Section 14-0103. Legislative findings and declarations

The legislature finds and declares that:
    1.   New  York's  coastal  ecosystems  are  critical  to  the  state's
  environmental and economic security, and integral to  the  state's  high
  quality  of life and culture. Healthy coastal ecosystems are part of the
  state's legacy, and are necessary  to  support  the  state's  human  and
  wildlife populations;
    2.  The policy of the state of New York shall be to conserve, maintain
  and restore coastal ecosystems so that they are healthy, productive  and
  resilient and able to deliver the resources people want and need;
    3.  The  governance  of  coastal  ecosystems  shall  be  guided by the
  following principles:
    a. activities in and uses of the coastal ecosystem are sustainable;
    b. ecological health and integrity is maintained;
    c.  ecosystems'  interconnections  among  land,  air  and  water   are
  recognized;
    d. understanding of coastal ecosystems is enhanced;
    e. decisions are informed by good science;
    f. when risks are uncertain, caution is applied; and
    g. broad public participation occurs in planning and decision making.