National Ocean Policy
The National Ocean Policy sets forth a vision of an America whose stewardship ensures that the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes are healthy and resilient, safe and productive, and understood and treasured so as to promote the well-being, prosperity, and security of present and future generations. In order to better meet our Nation’s stewardship responsibilities for the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes, President Obama established the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force (Task Force) and charged the Task Force with developing recommendations to enhance our ability to maintain healthy, resilient, and sustainable ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes resources.
On July 19, 2010, President Obama signed an Executive Order (E.O. 13547) establishing the National Ocean Policy and adopting the Final Recommendations of the Task Force. The final recommendations provide:
- A framework for the Nation’s first ever National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, Coasts and Great Lakes
- A governance structure to provide sustained high-level and coordinated attention to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes issues
- An implementation strategy that identifies nine priority objectives
- A framework for effective Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning (CMSP) based on comprehensive and integrated eco-system based management approach
The nine priority objectives provide a bridge between the policy and specific actions required to achieve the intent of the National Ocean Policy.
- Ecosystem-Based Management: foundational principle for the comprehensive management of the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes
- Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning (CMSP)
- Inform Decisions and Improve Understanding
- Coordinate and Support
- Resiliency and Adaptation to Climate Change and Ocean Acidification
- Regional Ecosystem Protection and Restoration
- Water Quality and Sustainable Practices on Land
- Changing Conditions in the Arctic
- Ocean, Coastal, and Great Lakes Observations, Mapping, and Infrastructure