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School of Marine Affairs > Research > Program on Ocean Governance (POG) > Seminar on US Ocean Governance > Assorted Issues in Marine Affairs

Assorted Issues in Marine Affairs

Edward Wenk, Jr.
Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering
University of Washington

The opportunity for suggestions to the Presidential Commission on Ocean Policy is deeply appreciated. Below, are sketched a number of issues that can be elaborated upon if desired.

1. The Marine Resources and Engineering Development Act of 1966 (P.L. 89-454) should be amended and reactivated.

   It is still on the books but has been ignored since about 1973. From 1966 to 1973 it served as the cornerstone to national policy to study and utilize the oceans under U.S. leadership for the benefit of all mankind.

   Cited as appendix 7 in "The Politics of the Oceans," the original legislation:

   1. defined the nation's stake in the oceans,
   2. recognized a diversity of functions so spread throughout the government that only the President could be band leader,
   3. provided for advice and assistance through an interim cabinet-level council chaired by the Vice President, with a staff and presidentially appointed director, and
   4. called for an annual report by the President to the Congress.

   During the life of the Council, five annual reports were transmitted by the President, outlining over 20 policy initiatives. Budgets were increased and marine affairs of the nation invigorated by a presidential imprimatur to earn the era an appellation as the "golden age."

   I recommend that the Commission:

   • Amend the objectives and scope of the Act especially to add components of environmental protection and resource conservation,
   • Recreate a Council at a level of assistant secretaries instead of cabinet officers and chaired by the Administrator of NOAA, and
   • Require annual reports by the President, expecting their preparations by the Council.

2. Clarify the role of NOAA as the lead agency for government-wide, civilian functions and revitalize internal arrangements so as not to perpetuate obsolete structure.

3. Strengthen foreign policy provisions of the Act to reflect leadership of the U.S. in the world community, to enhance world order, to move towards stronger protection against terrorism, to reflect humanitarian concerns such as utilizing fishery bycatch to meet protein deficiencies of many children, and to protect marine resources against pollution and witless exploitation.

4. Introduce new policy instruments to foster cooperation between the public and private sectors, and to reflect social responsibility of corporations.

5. Improve protection of ports and harbors against terrorist acts that could include surreptitious introduction of nuclear materials.

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