Richard J. McLaughlin

1
Ocean Policy in the United States
by Richard J. McLaughlin Harte Research Institute
for Gulf of Mexico Studies Texas AM
University-Corpus Christi
2
Historical Context

• Traditional Ocean Policy Approach 1945-1970
• Sector Specific oil gas fisheries
  transport etc. all managed separately
• Little Cooperation Across Local, State, Tribal,
  Federal or International Boundaries
• Federal Government Played A Small Role In
  Managing the Oceans

3
Early Attempts To Improve Ocean Policy in the U.S.

• Congress Created the Blue Ribbon Stratton
  Commission in 1966
• Published a Very Influential Report Entitled Our
  Nation and the Sea A Plan for National Action
• Recommendations from the Report led to
• Creation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
  Administration (NOAA)
• Coastal Zone Management Act
• Federal Fisheries Conservation and Management Act
  

4
Dissatisfaction Continues

• 1970-2000 Widespread Dissatisfaction with
  Nations Ocean Policies Continued
• Ocean Management Still Fragmented With No
  Regulatory Entity Having Oversight Authority Over
  the Oceans
• Instead, Multiple Agencies have Conflicting
  Authority Depending on Whether the Ocean Resource
  is Fish, Marine Mammals, Oil and Gas, Dredged
  Materials, Renewable Energy, etc.

5
Recent Reforms

• By 2000 a Consensus Emerged that Advocated a
  Radical Change in the Nations Ocean Policy
  Governance System Towards a more Ecosystem-based
  and Integrated Approach
• Like the Stratton Commission in 1966, the Best
  Way to Achieve this is Through the Efforts of a
  Diverse Group of Experts Who Incorporate the
  Views of a Large Cross-section of Ocean
  Stakeholders

6
Two National Ocean Policy Commissions are
Established

• The Private Pew Foundation Funded the First
  Commission Which Published its Report Americas
  Living Oceans Charting a Course for Sea Change
  in 2003. This Report Recommended
• A Rapid Shift to Ecosystem-based Management
• The Creation of a New Independent Ocean Agency
  With Authority to Enforce Ecosystem-based
  Regional Plans
• Ocean Zoning as a Primary Planning Tool

7
U.S Ocean Commission Report

• Many Believed Privately-funded Pew Report Lacked
  Sufficient Influence to Force Government Change
• Congress Created the United States Commission on
  Ocean Policy - Sixteen Bipartisan Experts
• From 2001-2004 Held Public Hearings Across the
  Nation
• In September 2004, Published An Ocean Blueprint
  for the 21st Century

8
Ocean Blueprint Report

• The Ocean Blueprint was over 500 pages in length
  and contained more than 200 specific
  recommendations for Congressional and Executive
  Branch Actions
• It recognized many of the same problems as the
  Pew Commission Report
• Most importantly, the need for an integrated
  approach to manage ocean areas at large marine
  ecosystem and watershed scales

9
Bush Administration Action Plan

• Congress Required President Bush to Formally
  Respond to Commission Recommendations
• The Bush Administration Responded With its Own
  U.S. Ocean Action Plan in December 2004
• This Action Plan Identified Nine Primary Action
  Items

10
Bush Ocean Action Items

• 1) Establish a new cabinet-level committee on
  ocean policy
• 2) Promote greater use of market-based systems
  for fisheries management
• 3) Build a Global Earth Observation Network
• 4) Develop an Ocean Research Priorities and
  Implementation Strategy
• 5) Support Accession to the UN Convention on the
  Law of the Sea
• 6) Implement Coral Reef Local Action Strategies
• 7) Support a Regional Partnership in the Gulf of
  Mexico
• 8) Seek Passage of Administrative Reforms of NOAA
• 9) Implement the National Freight Action Agenda

11
Joint Ocean Commission Initiative

• Members of the Pew Commission and U.S. Ocean
  Commission joined forces to monitor the progress
  of the Bush Action Plan
• Since 2005 it has issued a U.S. Ocean Policy
  Report Card.
• The grades have been very mixed. From A- for
  regional and state ocean governance reform to F
  for new funding for ocean policy programs

12
Future Trends

• Most of the recommendations in the Ocean
  Blueprint have not been implemented
• New Presidential Administration in January 2009
  will be able to create its own Action Plan
• There is a sound foundation for political action
  in the U.S. but it is unclear whether the
  political will exists to move forward to achieve
  meaningful results