National Ocean and Great Lakes Policy Initiative Announced by White House

President Obama issued an Executive Memorandum ordering the creation of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force led by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to develop recommendations within 90 days for a national ocean and Great Lakes policy that ensures the health of ocean, coastal and Great Lake ecosystems and resources. Key aims of the new White House directive would be to improve coordination among federal and state government activities that affect the marine and Great Lakes environment, and to enhance the sustainability of ocean and coastal economies. The Ocean Policy Task Force is also directed to develop recommendations for a system of comprehensive marine spatial planning within 180 days to implement the policy.

The President’s initiative builds on the recommendations of the Pew Ocean Commission (2003) and the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy (2004), both of which called for the establishment of an integrated, comprehensive national ocean policy aimed ensuring sustainable use and protection of our oceans, coasts and Great Lakes.