National Ocean Policy

Nation’s ocean, coasts and the Great Lakes are rich environments supporting numerous life forms, along with intense economic and human use activity. Over the last few decades, human pressure on coastal and offshore areas has increased significantly, resulting in environmental degradation and space-use conflicts. In an effort to understand such challenges and to better meet stewardship responsibilities, President Obama established the Interagency Ocean Policy Task force (Task Force) on June 12, 2009. The Task Force comprised of senior-level officials from executive departments, agencies, and offices across the Federal government and was led by the chair of the Council for Environmental Quality (CEQ).

While developing its recommendations, the Task Force reviewed Federal, State, and foreign policies and models, past and pending legislations, the recommendations contained in the two earlier Ocean Commissions’ reports, and public comments. The task force also initiated a robust public engagement process to receive input from a diversity of voices across the country. The resulting report outlined a comprehensive approach for managing ocean and coastal resources.

On July 19, 2010 President Obama signed an Executive Order (E.O. 13547) adopting the final recommendations of Task Force and establishing a National Ocean Policy. The final recommendations provide:

• A framework for Nation’s first ever National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, Coasts and Great Lakes
• A governance structure to provide sustained high-level, and coordinated attention to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes issues
• A implementation strategy that identifies nine priority objectives
• A framework for effective coastal and marine spatial planning (CMSP) based on comprehensive and integrated eco-system based management approach

The recommendations also identify nine priority objectives that our Nation should pursue. These priority objectives provide a bridge between policy and specific actions required to achieve the intent of National Ocean Policy.

• Ecosystem-Based Management: foundational principle for the comprehensive management of the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes.
• Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning (CMSP) 
• Inform Decisions and Improve Understanding
• Coordinate and Support
• Resiliency and Adaptation to Climate Change and Ocean Acidification
• Regional Ecosystem Protection and Restoration
• Water Quality and Sustainable Practices on Land
• Changing Conditions in the Arctic
• Ocean, Coastal, and Great Lakes Observations, Mapping, and Infrastructure