# Presentation: 742245

## U.S. Ocean Action PlanAdministration's Response to the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy

**Dr. William T. Hogarth**
**National Marine Fisheries Service**

|  |
| --- |

**Notes:**
I am here today to talk about the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy’s final report, and the Administration’s response that was released to the public late last year.

The Commission’s recommendations and Administration’s response will have major implications for the way NOAA, the Department of Commerce, and other Federal and state agencies will conduct ocean management and research for years to come.

The Administration is in the early stages of implementing near-term actions from its Action Plan and developing longer-term responses to Commission recommendations.  I want to describe to you where we are today and touch on some areas where NOAA Fisheries, our management partners, and our broad array of constituents have strong roles and interests.

The Commission was established by the Oceans Act of 2000 and first met in the fall of 2001.  Its three-year effort was the first major review of ocean policy in 35 years (since the 1969 Stratton Commission, which led to the creation of NOAA).

## USCOP Commissioners 

- Admiral James D. Watkins, USN (Ret.) Chairman
- Robert Ballard, PhD
- Mr. Ted A. Beattie
- Mrs. Lillian Borrone
- Dr. James M. Coleman
- Ms. Ann D’Amato
- Mr. Lawrence Dickerson
- Vice Admiral Paul G. Gaffney II, USN (Ret.)
- Professor Marc J. Hershman
- Mr. Paul L. Kelly
- Mr. Christopher Koch
- Dr. Frank Muller-Karger
- Mr. Edward B. Rasmuson
- Dr. Andrew A. Rosenberg
- Mr. William D. Ruckelshaus
- Dr. Paul A. Sandifer
- Mr. Thomas R. Kitsos, Executive Director

**Notes:**
The 16-member Commission included members from industry, academia, the military, and local, state, and Federal government.

One Commissioner  former NMFS Northeast Regional Administrator and later NMFS Deputy Assistant Administrator Dr. Andy Rosenberg, now with the University of New Hampshire.

Other  notable members include:

Bob Ballard, who discovered the Titanic
Bill Ruckelshaus, the first Administrator of EPA, and again under President Reagan
Dr. Paul Sandifer, former director of the South Caroline DNR, and now a senior scientist with NOAA’s Oceans and Coasts Service
Admiral James Watkins, former Chief of Naval Operations, Secretary of Energy and Chairman of the AIDS Commission,who also served as chair the Ocean Commission.

[Identify other Commissioners as appropriate to the audience.]

## USCOP Final Report:An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st CenturySeptember 20, 2004

- Includes comments from 37 Governors
- 212 recommendations
- 60 specific to NOAA
**26 pertain to NMFS**
- NOAA recognized as Nation’s lead civilian ocean agency

**Notes:**
The Commission’s Final Report, which included comments from 37 governors, was released in September 2004.

Of the over 200 recommendations in the Final Report’s 31 issue-based chapters, 60 were specific to NOAA (more than any other federal agency (EPA was next with 22)).  Many of the other recommendations involve or impact NOAA as well.

Twenty-six of the NOAA-specific recommendations pertain to NMFS issues or responsibilities and we will have a lead role in addressing them (Note: If the Administration elects to address each of them).  NMFS also will have to work closely with NOAA, other Federal agencies, the Congress, and regional bodies, such as fishery management councils and interstate fishery commissions in a number of other recommendations

A key outcome for us was the Commission’s recognition, for many reasons, of NOAA as the nations lead civilian ocean agency.

## USCOP Final Report:Recommended Critical Actions

- Ecosystem Based Management
- Improved Governance
- Sound Science
- Education
- Support for Implementation
- Other Issue Based Recommendations

**Notes:**
The Commission emphasized a number of overarching themes in the Final Report:

Ecosystem based management: to the extent possible, basing our management system on ecosystem boundaries, rather than political boundaries

Improved governance: they noted the current management regime is not up to the challenge of managing our oceans; not coordinated or comprehensive, in part due to the isolated nature in which the various management systems were developed

Sound Science: they emphasized decision-makers are shackled by a lack science-based information to help them manage ocean and coastal resources, and recommended doubling of the Federal budget for ocean-related scientific research

Education: the American public’s woefully ignorance of ocean issues is a contributing factor to many of the problems identified in the report; they believe the success of all of their recommendations will require a strong ocean education program, not just in schools, but of the public at large

Implementation & Trust Fund: the USCOP developed a phased implementation strategy and recommended specific funding sources to pay for all of their recommendations through the creation of an Ocean Policy Trust Fund (ongoing annual costs of Commission recommendations total about $3.9 billion; Commission identified funds from offshore oil and gas revenues, about $4 billion per year, to pay for their recommendations]  [Note: The Administration has not supported this recommendation.]

