Policy and Planning for a Healthy ocean: past and present
History of the National Ocean Policy
To plan for a healthy ocean and sustainable ocean uses, the American Littoral Society supported implementation of the National Ocean Policy (NOP) created by Executive Order 13547 in 2010.
The NOP was founded on the work of two blue ribbon, bi-partisan ocean policy commissions, both of which called for a comprehensive ocean policy to guide sustainable management of U.S. ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes.
The NOP served as the framework for the long-term stewardship for our nation’s waters. In addition to promoting conservation, this framework fostered stronger economies for our coastal communities by prioritizing the work of the federal government around diverse priority objectives, ranging from improving coordination and integration across the federal government to enhancing water quality in the ocean, along our coasts, and in the Great Lakes.
The NOP centered on ensuring our federal government’s stewardship of the ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes was transparent, inclusive, efficient, and responsive to the priorities of the nation’s coastal states and stakeholders, while looking for ways to ensure healthy ocean and coastal ecosystems for future generations.
Under the NOP, we saw the development of Regional Planning Bodies (RPBs) in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and West Coast regions which brought federal agencies, states, and federally recognized tribes together at one table to plan for a healthy ocean ecosystem and sustainable uses, such as offshore wind.
Over the course of several years, these RPBs included ocean managers and interests, and along with stakeholders, developed and released two plans which were certified by the National Ocean Council in 2016: the Northeast Ocean Plan and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Action Plan.
Created by states, federal agencies, and several tribal nations, the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Plan promoted the use of scientific evaluations to coordinate governmental decisions to identify and protect ecologically rich areas, develop sustainable uses for ocean resources, and resolve conflicts between stakeholders.
Current State of Federal Ocean Policy
In June of 2018, President Trump repealed and replaced the previous NOP with a new Ocean Policy to Advance the Economic, Security, and Environmental Interests of the United States, Executive Order (EO) 13840.
The repeal of the NOP marked a retreat from our common-sense policies designed to protect coastal environments, communities and economies.
The replacement executive order shifted federal priorities toward valuing extractive resource use over maintaining a functional and productive ocean ecosystem. Specifically, the EO highlights the ocean industry and energy, domestic energy production, national security, and maritime commerce, including fisheries and recreation.
Unlike the NOP, the Trump Administration's EO does not foster stewardship, nor does it require federal participation. It negates the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Ocean Plans and disbanded the Regional Planning Bodies.
The new EO does allow federal participation with states, but the new policy specifically relies upon state-run Regional Ocean Partnerships (ROPs) to engage them. The new policy does provide a commitment to science, data, and technology, stakeholder engagement, and interagency coordination.
To plan for a healthy ocean and sustainable ocean uses, the American Littoral Society supported implementation of the National Ocean Policy (NOP) created by Executive Order 13547 in 2010.
The NOP was founded on the work of two blue ribbon, bi-partisan ocean policy commissions, both of which called for a comprehensive ocean policy to guide sustainable management of U.S. ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes.
The NOP served as the framework for the long-term stewardship for our nation’s waters. In addition to promoting conservation, this framework fostered stronger economies for our coastal communities by prioritizing the work of the federal government around diverse priority objectives, ranging from improving coordination and integration across the federal government to enhancing water quality in the ocean, along our coasts, and in the Great Lakes.
The NOP centered on ensuring our federal government’s stewardship of the ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes was transparent, inclusive, efficient, and responsive to the priorities of the nation’s coastal states and stakeholders, while looking for ways to ensure healthy ocean and coastal ecosystems for future generations.
Under the NOP, we saw the development of Regional Planning Bodies (RPBs) in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and West Coast regions which brought federal agencies, states, and federally recognized tribes together at one table to plan for a healthy ocean ecosystem and sustainable uses, such as offshore wind.
Over the course of several years, these RPBs included ocean managers and interests, and along with stakeholders, developed and released two plans which were certified by the National Ocean Council in 2016: the Northeast Ocean Plan and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Action Plan.
Created by states, federal agencies, and several tribal nations, the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Plan promoted the use of scientific evaluations to coordinate governmental decisions to identify and protect ecologically rich areas, develop sustainable uses for ocean resources, and resolve conflicts between stakeholders.
Current State of Federal Ocean Policy
In June of 2018, President Trump repealed and replaced the previous NOP with a new Ocean Policy to Advance the Economic, Security, and Environmental Interests of the United States, Executive Order (EO) 13840.
