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OCEAN STEWARD 

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Ocean Steward’s Purpose 1 

Mission Statement 1 

Guiding Principal 1 

Ocean Steward Strategic Plan 2 

Strategy 1 3 

Strategy 2 4 

Strategy 3 5 

Strategy 4 5 
OCEAN STEWARD 

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The purpose of Ocean Steward is to help the 

Coast Guard achieve its strategic goal 

Protection of Natural Resources and its 

performance goal of enforcing federal 

regulations that result in all living marine 

resources achieving healthy, sustainable 

populations. Ocean Steward provides a clearly 

defined strategy for our role in helping the 

nation recover and maintain healthy 

populations of marine protected species; it 

captures the things we are already doing and 

provides a comprehensive list of objectives we 

can achieve if we are provided the necessary 

resources. Ocean Steward complements our 

fisheries enforcement strategic plan, Ocean 

Guardian. Together, Ocean Steward and 

Ocean Guardian provide a roadmap for the 

Coast Guard’s efforts in ensuring our nation’s 

waterways and their ecosystems remain 

productive by protecting all our nation’s living 

marine resources from degradation. 

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We will enforce and comply with marine 

protected species regulations, work with 

other agencies and organizations to develop 

appropriate regulations for marine 

protected species recovery, and publicize 

our efforts to gain the support and 

resources necessary to fully implement 

ocean steward.

The Coast Guard will implement a formal 

MPS strategy, Ocean Steward, with a clear, 

focused vision. We will educate and train our 

members to make certain every individual 

understands that stewardship of the ocean 

environment is a fundamental part of their 

duty. We will use existing enforcement 

authorities, and seek new authorities as 

necessary, to help reduce the risks of 

extinction and recover marine protected 

species populations. We will conduct our own 

operations so as to minimize our impact on 

marine protected species. We will assess the 

impact on marine protected species when 

developing both internal and external 

regulations and policies. We will work closely 

with other federal, state and local 

governments, as well as environmental and 

research organizations, to carry out the 

nation’s MPS policies. We will inform the 

public of both the importance of the mission 

and the ways in which they can help lessen the 

impact of human activities on marine protected 

species. We will widely publicize our strategy 

and results to inform policymakers and the 

public of the value of our MPS efforts. 

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 We are stewards of the ocean 

The guiding principle behind Ocean Steward is 

instilling in every member of the Coast Guard 

the belief that each individual is a steward of 

the ocean. This concept must be promoted 

throughout the entire organization. Our 

training commands – Training Center Cape 

May, the Coast Guard Academy, Training 

Center Yorktown, Training Center Petaluma, 

the Maritime Law Enforcement Academy, and 

the Regional Fisheries Training Centers – 

should produce graduates who understand and 

believe preservation of marine protected 

species is a fundamental Coast Guard 

responsibility. 

Our boarding officers and marine inspectors 

should know, and want to know, what marine 

protected species exist in their area of 

responsibility, the regulations that exist to 

protect them, and how his or her actions can 

promote species recovery. Our operations and 

marine safety units should know, and want to 

know, the concerns of federal, state and local 

officials, and should work cooperatively with 

them. Our stations, cutters and marine safety 

United States Coast Guard Marine Protected Species Strategic Plan 1 
OCEAN STEWARD 

offices should distribute appropriate 

educational literature. At every opportunity 

Coast Guard personnel should let the public 

know we are on watch protecting their oceans 

and waterways, and inform them of what they 

can do to help eliminate the degradation of 

natural resources associated with maritime 

activities. Our deck watch officers, aircrews 

and coxswains should be able to recognize the 

marine protected species they are likely to 

encounter and report sightings to interested 

organizations. Our staff officers and port 

operations personnel should ensure, and want 

to ensure, recovery of marine protected species 

is taken into account when making policy 

decisions, and they should prioritize the 

workloads of their personnel to reflect this 

emphasis. 

In short, every member of the Coast Guard 

must think of himself or herself as a steward of 

the ocean. Committing to that, both 

organizationally and individually, we will 

enable us to reach our overarching protection 

of natural resources strategic goal. 

OCEAN STEWARD STRATEGIC GOAL 

Eliminate environmental damage and 

natural resource degradation associated 

with all maritime activities. 

The nation’s waterways and their ecosystems 

are vital to our economy and health. If the 

United States is to enjoy a rich, diverse and 

sustainable ocean environment, then we must 

halt the degradation of our ocean’s natural 

resources associated with maritime activities. 

This includes ensuring our country’s marine 

protected species are provided the protection 

necessary to help their populations recover to 

healthy, sustainable levels. Providing 

adequate protection will require the United 

States to enact and enforce a wide range of 

regulations to govern marine resource 

management and use. Ocean Steward will 

enable the Coast Guard, as the nation’s 

primary at sea law enforcement agency, to 

develop and enforce those regulations 

necessary to help recover and maintain our 

country’s marine protected species. Moreover, 

Ocean Steward will ensure the Coast Guard is 

viewed as a leader in regional, national and 

international efforts to protect the nation’s 

marine ecosystems. 

