Americans’ desire to take a more active role in shaping the nation’s future on both land and sea, this discussion highlights novel ideas for ocean and coastal policy, planning, and investment.

Introductory Remarks
The Honorable Mary L. Landrieu | US Senator, Louisiana

Moderator
Michael L. Marrella, AICP | Director of Waterfront and Open Space Planning, NYC Department of City Planning

Discussants
William Aila, Jr. | Chairman, Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources

Lynn A. Richards | Policy Director, EPA Office of Sustainable Communities
Presentation

Kent Satterlee, III | Offshore/US Regulatory Policy Manager, Shell Upstream Americas
Presentation

Bruce Popham | President and CEO, Marathon Boat Yard Marine Center
Presentation

3:00 p.m. -
4:30 p.m.

Leadership Roundtable: Rethinking Our Ocean Nation Video

As CHOW 2012's third day ends, our leadership roundtable will feature an interactive discussion among visionaries in the policy, business, and media communities designed to challenge our thinking about this ocean nation. CHOW 2012 seeks to broaden our perspective on the ocean’s key role in American life, and this discussion provides policymakers, business leaders, academics, and concerned citizens with valuable insights into how our relationship with the sea can help create a better future for all Americans. In an era when our nation is subject to competing priorities, it is essential that we begin to rethink ourselves as an ocean nation – our timeless connections to the sea remain unequivocally relevant in any age.

Moderator
Cornelia Dean | The New York Times

Discussants
The Honorable Lisa Murkowski | US Senator, Alaska

The Honorable Sheldon Whitehouse | US Senator, Rhode Island

Adm. Thad Allen, USCG (Ret.) | Senior Vice President, Booz Allen Hamilton

Sylvia Earle | Explorer-in-Residence, National Geographic Society

Don Walsh | President, International Maritime Inc.

9:15 a.m. -
10:30 a.m.

Over 40 Years in the Struggle for Ocean Policy

Just over 40 years ago, President Nixon's Commission on Marine Science, Engineering, and Resources concluded that our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes had tremendous value to American commerce, security, wildlife, energy, food supply, recreation, and more – and recommended that our ocean and coasts be protected and managed for the benefit of all Americans. This year marks the 40th anniversaries of several ocean policies, including the Coastal Zone Management, Marine Mammal Protection, Clean Water, and National Marine Sanctuaries Acts. As we reflect on our nation's struggle for ocean policy, this discussion reviews the past 40 years of ocean and coastal law and policy, focusing on what works in ocean and coastal policy and highlighting novel and emerging approaches for the future.

Moderator
Meg Caldwell | Executive Director, Center for Ocean Solutions

Discussants
The Honorable Sam Farr | Member of Congress, CA-17

Steve Roady | Oceans Program Director, Earthjustice

Michael L. Weber | Program Officer – Oceans, Coasts, and Fisheries, Resources Law Group

Andrew A. Rosenberg | Senior Vice President for Science and Knowledge, Conservation International

10:45 a.m. -
12 p.m.

Protecting Marine Mammals in a Changing Ocean

A confluence of events 40 years ago led the US Congress, at the public’s urging, to pass a law protecting marine mammals and their ecosystems through science-based management. Since 1972, the mandates of the Marine Mammal Protection Act have evolved with our understanding of the ocean and the role of marine mammals. Managers and scientists work to fulfill the Marine Mammal Protection Act’s broad goals while keeping pace with changing ocean conditions. They have experienced many successes, but also face a number of challenges. The discussion centers on the continuing relevance of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and what we must do to ensure it remains effective in the future.

Moderator
John E. Reynolds, III | Senior Scientist, Mote Marine Laboratory
Presentation

Discussants
Timothy J. Ragen, Ph.D. | Executive Director, U.S. Marine Mammal Commission
Presentation

John L. Bengtson | Director, National Marine Mammal Laboratory, NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center
Presentation

Karen Steuer | Director, Government Relations, Pew Environment Group
Presentation

12:15 p.m. -
1:30 p.m.

Box lunches will be available starting at 12:00 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis

40 Years and 14 Sites:
Where Do Sanctuaries Go From Here?

The National Marine Sanctuaries Act’s focus on protecting our nation’s special marine places sets it apart from other ocean policies. Fourteen sites in the National Marine Sanctuary System support economic growth and hundreds of coastal businesses in sanctuary communities, provide critical public access for ocean recreation, research, and education, and preserve vibrant underwater and maritime treasures for our children and grandchildren to enjoy. Forty years after its inception, the National Marine Sanctuary System has grown to encompass over 150,000 square miles of ocean and Great Lakes waters. While discussion of national ocean policies often excludes explicit consideration of marine sanctuaries, this discussion highlights the role of sanctuaries in Americans' ongoing efforts to better manage our ocean.

Introductory Remarks
The Honorable Lynn Woolsey | Member of Congress, CA-6

Moderator
Bruce Tackett | Managing Director, Resource Access International, LLC

Discussants
Jack Sobel | Senior Policy Analyst (retired), NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

Sally J. Yozell | Director of Policy and Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary, DOC/NOAA Office of Policy and Planning

Susan E. Farady | Professor RWU School of Law, Marine Affairs Institute, RI Sea Grant Legal Program

1:45 p.m. -
3 p.m.

Meeting the Challenges Facing America's Coasts:
Reflecting on 40 Years of Coastal Zone Management

For 40 years, the Coastal Zone Management Act has provided the basis for protecting, responsibly developing, and restoring coastal resources that support vibrant economies and diverse communities in the nation’s 35 coastal states, commonwealths, and territories. Today, we continue to flock toward America's 95,000 miles of coastline. With more than half of Americans living within 50 miles of the coast and millions more visiting each year, striking the balance among coastal resource use, economic development, and conservation is of paramount importance. This discussion focuses on the need for new approaches to manage comprehensively our ever-changing coastal zone.

Moderator
Robert J. Bailey | Manager (retired), Oregon Coastal Management Program

Discussants
Thomas Kitsos | Ocean Policy Consultant, Kitsos Consulting

Bruce K. Carlisle | Director, Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management
Presentation

Margaret A. Davidson | Acting Director, NOAA/NOS/OCRM
Video Presentation