The repeal of the NOP marked a retreat from our common-sense policies designed to protect coastal environments, communities and economies.
The replacement executive order shifted federal priorities toward valuing extractive resource use over maintaining a functional and productive ocean ecosystem. Specifically, the EO highlights the ocean industry and energy, domestic energy production, national security, and maritime commerce, including fisheries and recreation.
Unlike the NOP, the Trump Administration's EO does not foster stewardship, nor does it require federal participation. It negates the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Ocean Plans and disbanded the Regional Planning Bodies.
The new EO does allow federal participation with states, but the new policy specifically relies upon state-run Regional Ocean Partnerships (ROPs) to engage them. The new policy does provide a commitment to science, data, and technology, stakeholder engagement, and interagency coordination.
Regional Ocean Partnerships Can Lead the Way: We Need to Support Them
We all rely on the ocean. It generates two-thirds of the oxygen we breathe and is home to vibrant coastal communities, productive marine economies, and awe-inspiring beauty. Along the Atlantic Coast, the ocean and coast are woven into our lives. But the way we use the ocean is expanding rapidly and we are at risk of not fully protecting and conserving the ocean's health.
At the American Littoral Society, conserving the ocean and coast is our fundamental mission. We believe that the only way to fulfill that mission, in light of the increasing demands on the ocean, is with careful, coordinated planning among our state, federal and tribal governments. Besides creating a more informed, effective and coordinated approach for ocean resource management, "ocean planning" is crucial for making smart decisions about future uses, as well as strengthening the ways we can protect the mid-Atlantic ocean and coast.
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO) was established in 2009 by the Governors of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia as a Regional Ocean Partnership (ROP).
MARCO has set shared regional priorities, partnered to host and manage the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal, and currently continues to facilitate coordination and collaboration between the states, federal agencies, federal tribes, the fishery management council and stakeholders on ocean management through the Mid-Atlantic Committee on the Ocean (MACO).
Each Mid-Atlantic state provides representation on the committee and federal agency participation includes: the Department of Commerce; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; the Department of the Interior through the US Geological Survey, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Parks Service; the Department of Agriculture through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; the Department of Defense through the Joint Command, Navy, and/or Army Corps of Engineers; the Department of Homeland Security, US Coast Guard; the Environmental Protection Agency; the Department of Transportation Maritime Administration; and the Department of Energy. Tribal representation is the Shinnecock Indian Nation and regionally, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.
As MARCO and the newly formed MACO moves forward with their efforts, it will be up to us help guide their direction and help ensure strong stakeholder input leading up to management decisions.
We all rely on the ocean. It generates two-thirds of the oxygen we breathe and is home to vibrant coastal communities, productive marine economies, and awe-inspiring beauty. Along the Atlantic Coast, the ocean and coast are woven into our lives. But the way we use the ocean is expanding rapidly and we are at risk of not fully protecting and conserving the ocean's health.
At the American Littoral Society, conserving the ocean and coast is our fundamental mission. We believe that the only way to fulfill that mission, in light of the increasing demands on the ocean, is with careful, coordinated planning among our state, federal and tribal governments. Besides creating a more informed, effective and coordinated approach for ocean resource management, "ocean planning" is crucial for making smart decisions about future uses, as well as strengthening the ways we can protect the mid-Atlantic ocean and coast.
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO) was established in 2009 by the Governors of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia as a Regional Ocean Partnership (ROP).
MARCO has set shared regional priorities, partnered to host and manage the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal, and currently continues to facilitate coordination and collaboration between the states, federal agencies, federal tribes, the fishery management council and stakeholders on ocean management through the Mid-Atlantic Committee on the Ocean (MACO).
Each Mid-Atlantic state provides representation on the committee and federal agency participation includes: the Department of Commerce; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; the Department of the Interior through the US Geological Survey, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Parks Service; the Department of Agriculture through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; the Department of Defense through the Joint Command, Navy, and/or Army Corps of Engineers; the Department of Homeland Security, US Coast Guard; the Environmental Protection Agency; the Department of Transportation Maritime Administration; and the Department of Energy. Tribal representation is the Shinnecock Indian Nation and regionally, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.
As MARCO and the newly formed MACO moves forward with their efforts, it will be up to us help guide their direction and help ensure strong stakeholder input leading up to management decisions.