 

OCEAN STEWARD STRATEGIES

1) Raise the Profile of the MPS Mission. 

 We will raise the profile of the MPS mission 

to the status of missions such as maritime drug 

interdiction, marine pollution prevention and 

fisheries enforcement. 

2) Obtain Necessary Resources and 

Authorities. 

We will prioritize existing resources, use 

existing authorities, and seek additional 

resources and authorities as necessary to 

implement Ocean Steward. 

3) Partner with Other Agencies. 

We will work closely with other agencies and 

organizations involved in the preservation and 

recovery of marine protected species to 

eliminate redundancy, and provide a clear link 

between enforcement and management. 

4) Publicize Our Efforts. 

We will stress the importance of the Coast 

Guard’s role as part of a comprehensive 

management scheme and highlight our 

successful efforts to the public. 

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OCEAN STEWARD 

• Designate MPS points of contact 

(POC) at HQ/Areas/Districts, and 

create a CG network for information 

flow on MPS issues. 

STRATEGY 1: RAISE THE PROFILE OF THE 

MPS MISSION

DISCUSSION: • Increase Endangered Species 

Act/Marine Mammal Protection Act 

enforcement pulse ops during critical 

seasons. 

If the Coast Guard is to be truly committed to 

protecting the ocean and its resources, then, in 

the eyes of our own people, recovery of 

marine protected species must be just as 

important as traditional missions such as 

maritime drug interdiction, marine pollution 

prevention, and fisheries enforcement. We 

must go beyond development of single 

initiatives in response to pressure or crisis. 

We should approach MPS issues with the 

same proactive, integrated, long-term strategy 

we use for addressing counter-drug operations, 

fisheries law enforcement, and commercial 

vessel safety. Every member of the Coast 

Guard must know it is part of our job to help 

recover and maintain our marine protected 

species, just as they know it is our job to 

rescue those in distress. If we understand this 

concept individually, we will certainly convey 

that image organizationally. 

• Ensure current and potential MPS 

missions (patrol of remote coral reefs, 

removal of derelict fishing gear, 

assisting in disentanglement of whales, 

etc.) are included in Deepwater 

decision making process. 

• Increase CG participation in 

environmental cleanup events such as 

the Center for Marine Conservation’s 

annual International Coastal Clean Up. 

KEY OBJECTIVES:

• Incorporate Marine Protected Species 

(MPS) issues into CG performance 

planning. • Incorporate MPS mission into 

curriculum of all entry-level and 

accession training programs (e.g., 

Officer Candidate School, the 

Academy, Cape May, and Civilian 

Indoctrination). 

• Develop Area and District MPS 

operating and enforcement guidance. 

• Emphasize area specific MPS issues in 

the curriculum of all 5 Regional 

Fisheries Training Centers (RFTC). • Incorporate MPS issues into 

International Maritime Officers Course 

and Mobile Training Teams. 

• Identify ways to increase CG Auxiliary 

participation in MPS mission. 

• Identify ways to increase focus on 

MPS issues in Sea Partners program. • Designate MPS points of contact at 

appropriate CG units. • Measure the effectiveness of current 

MPS initiatives such as compliance 

with the Mandatory Ship Reporting 

System (MSR) and manatee speed 

zone regulations. 

• Include MPS guidance in Maritime 

Law Enforcement Manual updates. 

• Include MPS guidance in Marine 

Safety Manual updates. 

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OCEAN STEWARD 

• Create HQ cross-directorate MPS 

office. 

• Incorporate MPS questions into 

Servicewide Examinations. 

• Add MPS material to appropriate A 

School curricula (e.g., BM, MST). 

STRATEGY 2: OBTAIN NECESSARY 

RESOURCES AND AUTHORITIES

DISCUSSION: 

As national sentiment builds for increasing the 

protection of our oceans, the Coast Guard 

should be at the top of the list of agencies that 

the public demands to be adequately funded. 

We will reinforce this by documenting our 

need for, and requesting, the additional 

resources required to meet the increasing 

enforcement and regulatory demands in the 

oceans environment. The public must view 

the Coast Guard as a leader in preserving our 

oceans and their protected species. When it is 

the right thing to do, we will seek to expand 

our enforcement and regulatory roles, and not 

shy away for fear of acquiring additional 

mandates or becoming the target of legal 

action. If we can be leaders in maritime search 

and rescue, drug interdiction and pollution 

prevention, then we can also become leaders in 

the recovery of marine protected species. We 

can: 

KEY OBJECTIVES:

• Request funding for implementation of 

Ocean Steward through annual 

budgeting and resource allocation 

processes. 

• Include resource hour requests for 

implementation of Ocean Steward in 

input to the annual Operational 

Guidance letter. 

• Assess the need for more enforcement 

authority to protect resources of 

various marine protected areas and 

sanctuaries. 

• Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of 

the Mandatory Ship Reporting System 

(MSRS). 

