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.