The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy

Dr. Richard SpinradAssistant Administrator for Oceans and Coasts

Co-Chair, NOAA Ocean Council

SES Retreat

Dec 15, 2004

An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century

• 31 Issue-based Chapters• 212 recommendations

– Net gain of 14 recommendations from the Preliminary Report

NOAA’s Contribution to the USCOP Administration Response

• Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) leads Interagency Ocean Policy Group– Develops The President’s Implementation Plan

• NOAA provides input to CEQ– NOAA’s Ocean Council (NOC) has the lead in

developing NOAA’s input to CEQ

Joint Subcommittee on Oceans

• Committee on Science & Committee on Environment and Natural Resources– Co-Chaired by NOAA and NSF

• Established Ad Hoc Task Force On The Ocean Commission to provide input To CEQ's IOPG– June 28, 2004 letter on Preliminary Report– November 23 Addendum on Final report changes

NOAA LeadsCoasts & Pollution

• MPAs – Joe Uravitch• Coastal Zone -- Doug Brown• Natural Hazards -- Rollie Schmitten & Doug Brown• Coastal habitat -- Rollie Schmitten• Sediments & Shorelines -- Doug Brown• Coastal Water Pollution -- Doug Brown & Bruce Hicks

• Water Quality -- Doug Brown

NOAA LeadsFisheries -- Living Marine Resources

• Invasive Species -- Dorn Carlson• Fisheries -- Jack Dunnigan, Dale Jones, &

Bill Brennan• Marine Mammals & Endangered Species –

Laurie Allen & Jack Dunnigan• Corals -- David Kennedy• Marine Aquaculture -- Linda Chaves

NOAA LeadsMaritime Commerce

• Marine Commerce and Transportation –

Rich Edwing & Phil Kenul

• Vessel Pollution -- David Kennedy & Phil Kenul

• Marine Debris -- Dail Brown & David Kennedy

NOAA LeadsResearch & Monitoring

• Research -- Rick Rosen, Craig Mc-Lean, Charlie Challstrom• Integrated Ocean Observing System – Rick Spinrad & Greg Withee• Ocean Infrastructure and Technology -- Nick Prahl• Ocean Data and Info Systems -- Greg Withee• International Science and Policy -- Bill Brennan• Oceans and Human Health -- Suzanne Bolton

NOAA LeadsLarge-Scale Issues

• Ocean Education -- Marlene Kaplan

• Offshore Energy -- Doug Brown & Craig McLean

• Funding Needs and Sources -- Doug Brown

• Ecosystem-based Management -- Ned Cyr

• Regional Approach -- NOAA Ocean Council

Draft: Strategy for Review of U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy Report

7September 29, 2003

September 2003 Proposed Process

12September 29, 2003

September 2003 Proposed Timeline

ProcessNOAA Ocean Council

Products to NOAA HQ/CEQ:

• Anticipatory Binder

• Governance Options

• Talking Points

• Priorities

• Cost Estimates

• Review of Interagency Proposals

• Other…

April 20

May 11 - Fast Track

February 20

May 21 - Standard

NOAATimeline

June 11 – Phase II Integrated NOAA Input

December 20

Anticipatory - Phase I

Final - Phase III

Preliminary - Phase II

NOAA Leads

CEQ/White House

September 20September 20November

NOC Reviewed IOPG Proposals

• 30 total proposals reviewed

• 4 rounds of expedited review– Round 1 NEC on October 8– Round 4 NEC on November 22

• NOC supported all proposals– Conditional support for 18 proposals

Fisheries7 Proposals

• Modify the Magnuson Stevens Act – Vessel Monitoring

System – Council nominations– IFQ national guidelines

• Marine recreational fishing licenses

• Scientific advice Guidelines

• Strengthening of Western and Central Atlantic Fisheries Commission (WECAFC)

• Implementation Plan for Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported Fishing

Ecosystems4 Proposals

• Ecosystem Considerations per the Reykjavik Declaration

• Large Marine Ecosystems

• Integrating coastal and watershed management at the community level

• Marine mammal-acoustic research

Marine Transportation System3 Proposals

• Interagency Committee on the Maritime Transportation System

• National Freight Action Agenda

• Interagency marine debris coordinating committee (Fishing Gear Focus)

Monitoring & Observation5 Proposals

• Global Marine Assessment (GMA) & Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS)

• Interagency Coastal and Ocean Mapping

• U.S. Leadership in Ocean Observations

• Integrated Approach to Oceans Management

• National Water Monitoring Proposal

Parks/Cultural Resources3 Proposals

• Seamless network of marine parks and sanctuaries

• Interagency Working Group on Submerged Cultural Resources

• RMS Titanic International Agreement

Education1 Proposal

• Interagency Ocean Education Office

Corals3 Proposals

• Debt Reduction Program

• Promote Sustainable Coral Harvest & International Trade

• U.S. Co-Hosting the International Coral Reef Initiative

International4 Proposals

• Incentives for U.S. Scientists

• Americas Aquaculture Network & APEC Initiative

• London Protocol -- Membership and Compliance

• Sea Grant – Three International Initiatives

FY 2005 Appropriations related to USCOP

NOAA OCEAN COMMISSION INITIATIVE Senate Committee recommendation

Omnibus funding level (pre-recissions)

Integrated Coastal & Ocean Observation System 74,650 Estimated 52050

ICOOS new funding [32,000](subset of above line)

[24,500](subset of above line)

Ocean Health Initiative 20,000 18,000

National Sea Grant Program 73,906 62,750

NOAA Education Initiative 21,907 16,500

Ocean Exploration/Undersea Research 49,983 41,483

Marine Debris 7,500 5,000

International Fisheries Treaties/Negotiations and Compliance

5,000 0

Marine Mammal Initiative 12,000 10,000

Satellite Oceanography/Transition NASA Research Into Operations

10,000 4,000

Vessel Days at Sea/Ship Maintenance 115,351 110,251

Shipbuilding/Equipment and Technology 64,000 58,800

Total Ocean Commission Initiative 454,297 378,834$’s in Thousands

Next Steps

• Administration Response Expected December 20– Press Release– Congressional Briefings– Stakeholder Meetings

• 109th Congress – “Year of the Ocean”

• NOAA’s Strategy for Hearings & Press?

NOAA Ocean Council

https://inside.nos.noaa.gov/noc/welcome.html

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