In 2001, the presidentially appointed U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, energetically led by former Chief of Naval Operations Admiral James D. Watkins, embarked on an intensive schedule of hearings, soliciting written input and holding public meetings. Its preliminary report was completed in May 2004 and comments were invited. The responses from state and local governments, as well as other stakeholders, were used in preparing the final report that was sent to the President and Congress that September. It was a thorough and ambitious undertaking, making 252 recommendations with a proposed annual spending level of about $3.9 billion. Its work completed, the commission expired on 19 December 2004.
The Ocean Policy Act required the President to respond to the report's recommendations within 120 days. In December 2004. he issued an executive order. "The U.S. Ocean Action Plan." Among other things, it established a cabinet-level Committee on Ocean Policy. Headed by the chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, the committee's membership consists of 23 senior executive branch officials whose departments and agencies have oceanrelated responsibilities.
In addition to the creation of the committee, the executive order identified eight action areas where the administration would promote "immediate and long-term action highlights." These ranged from fisheries issues to something called "A National Freight Action Agenda." But it seemed that most of what was proposed were things already in progress. The administration's h'iscal Year 2006 and 2007 budgets did not request a net increase in ocean programs' funding. That is, they were zero-sum in this area. So it has become a situation of new wine in old bottles.
In addition to the presidential commission, another major ocean policy study had begun a year earlier. This was the Pew Oceans Commission, an 18-member group funded by a private $3.5 million grant. Their work was more narrowly defined to mostly coastal ocean environmental conservation and intelligent development of sustainable resources from the sea. The Pew report was sent to the President and Congress in June 2003.
Never before had so much high-level attention been given to the issues associated with formulating a national ocean policy. Some of the best and most thoughtful minds in the United States were involved with these two efforts. Numerous special reports came from this work, all of which suggested an urgent need to organize, coordinate, and fund our nation's ocean future. Initially much praise came from many in the executive and legislative branches for the work of the two commissions, but over time, the happy talk has been fading to silence.
There is still hope. A non-governmental organization. the not-for-profit Joint Ocean Commission Initiative (JOCI). was created in late 2004 to aggressively promote the reports' recommendations. It is guided by a 10-person task force consisting of some former members of the commissions and is cochaired by the former chairmen of each commission.
In February 2006, JOCI produced a "report card" on how effectively all levels of government have acted on the two commissions' recommendations. The results are not encouraging-D+ overall. For each of the seven major policy areas, the grades are:
* Initial Response to Commission Reports: A-
* National Ocean Governance Reform: D+
* Regional and State Governance Reform: B-
* International Leadership: F
* Research. Science, and Education: D
* Fisheries Management Reform: C+
* New Funding for Ocean Policy and Programs: F
On Capitol Hill two groups are trying to move tilings forward. In the House is the Oceans Caucus, a 50-member bi-partisan organization that promotes ocean-related legislation through various House committees. While in the Senate is the National Ocean Policy Study (NOPS). a subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
For the past two years Oceans Caucus members have introduced the Oceans Conservation, Education and National Strategy for the 21st Century Act (Oceans 21) legislation to implement many of the two commissions' recommendations. Introduced a third lime in 2006, there is hope it will pass out of the House on this try.
The Senate Commerce Committee, through its NOPS subcommittee, passed out ten bipartisan ocean-related hills during the current 109th Congress. Some may become law in 2006.
Eighteen months have passed since the President's U.S. Ocean Plan response. It seems to have had very modest impact. In Congress there is more ocean-related activity but the real measure of its quality will be how much legislation will be sent to the President for his signature. For an effective national ocean policy, both branches of government need to be much more active and cooperative. Also a real sense of urgency is needed.
See the two commissions' recommendations at: www.pewtrusts.com and www.oceancommission.gov.