INTERAGENCY OCEAN POLICY TASK FORCE: INTERIM REPORT
The Task Force’s Interim Report is now available and is undergoing a 30-day public review and comment period. This report provides proposals for a comprehensive national approach to uphold our stewardship responsibilities and ensure accountability for our actions. Additionally, the report outlines a more balanced, productive and sustainable approach to our ocean resources.
Click here to read the report.
You can submit a comment about the report by using the form below.
SUBMIT A COMMENT ABOUT THE INTERIM REPORT
The Task Force seeks input on its work from interested communities, governments, tribes, businesses, associations, non-governmental organizations and the general public.
We ask that you focus your comments on the issues set forth in the President’s Memorandum. Please specify one of the following five topics when submitting a comment:
- National Policy: Recommendations for a national policy that ensures the protection, maintenance, and restoration of the health of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems and resources, enhances the sustainability of ocean and coastal economies, preserves our maritime heritage, provides for adaptive management to enhance our capacity to respond to climate change, and is coordinated with our national security and foreign policy interests.
- Framework for Policy Coordination: Recommendations for a framework for policy coordination of efforts to improve stewardship of the oceans, our coasts, and the Great Lakes among Federal, State, tribal, and local authorities, including regional governance structures.
- Implementation Strategies: Recommendations for an implementation strategy that identifies and prioritizes a set of objectives the United States should pursue to meet the objectives of a national policy for the oceans, our coasts, and the Great Lakes.
- Marine Spatial Planning: Recommendations for a framework for effective coastal and marine spatial planning that is a comprehensive, integrated, ecosystem-based approach that addresses conservation, economic activity, user conflict, and sustainable use of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources.
- Emerging Issues on Ocean, Coasts and Great Lakes Policy: Comments on the implications of other emerging issues for ocean, coasts and Great Lakes policy, such as offshore renewable energy development and climate change.
