National Ocean Policy

The Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force
 
In early 2009, President Obama appointed an Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force comprised of representatives from the federal agencies responsible for our oceans. The task force is intended to usher in a new era of ocean management predicated on environmental stewardship and sustainable use of marine resources. The members of the task force are listed in the task force’s interim report. 

The Interim Report of the Ocean Policy Task Force identified the need for:

• a strong, clear and overarching policy mandate and the setting of national ocean priorities,
• high-level direction and policy guidance from a clearly designated and identifiable authority,
• more consistent and sustained senior-level participation and attention on ocean-related issues from all member agencies and departments,
• stronger linkages between management and science,
• an improved, clear structure for ongoing and active engagement with State, tribal and local authorities and regional governance structures to address relevant issues, and
• improved coordination with other Executive branch policy committees.

The Task Force recommended the creation of a National Ocean Council co-chaired by the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality and the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The council would advise the President on the National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great Lakes.

Duties of the National Ocean Council include:

• Development of Implementation Plans – The co-chairs would facilitate development by the council of implementation plans to further the National Policy and identify progress toward meeting defined goals and objectives.
• Reporting and Accountability – The co-chairs would be responsible for: (1) coordinating interagency reporting on implementation and progress; (2) monitoring and ensuring effective implementation of policy decisions; (3) providing oversight and accountability for document preparation; and (4) coordinating and expediting interagency review and clearance of documents and reports within the council’s purview.
• Budget – The co-chairs would coordinate the development of an annual budget guidance memorandum on ocean priorities consistent with the goals and objectives of the National Policy. While it is understood that the co-chairs’ authority would not be construed to impair or otherwise affect the function of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, they would work with that office to issue interagency budget guidance consistent with annual priorities. They would also help inform the annual priorities on ocean, coastal and Great Lakes stewardship and consult with Office of Management and Budget, the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the council to identify programs that contribute to the National Policy. The co-chairs would also work with the Office of Management and Budget to coordinate preparation of the biennial Federal Ocean and Coastal Activities Report mandated by Section 5 of the Ocean Act of 2000.
• Emerging Issues – The co-chairs would bring any Presidential ocean actions or priorities to the council, as appropriate, for action and implementation and would coordinate proper management of and response to emerging issues of relevance to the National Policy.
• International – In implementing this policy, the co-chairs would coordinate with the Secretary of State and the heads of other relevant agencies on matters related to the policy that arise within the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, International Whaling Commission, Arctic Council, International Maritime Organization, regional fishery management organizations and other similar international organizations.

National priority objectives and areas of emphasis of the National Ocean Council include:

1. Ecosystem-Based Management: Adopt ecosystem-based management as a foundational principle for the comprehensive management of the ocean, our coasts and the Great Lakes.
2. Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning: Implement comprehensive, integrated, ecosystem-based coastal and marine spatial planning and management in the United States.
3. Inform Decisions and Improve Understanding: Increase knowledge to continually inform and improve management and policy decisions and the capacity to respond to change and challenges. Better educate the public through formal and informal programs about the ocean, our coasts and the Great Lakes.
4. Coordinate and Support: Better coordinate and support federal, state, tribal, local, and regional management of the ocean, our coasts and the Great Lakes. Improve coordination and integration across the federal government, and as appropriate, engage with the international community.
5. Resiliency and Adaptation to Climate Change and Ocean Acidification: Strengthen resiliency of coastal communities and marine and Great Lakes environments and their abilities to adapt to climate change impacts and ocean acidification.
6. Regional Ecosystem Protection and Restoration: Establish and implement an integrated ecosystem protection and restoration strategy that is science-based and aligns conservation and restoration goals at the federal, state, tribal, local and regional levels.
7. Water Quality and Sustainable Practices on Land: Enhance water quality in the ocean, along our coasts, and in the Great Lakes by promoting and implementing sustainable practices on land.
8. Changing Conditions in the Arctic: Address environmental stewardship needs in the U.S. Arctic Ocean and adjacent coastal areas in the face of climate-induced and other environmental changes.
9. Ocean, Coastal, and Great Lakes Observations and Infrastructure: Strengthen and integrate federal and non-federal ocean observing systems, sensors, and data collection platforms into a national system and integrate that system into international observation efforts.

The Arctic Recommendation

The task force’s eighth recommendation was to address environmental stewardship needs in the Arctic Ocean and adjacent coastal areas in the face of climate-induced and other environmental changes.

Obstacles and Opportunities: The task force’s interim report highlights a number of climate change-related difficulties and advantages in the Arctic:

• Climate change is having a much greater impact on polar regions than anywhere else.
• Multi-year sea ice is deteriorating rapidly.
• Permafrost is thawing at an accelerated rate, increasing the release of methane gas into the atmosphere. Methane is a greenhouse gas with exponentially greater warming potential than carbon.
• The north shore is experiencing severe coastal erosion.
• The cumulative effects of all of the above increase the stress experienced by Arctic communities and ecosystems.
• Decreased sea ice also creates an opportunity for increased development and use of Arctic resources, increasing economic opportunity for residents.

To address the obstacles and opportunities facing Arctic communities, and in consultation with all stakeholders, the task force recommends the following be included in a long-term, sustainable development plan:

• Improve methods to conserve, protect and sustainably manage Arctic coastal and ocean resources. That should include an effective response to the risk of increased pollution and other environmental risks facing Arctic residents and marine species.
• New collaborations and partnerships to better monitor and assess environmental conditions.
• and devise early warning and emergency response systems to respond to possible environmental disasters in the Arctic.
• Consistency and coordination with the implementation of U.S. Arctic Region Policy as promulgated in National Security Presidential Directive 66/Homeland Security Presidential Directive 25 (2009).
• Improvement of the scientific understanding of the Arctic system and how it is changing in response to climate-induced and other changes.

Learn more about the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force and the Council on Environmental Quality.