Specific Recommendations: the Commission made very specific recommendations in a wide range of issue areas, such as ocean leadership and governance, stewardship of ocean resources, economic growth and coastal conservation, increased scientific knowledge, education and public awareness, and international ocean science and policy. [Over a third (70) of the total recommendations were in areas of keen interest to NMFS: fisheries, marine mammals, corals, aquaculture, oceans and human health, marine debris, invasive species, and habitat.]

## Administration ResponseDecember 17, 2004

***Executive Order: Committee on Ocean Policy**** *
***U.S. Ocean Action Plan***

**Notes:**
[Photo: with the President at the December signing of the Executive Order are VADM Lautenbacher, former DOC Secretary Evans, CEQ Chairman James Connaughton, DOI Assistant Secretary Lynn Scarlett, and USCOP Chairman ADM James Watkins, USN (ret.).]

Developing the administrations response: The White House Council on Environmental Quality tasked Federal agencies with identifying initiatives responsive to the report that could be implemented in the near-term.  These agency proposals formed the basis of the Administration’s response.  [The NOAA Ocean Council, co-chaired by Bill Hogarth and NOS AA Rick Spinrad, reviewed and cleared NOAA-specific proposals, and continues to remain involved in the implementation of the Ocean Action Plan.]

CEQ set up the Interagency Ocean Policy Group,  to aid it in developing the President’s response.  [IOPG department and agency members include: Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Homeland Security, the Interior, Justice, State, and Transportation, plus EPA, the Marine Mammal Commission, NASA, and NSF.  Stephanie Bailenson and Scott Rayder of NOAA represented DOC at the IOPG level.]

The Administrations response consisted of two elements: a Presidential Executive Order calling for a cabinet-level Committee on Ocean Policy, and the release of the U.S. Ocean Action Plan identifying key focus areas for the Administration in implementation of Commission recommendations.  The Action Plan also identified a number of interagency bodies to support the Committee (next slide).

## Improving Federal Coordination and Governance

**Notes:**
Consistent with the Ocean Commission’s recommendations, the Administration believed more systematic collaboration and better integration of effort would benefit the management and protection of our Nation’s ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources.  It created this governance structure to improve the coordination of ocean, coastal and Great Lakes policy.

As I mentioned, the President’s Executive Order created the Committee on Ocean Policy, where we are represented by Secretary Carlos Gutierrez.  The Committee had it’s first meeting on April 5th.  In addition, the Action Plan calls for a number of new and enhanced bodies to establish a new ocean governance structure.  Over the past several months discussions were held to identify membership and chairmanship for these sub-groups:

In the center, the Interagency Committee on Ocean Science and Resource Management Integration, called the “Aqua Box” for short, is composed of agency heads.  NOAA Administrator Lautenbacher represents the Department of Commerce.

The only other completely new entity created by the Executive Order/Ocean Action Plan is highlighted by the red box on the lower right – the Subcommittee on Integrated Management of Ocean Resources, or SIMOR for short.  The majority of actions of interest to NMFS will be within the purview of this group.  The other 3 groups either already exist (NSC) or exist in a slightly different form (ORAP and JSOST).

The two bottom level structures, JSOST and SIMOR, are expected to be the workhorses, with the other groups meeting on an as needed basis.  Note that NOAA is the only agency to co-chair both subcommittees.

Identify NOAA co-chairs and reps to JSOST and SIMOR.

## U.S. Ocean Action Plan

**I. Enhancing Ocean Leadership and Coordination**
- II. Advancing Our Understanding of the Oceans, Coasts, and Great Lakes
**III. Enhancing the Use and Conservation of Ocean, Coastal, and Great Lakes Resources**
**IV. Managing Coasts and Their Watersheds**
- V. Supporting Marine Transportation
- VI. Advancing International Ocean Policy and Science

**Notes:**
There are six major categories identified in the President’s Action Plan.  I am going to briefly talk about the three of these highlighted on the slide and encourage you to take a close look at the Plan.