• Monitor R&D efforts to develop new 

technologies for marine mammal 

detection and avoidance in order to 

plan for possible acquisition of feasible 

technologies. 

• Develop better measures of 

effectiveness for MPS enforcement 

efforts. 

• Support Resource Proposals that 

address requirements for MPS 

activities. 

• Allocate resources required to 

implement Ocean Steward in the 

annual Operational Guidance letter. 

• Propose statutory changes and new 

regulations to improve CG ability to 

support the nation’s MPS objectives. 

• Consider seeking expanded authority 

for regulation of vessels in order to 

protect marine protected species. 

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OCEAN STEWARD 

STRATEGY 3: PARTNER WITH OTHER 

AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS

• Use Memorandums Of Understanding 

(MOU), as appropriate, to define 

relations with the National Marine 

Sanctuaries and other marine protected 

areas. 

DISCUSSION:

Our leadership should seek opportunities to 

help recover and maintain the nation’s marine 

protected species (MPS) by working more 

closely with the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the 

National Marine Fisheries Service, the 

National Marine Sanctuaries (NMS), the U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service, the Department of 

State, the Department of Defense, state and 

local governments, non-governmental 

organizations, industry, research institutions, 

and international organizations. We should 

partner with concerned agencies and 

organizations to ensure MPS issues are 

considered whenever agencies propose new 

regulations. We should work closely with 

NOAA, NMFS, the NMS, state and local 

governments, and international organizations 

to ensure we are doing all we can to provide 

enforcement for various marine protected 

areas, and to assist them with their education 

and outreach initiatives. We should reach out 

to other management agencies and research 

institutions to assist in providing the data 

needed to answer important questions about 

marine protected species. 

• Engage other agencies in a discussion 

of remote marine protected areas. 

• Increase our role in federal and 

international recovery teams and task 

forces (e.g., the Coral Reef Task Force, 

the Manatee Recovery Team, and 

Right Whale Recovery Plan 

Implementation Teams). 

• Emphasize ship-riding opportunities 

for NMFS and NMS personnel on CG 

fisheries/MPS patrols. 

• Establish a senior officer liaison billet 

to NOAA to increase CG input and 

interaction in developing MPS issues 

and regulations. 

• Establish a senior officer liaison billet 

to Council on Environmental Quality 

(CEQ). 

• Create opportunities for graduate level 

marine affairs students to experience 

CG fisheries and MPS operations. 

• Engage other agencies in joint 

rulemaking for MPS regulations. 

STRATEGY 4: PUBLICIZE OUR EFFORTS

DISCUSSION: KEY OBJECTIVES:

The Coast Guard already has many marine 

protected species success stories to tell. We 

are partnering with the USFWS to educate the 

boating public and reduce manatee deaths by 

enforcing speed zone regulations in Florida. 

We are working closely with NMFS and 

environmental agencies to help protect the 

highly endangered northern right whale. In 

Hawaii, we remove tons of derelict fishing 

nets from coral reefs that are critical habitat of 

the endangered Hawaiian monk seal. 

Conducting this work, however, is only half of 

the job. If the public is to perceive us as 

• Maximize assistance to NMFS in 

investigation and prosecution of 

protected MPS incidents. 

• Work closely with NMFS on MPS 

issues such as fishing gear conflicts, 

vessel traffic management, and bycatch reduction. 

• Work closely with the Navy to monitor 

research and development efforts to 

use acoustics for tracking and avoiding 

endangered whales. 

United States Coast Guard Marine Protected Species Strategic Plan 5 
OCEAN STEWARD 

stewards of the ocean, then we must highlight 

our efforts and successes to the press and the 

public at every opportunity. Local units need 

to let communities know what we are doing to 

protect their waters. Districts should 

emphasize the importance of our MPS mission 

in maintaining healthy, sustainable 

ecosystems. Area and Headquarters staffs 

must cultivate relationships with the press, 

civic leaders, stakeholders and legislators to 

ensure they are aware of the valuable work the 

Coast Guard is doing. The public must 

recognize we are the nation's most valuable 

maritime asset in the effort to protect and 

sustain our oceans and their resources. The 

more we are seen taking positive, decisive 

action and producing good results, the more 

the public will demand we be properly 

resourced to perform this vital mission. 

• Raise the profile of the MPS mission to 

attract recruits with interest in 

environmental issues. 

KEY OBJECTIVES:

United States Coast Guard Marine Protected Species Strategic Plan 6 

• Maximize publicity of cooperative 

MPS efforts with federal and state 

agencies and non-governmental 

organizations. 

• Maximize publicity of Sea Partners 

MPS initiatives. 

• Use inspections and examinations as 

opportunities to provide MPS 

information packages to vessels. 

• Use publicity to generate interest in, 

and develop ideas for, future marine 

environment cleanups and other 

initiatives. 

• Optimize publicity of CG role in MPS 

task forces. 

• Maximize publicity of CG Auxiliary 

public education efforts in MPS 

identification, sensitivity, and 

avoidance measures. 

• Develop an interactive forum for 

public comment and ideas regarding 

MPS protection.