SEC. 322. DUTIES. 
The Council shall advise the President, the National 
Oceans Advisor, and the Committee on Ocean Policy on 
policies to protect, maintain, and restore the health of ma-
rine ecosystems on a regional and national basis. 
SEC. 323. MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall have not less 
than 13 members and not more than 17 members (as de-
termined by the President) appointed by the President. 
(b) INCLUDED MEMBERS.—The members of the 
Council shall include at least 1 representative of each of 
the following: 
(1) State, tribal, and local governments. 
(2) The marine science research community. 
(3) The marine science education community. 
(4) Fisheries. 
(5) Nonfishing marine activities. 
(6) Agriculture, which may include timber. 
(7) Watershed organizations (other than organi-
zations represented under paragraph (8)), which 
may include resource conservation districts. 
(8) Nongovernmental organizations (other than 
organizations represented under paragraph (7)), in-
cluding groups interested in marine conservation. 
(c) TERMS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the term of a member of the Council shall 
be 3 years. 
(2) INITIAL APPOINTEES.—Of the members ini-
tially appointed to the Council— 
(A) one-half shall be appointed to a 3-year 
term that ends in a Federal election year in 
which there occurs an election of the President; 
and 
(B) one-half shall be appointed to a 3-year 
term that ends in a Federal election year in 
which there does not occur an election of the 
President. 
(d) QUALIFICATION.—Members of the Council shall 
be appointed based on their knowledge and experience in 
coastal, ocean, and atmospheric science, policy, and other 
related areas. 
(e) VACANCIES.—Any member appointed to fill a va-
cancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which 
the member’s predecessor was appointed shall be ap-
pointed only for the remainder of that term. 
(f) LIMITATION.—An individual may not serve more 
than 2 terms as a member of the Council. 
(g) COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES.—A member of 
the Council shall not receive compensation for service on
the Council, but upon request by the member may be al-
lowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of sub-
sistence, in accordance with subchapter I of chapter 57 
of title 5, United States Code. 
SEC. 324. MEETINGS. 
The Council shall meet at least 2 times each year and 
more often at the President’s discretion. 
TITLE IV—REGIONAL 
COORDINATION AND PLANNING 
SEC. 401. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
(1) Recent reports by the Commission on Ocean 
Policy and the Pew Oceans Commission call for a 
more comprehensive and integrated ecosystem-based 
management approach to address current and future 
ocean and coastal challenges. 
(2) Establishing a national network of govern-
ance planning bodies at the regional level is essential 
for solving many pressing United States ocean and 
coastal issues. 
(3) Several States and regions have developed 
ocean management strategies that can be used as 
templates for coordinating among various govern-
ment entities. A new national framework is needed 
to extend, integrate, and support these efforts.
(4) Large marine ecosystems are biogeographi-
cally distinct ecosystem units and provide an appro-
priate spatial scale for ecosystem-based regional 
ocean governance. 
(5) Because ecosystems do not align with polit-
ical jurisdictions, regional ocean governance mecha-
nisms must provide for cooperation and collaboration 
within and among multiple levels of government, in-
cluding local, State, tribal, and Federal govern-
ments. 
(6) Effective regional ocean governance requires 
transparency and must include ample opportunities 
for input and participation by stakeholders and the 
public. 
(7) Additional funding and other resources are 
necessary to promote regional coordination and col-
laboration and to implement regional solutions to 
current and future ocean and coastal management 
challenges. 
SEC. 402. REGIONAL OCEAN PARTNERSHIPS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Within one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator and appro-
priate States, in consultation with the Committee on 
Ocean Policy, shall establish a Regional Ocean Partner-
ship for each of the ocean regions established by this sec-
tion in order to— 
(1) provide for more systematic communication, 
collaboration, and integration of Federal and State 
coastal and ocean environmental and resource man-
agement efforts; 
(2) provide for regional ecosystem assessment 
and information programs to guide management de-
cisions; 
(3) create a strategic plan for and implement 
adaptive, ecosystem-based management of coastal 
and ocean resources within ocean regions, building 
on and complementing local, State, and regional ef-
forts; and 
(4) encourage improved citizen and community 
stewardship of coastal and ocean resources. 
(b) GUIDING PRINCIPLES.—The guiding principles 
for Regional Ocean Partnerships and Regional Ocean 
Strategic Plans under this title are— 
(1) to protect, maintain, and restore the health 
of marine ecosystems, and 
(2) to provide for the ecologically sustainable 
use and management of ocean and coastal resources. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Within 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Ad-
ministrator, in consultation with the Committee 
on Ocean Policy, shall coordinate representa-
tives of the Federal Government to form each 
Regional Ocean Partnership. Such representa-
tives shall be officers or employees of Federal 
agencies and departments that have expertise in 
and oversee ocean and coastal policy or resource 
management. Each Federal agency or depart-
ment shall select and appoint their representa-
tives to each Regional Ocean Partnership. The 
Administrator, or his or her designated rep-
resentative, shall serve as the chairperson of 
each Regional Ocean Partnership. 
(B) INCLUDED ENTITIES.—The represent-
atives appointed to each Regional Ocean Part-
nership under this paragraph shall include one 
or more officers or employees of the Adminis-
tration, the Department of the Interior, the En-
vironmental Protection Agency, the Department 
of Agriculture, the Army Corps of Engineers, 
the Department of Defense, the Department of 
Homeland Security, the Department of Com-
merce, and other Federal agencies and depart-
ments as necessary. 
(2) STATE AND TRIBAL REPRESENTATIVES.— 
(A) COASTAL STATE APPOINTMENTS.—The 
Governor of each Coastal State within the 
ocean region of a Regional Ocean Partnership 
shall appoint an officer or employee of the State 
agency with primary responsibility for over-
seeing ocean and coastal policy or resource 
management to that Regional Ocean Partner-
ship. 
(B) 
INLAND
STATE
APPOINTMENT.— 
Where appropriate, the Administrator shall re-
ceive nominations and select one representative 
from one of the inland States that, according to 
maps and data of the United States Geological 
Survey, have jurisdiction over waters that feed 
into the ocean region for which a Regional 
Ocean partnership must prepare an ecosystem 
plan. 
(C) WESTERN
PACIFIC
AND
CARIBBEAN 
REGIONAL
OCEAN
PARTNERSHIPS.—The Gov-
ernors of American Samoa, Guam, and the 
Northern Mariana Islands shall each appoint an 
officer or employee of the agency with primary
responsibility for overseeing ocean and coastal 
policy or resource management to the Western 
Pacific Regional Ocean Partnership. The Gov-
ernors of the Virgin Islands and the Common-
wealth of Puerto Rico shall each appoint an of-
ficer or employee of the agency with primary re-
sponsibility for overseeing ocean and coastal 
policy or resource management to the Carib-
bean Regional Ocean Partnership. 
(D) NORTH
PACIFIC
REGIONAL
OCEAN 
PARTNERSHIP.—The Governor of the State of 
Washington shall appoint an officer or employee 
of the Washington State agency with primary 
responsibility for overseeing ocean and coastal 
policy or resource management to the North 
Pacific Regional Ocean Partnership. 
(3) 
INTERNATIONAL
REPRESENTATIVES.— 
Where appropriate, each Regional Ocean Partner-
ship shall foster nonbinding relationships with for-
eign governments, agencies, States, provinces, and 
other entities as appropriate, at scales appropriate 
to the region under the authority of a Regional 
Ocean Partnership, including by providing opportu-
nities for nonvoting participation by foreign rep-
resentatives at meetings of the Regional Ocean Part-