It is important to remember that the Ocean Action Plan is really just the first step by this Administration to respond to the Commission report.  The items listed in the Plan were developed on a very short timeline in order to meet the requirements of the Oceans Act of 2000 for a response within 90 days of the final Commission report.  In other words, the Ocean Action Plan is just the beginning.

The Ocean Action Plan has dozens of measures of direct or indirect interest to NOAA.  

NOAA will play a vital role in many of the action items detailed under these six headings.  The Ocean Action Plan represents actions the Administration has committed to doing and all will be started this year.  Additional actions will be developed over the next 18 months.

The following slides will highlight a few, but not all, of the actions important to NOAA.

## Improving Federal Coordination
	-NOAA Organic Act
	-Establish new interagency working groups

Support Regional Collaborations
	-Great Lakes Interagency Task Force
	-Cooperative Conservation for Ocean Stewardship
	-Advance Regional Fisheries Management

- 	-NOAA Organic Act
- 	-Establish new interagency working groups
- Support Regional Collaborations
- 	-Great Lakes Interagency Task Force
- 	-Cooperative Conservation for Ocean Stewardship
- 	-Advance Regional Fisheries Management

**Enhancing Ocean Leadership and Coordination**

**Notes:**
The main proposals in the first chapter of the Ocean Action Plan relate to improving the overall structure for ocean and coastal governance, including improving Federal coordination and supporting regional collaboration. 

With regards to a NOAA Organic Act, an Administration bill was introduced last year in the 108th Congress, and will be reintroduced in 109th with some minor changes.  I’ve already described the new ocean governance structure.

[As introduced the NOAA Organic Act establishes NOAA within DOC and outlines the major purposes of NOAA: (1) observe, assess and predict the status of and changes in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes ecosystems, and in the atmosphere, including the near-space environment; (2) manage, protect and restore the Nation’s ocean, coastal and Great Lakes areas, living and nonliving marine resources, (3) collect, store, analyze and provide reliable scientific data and information ... that can be used as a basis for sound management and public safety decisions; (4) protect lives and property and expand economic opportunities; and (5) pursue its purposes ... in partnership with, Federal agencies...State and local governments; Native American tribes and organizations; international organizations; foreign governments; [and others], as appropriate.]

Regional Partnerships – The Action Plan identifies several measures that promote the use of regional partnerships.

## Achieving Sustainable Marine Fisheries

Promote Coral Conservation

Enhance Conservation of Protected Species

Advance Offshore Aquaculture

Improve Marine Managed Areas

- Promote Coral Conservation
- Enhance Conservation of Protected Species
- Advance Offshore Aquaculture
- Improve Marine Managed Areas

**Enhancing the Use and Conservation of Ocean, Coastal, and Great Lakes Resources**

**Notes:**
Chapter 3 focuses primarily on living marine resources and in this and the next slide I’ve listed a number of the actions dealing with improvements to use of marine and coastal resources.

Highlight selected sub-categories and actions of particular interest depending on audience.

The Ocean Action Plan proposes several changes to the Magnuson Act:
- promote dedicated access privileges, including IFQ’s as a management tool to improve conservation of fisheries
- balance Council representation to include a broader portion of interested parties
- improve data acquisition methods to provide better information to managers
- developing standard and transparent procedures for incorporation of science in fisheries management

Corals:  The Ocean Action Plan identifies ongoing efforts to continue to move toward creation of the 14th Marine Sanctuary in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. When created, it will become the largest marine sanctuary and be one of the largest marine protected areas in the world.

Aquaculture:  The Ocean Action Plan details actions to advance marine aquaculture. In the 109th Congress the Administration will propose a National Offshore Aquaculture Act that provides the Department of Commerce clear authority to regulate offshore aquaculture.

