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| ![     | **National Park     |                | Office of Public    |
| ](medi | Service**           |                | Affairs             |
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| e1.png | ## U.S. Departm     |                | 1849 C Street, N.W  |
| ){widt | ent of the Interior |                |                     |
| h="0.7 |                     |                | Washington, DC      |
| 770833 |                     |                | 20240               |
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| 333in" |                     |                | 202-208-6843 phone  |
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| eight= |                     |                | 202-219-0910 fax    |
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**National Park Service** News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- August 25, 2005

Gerry Gaumer 202 208-6843

Cliff McCreedy 202 513-7164

Above and Below the Waves:

Coastal and Oceanic Treasures in the National Park System

*National Park Service Announces Ocean Park Stewardship Strategy and
Launch of Oceans Web Site*

(Washington, D.C.) \-\-- Have you ever wanted to dive on a vibrant coral
reef, witness the majesty of a towering glacier, or stroll along a
remote barrier island? The National Park System offers opportunities to
do all of those things and more. The American public has entrusted the
National Park Service (NPS) with conserving a rich legacy of ocean
wildlife and beautiful landscapes above and below the waves. National
Parks contain more than 5,000 miles of beaches, coral reefs, kelp
forests, wetlands, historic shipwrecks and forts, and other features
that attract more than 76 million visitors every year.

The recently announced Ocean Park Stewardship Strategy is a
comprehensive plan by the NPS for restoring and maintaining the ocean
parks for current and future generations. In 74 parks spanning 25
coastal states and U.S. territories, people come to camp, fish, snorkel,
scuba dive, boat, and watch wildlife. Our coastal and oceanic treasures
can be found in areas as diverse as Assateague Island National Seashore
in Maryland, Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska, Point Reyes National
Seashore in California, Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida, Cape
Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina, the National Park of
American Samoa, Padre Island National Seashore in Texas, and Apostle
Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin.

"I invite everyone to explore the wealth of coastal and oceanic
resources conserved in the National Park System and learn about the
Ocean Park Stewardship Strategy," said Fran Mainella, Director of the
National Park Service. "The National Park Service is proud to manage and
conserve these jewels above and below the waves on behalf of the
American people. The NPS Ocean Strategy is our part of the President's
U.S. Ocean Action Plan to restore and maintain productive fisheries,
habitats, wildlife in the ocean parks, and ensure the recreational
opportunities they afford to communities and visitors."

In conjunction with the announcement of the Ocean Park Stewardship
Strategy at Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland on August
25, 2005, the NPS has posted a web site to help visitors learn about
recreational opportunities in the ocean parks and efforts to conserve
coastal and oceanic treasures in the National Park System. By visiting
the *Above and Below the Waves: Coastal and Oceanic Treasures in the
National Park System* website at:
[http://www.nps.gov/pub_aff/oceans/conserve.htm]{.underline}, people can
learn of the many special places managed by the NPS that conserve
coastal and oceanic treasures. In addition to a list of parks, the web
site includes information and web links to the Ocean Park Stewardship
Strategy, a Coastal Watershed Condition Assessment fact sheet, and
documents and books related to the theme of coastal and oceanic
treasures.

> -NPS-
>
> EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICATM
>
> The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the
> American people so that all may experience our heritage.