a Regional Ocean Ecosystem Plan as required under 
section 704 for United States ocean waters of the 
Gulf of Mexico Ocean Region. 
(5) SOUTH
ATLANTIC
COUNCIL.—The South 
Atlantic Regional Ocean Council, which shall include 
at least 1 representative of each of the States of 
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Flor-
ida and shall have authority to develop and imple-
ment a Regional Ocean Ecosystem Plan as required 
under section 704 for United Sates ocean waters of 
the Atlantic Ocean Region. 
(6) CARIBBEAN COUNCIL.—The Caribbean Re-
gional Ocean Council, which shall include at least 1 
representative of each of the Virgin Islands and the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and shall have au-
thority to develop and implement a Regional Ocean 
Ecosystem Plan as required under section 704 for 
United States ocean waters of the Caribbean Ocean 
Region. 
(7) MID-ATLANTIC COUNCIL.—The Mid-Atlantic 
Regional Ocean Council, which shall include at least 
1 representative of each of the States of New York, 
New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and 
Virginia and shall have authority to develop and im-
plement a Regional Ocean Ecosystem Plan as re-
quired under section 704 for United States ocean 
waters of the Atlantic Ocean Region. 
(8) NEW ENGLAND COUNCIL.—The New Eng-
land Regional Ocean Council, which shall include at 
least 1 representative of each of the States of Maine, 
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and 
Connecticut and shall have authority to develop and 
implement a Regional Ocean Ecosystem Plan as re-
quired under section 704 for United States ocean 
waters of the New England Ocean Region. 
(9) GREAT LAKES COUNCIL.—The Great Lakes 
Oceans Council, which shall include at least 1 rep-
resentative of each of the States of Minnesota, Wis-
consin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsyl-
vania, and New York and shall have authority to de-
velop and implement a Regional Ocean Ecosystem 
Plan as required under section 704 for United 
States ocean waters of the Great Lakes Region. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—
(1) NUMBER.—Each Council shall consist of—
(A) the Regional Administrator for the 
ocean region under the authority of the Council, 
who shall be the chairperson of the Council; and
(B) a number of additional members deter-
mined by the Administrator consistent with this 
subsection. 
(2) EQUAL NUMBERS OF FEDERAL AND STATE 
MEMBERS.—Of the total number of members of each 
Council under paragraph (1)(B)—
(A) one half shall be Federal representa-
tives appointed under paragraph (3); and 
(B) one half shall be State representatives 
appointed under paragraph (4). 
(3) FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator, in 
consultation with the National Oceans Council, 
shall appoint representatives of the Federal 
Government to each Council from among offi-
cers or employees of Federal agencies or de-
partments whose actions relate to protecting, 
maintaining, and restoring marine ecosystem 
health of United States ocean waters. 
(B) INCLUDED AGENCIES.—The members 
appointed to each Council under this para-
graph—
(i) may include officers or employees 
of the Department of the Interior, the En-
vironmental Protection Agency, the Corps
of Engineers, and other agencies consid-
ered by the Regional Administrator for the 
ocean region under the authority of the 
Council to be appropriate to implement 
ecosystem-based management; and 
(ii) shall include an officer or em-
ployee of the Administration. 
(C) PACIFIC AND NORTH PACIFIC COUN-
CILS.—The members appointed to each of the 
Pacific Regional Ocean Council and the North 
Pacific Regional Ocean Council shall include 
tribal representation. 
(4) STATE REPRESENTATIVES.—
(A) STATE
APPOINTMENTS.—The Gov-
ernor of each State, Commonwealth, territory, 
and possession of the United States with a rep-
resentative on a Council under subsection (a) 
shall appoint as such member of the Council an 
officer or employee of a State agency having re-
sponsibilities relating to marine ecosystem 
health. 
(B) 
ADDITIONAL
APPOINTMENTS.—The 
Administrator shall appoint to each Council 
such total number of additional representatives 
of States, Commonwealths, territories, and pos-