## NMFS Lead OAP Commitments

- Implement new national bycatch strategy
- Propose national offshore aquaculture legislation
- Implement Gulf of Maine habitat restoration strategy
- Foster balanced representation for regional fishery management councils
- Promote market-based systems for fisheries management
- Encourage protection of deep-sea corals when developing & implementing FMPs
- Guidelines for use of science in fisheries management

**Notes:**

The JSOST and SIMOR working groups are beginning to identify lead agencies and timelines for implementing the Ocean Action Plan.  These are some of the actions NMFS has the lead on.  Other actions NMFS has the lead on:
Harmonize recreational fishing data acquisition for fishery management purposes
Prepare a status report on deep-sea corals in the U.S. EEZ
Propose new limits on Atlantic gillnet fishing to protect dolphins and sea turtles

## NMFS Co-lead OAP Commitments

- Advance the use of large marine ecosystems (*w. DOS*)
- Promote international marine turtle conservation (*w. DOI*)
- Complete near-term coastal Louisiana  restoration plan (*w. COE*)
- Create a national strategy for fisheries enforcement (*w. USCG*)
- Establish aquaculture effluent guidelines (*w. EPA*)
- Propose legislation to reauthorize Marine Mammal Protection Act (*w. DOI*)
- Advance regional fisheries management (*w. DOI*)

**Notes:**

These are some of the actions NMFS shares the lead on with other agencies.  Other actions NMFS is co-lead on:
Foster sustainable harvests of key species in the Caribbean and nearby Atlantic (w. DOS)
Establish an implementation plan for combating international “illegal, unregulated and unreported” fishing (w. DOS)

In addition NMFS staff serve as the NOAA point-of-contact for a number of other OAP items (e.g., invasive species, Cooperative Conservation EO)

## Managing Coasts and Their Watersheds

- Coastal & Watershed Management
- Coastal Habitat: Wetland Initiative
- Invasive species: “*Habitattitude*”
- Water Pollution Reduction

**Notes:**
Chapter 4 focuses on the coastal zone and emphasizes management of ocean, coastal, and Great Lake resources from a watershed perspective.

Highlight actions of particular interest depending on audience.

Community Watershed: The Ocean Action Plan calls for NOAA to work with the EPA on a series of community watershed workshops to learn from the public their concerns and needs for watershed and coastal management.  These workshops will help us develop the next generation of CZMA.  We will work with constituents, including congress, if any legislation on the CZMA is introduced in this Congress.

Wetlands: Another notable item in the Ocean Action Plan is the emphasis on the existing Presidential policy for a net-gain of wetlands.   Also of interest, there is a Gulf of Maine habitat restoration strategy.

## Future Actions: Congressional

- Oversight hearings
- Reauthorizations
- 	-MSFCMA
- 	-MMPA
- 	-CZMA
- 	-Marine Sanctuaries
- 	-Corals
- Other Legislation
- 	-NOAA Organic Act
- 	-Aquaculture
- Appropriations

**Notes:**
We anticipate a high level of Congressional interest in how the Administration is implementing the Commission’s recommendations and see a number of opportunities for them to provide guidance from oversight hearings to debate over reauthorizations of key statutes.

Highlight specific laws as appropriate to audience.

[The 109th Congress will be holding many oversight and appropriations hearings which will undoubtedly impact the future of ocean policy. In addition, some in Congress and NGO community may want to do more than is in the President’s Action Plan, other constituents may want less.]

The Presidents FY06 Budget was released February 7th and contained references to the Ocean Commission’s efforts.

## Future Actions: Executive

- Develop ***Committee on Ocean Policy*** 18 month work plan
- Implement Action Plan
- Determine resource needs
- Identify agency-specific actions

**Notes:**
Important Administration efforts in the near-term to advance the Action Plan.

Membership: Identify members and chairs for the new ocean governance structure.  [NMFS is providing recommendations, through the NOAA Ocean Council, on agency leads and representation for activities identified in the Ocean Action Plan.]

Work Plan: The Committee on Ocean Policy is tasked with developing a work plan over the next 18 months.  This work plan will address items that were not included or not addressed in the Ocean Action Plan.

Closing: This is an unprecedented time in the history of U.S. ocean policy.  Together we have a unique opportunity to sculpt the future of America’s ocean’s, shores and Great Lakes for decades to come.   We will need your continued involvement to achieve the Commission’s vision for the betterment of our Nation’s marine resources.