2007 U.S. Ocean Policy Report Card

The Joint Initiative released its third annual U.S. Ocean Policy Report Card on February 27, 2008. The report card assesses the nation’s progress in 2007 toward implementing the recommendations of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the Pew Oceans Commission, as well as the actions described in the Administration’s U.S. Ocean Action Plan. The objective of the U.S. Ocean Policy Report Card is to inform policy makers and the public of the critical challenges facing our oceans, while identifying the many opportunities that are ripe for action. The 2007 U.S. Ocean Policy Report Card concludes that while state and regional initiatives continue to move forward on ocean governance reform, the lack of significant progress at the federal level to commit adequate funding and affect meaningful ocean policy reform hinders national improvement. To see the full report card and supporting documents, please follow the link.

From Sea to Shining Sea: Priorities for Ocean Policy Reform

In 2003 and 2004, two national Commissions—the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the Pew Oceans Commission—released landmark reports on the severe threats facing our oceans and coasts. Upon the release of the two reports, the President and Congress publicly embraced the major recommendations of the Commissions. From Sea to Shining Sea: Priorities for Ocean Policy Reform addresses the 2006 letter from the United States Senate requesting information for the implementation of the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative’s policy recommendations. In these pages, the Joint Initiative outlines its response to three questions posed in the letter:

1. What are the top ten actions Congress should take to implement the recommendations made by the two Commissions?
2. What are the highest priorities for funding needed to support development and implementation of ocean policies that are consistent with the Commissions’ recommendations?
3. What are the priority changes to law and the federal budget process needed to establish a more effective and integrated ocean and coastal governance approach?

Read the full report.

Addressing Oceans and Climate Change in Federal Legislation

The Joint Ocean Commission Initiative has produced a paper entitled, Addressing Oceans and Climate Change in Federal Legislation. The purpose of this paper is to provide Congress with information and recommendations to support the enactment of legislation that incorporates ocean science, management, and education into a national initiative to mitigate and adapt to climate change. After consultation with leading experts in ocean and climate change science and policy, the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative suggests that Congress address the link between oceans and climate change by addressing needs in two key areas: governance reform and science. To read the full report, please follow the link.

An Agenda for Action: Moving Regional Ocean Governance from Theory to Practice

The Joint Ocean Commission Initiative and the Monterey Bay Aquarium are pleased to release this new report intended to stimulate the ocean policy community to take concrete steps to create effective and sustained regional ocean governance initiatives. A follow-on product to the jointly convened regional ocean governance workshop in March 2007, the paper also presents an overview of the concepts of marine ecosystem-based management and area-based management, both of which are integral to understanding regional ocean governance.