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School of Marine Affairs > Research > Program on Ocean Governance (POG) > Oceans Act Overview

Overview of the Oceans Act of 2000

History of the Oceans Act

1997	National Research Council Striking a Balance: Improving Stewardship of Marine Areas
1998	U.S. Federal Agencies with ocean-related programs Year of the Ocean: Discussion Papers
	H. John Heinz III Center Our Ocean Future: Themes and Issues Concerning the Nation's Stake in the Oceans
	U.S. Departments of Commerce and Navy National Ocean Conference: Oceans of Commerce, Oceans of Life
1999	U.S. Department of Commerce Turning to the Sea: America's Ocean Future
2000	OGSG-Biliana Cicin-Sain and Robert Knecht The Future of U.S. Ocean Policy: Choices for the New Century
	Oceans Act of 2000 passes

Review of Oceans Act of 2000

Goal

Establish a commission to make recommendations for coordinated and comprehensive national ocean policy that will promote:

• Protection against hazards
• Responsible stewardship
• Environmental protection and pollution prevention
• Commerce, conflict reduction and sustainable use
• Research including climate change
• Advancement of education and training
• Technological innovation
• Public and private sector cooperation
• Preservation of leadership role
• Foreign cooperation

Members

• 16 individuals knowledgeable in ocean and coastal activities appointed by the President
• 12 of 16 selected from Congressional list
• Balanced by area of expertise and geography from:
  • State and local governments
  • Ocean-related industries
  • Academic and technical institutes
  • Public interest organizations

Additional Input

• Federal Agency assistance
• Multidisciplinary science advisory panel of experts

Process

• $6,000,000 authorized; $4,500,000 appropriated
• First meeting 30 days after Commission announced (meeting: September 17-18, 2001)
• 6 regional hearings required
• 18 months to compile report for President and Congress

Scope of Final Report

The final report of the Commission will include reviewing and assessing:

• Facilities
• Federal activities
• Cumulative effects of Federal laws and regulations on activities and resources
• Supply and demand of U.S. ocean and coastal resources
• Recommendations concerning public and private collaboration in planning and implementation
• Coastal and marine related technologies and markets
• State and Federal efforts to attain effectiveness and integration
• Recommendations for modification to U.S. laws, regulations, and executive agencies
• Effectiveness and adequacy of existing Federal interagency ocean policy coordination and recommendations for improvement

Presidential Response

The President has 120 days to submit to Congress a statement of proposals to implement or respond to the Commission's recommendations.

Results of First Meeting

• Tentative regional meetings dates and locations:
  • January: South Carolina and Virginia
  • February/March: Gulf Coast
  • March/April: California and Hawaii
  • April/May: Pacific Northwest
  • May/June: New England
  • July/August: Alaska
  • To be announced: Great Lakes
• Next meeting November 13-14 in D.C.
• Finalist interviews for the Executive Director on October 5, 2001
• Established four sub-committees:
  • Research, Education and Marine Operations
  • Stewardship
  • Governance
  • Investment and Development
• Elected Chairman-Admiral James D. Watkins, President Emeritus at C.O.R.E., who will work with each of the sub-committees

Research, Education, and Marine Operations

• Tentative topics:
  • Expansion of human knowledge of the marine environment
  • The ocean's role in climate change including health impacts
  • Marine operations and observations
  • Ocean education (K-12 and higher)
  • Marine research including academia
  • Ocean and coastal exploration
• Commissioners:
  • Chairman James M. Coleman of Louisiana
    Professor at the Coastal Studies Institute at Louisiana State University
  • Robert Ballard of Connecticut
    Explorer-in-Residence at National Geographic
  • Ed Rasmuson
    Chairman of the Board of the National Bank of Alaska, President of the Rasmuson Foundation
  • Ted A. Beattie of Illinois
    President and C.E.O. of the Shedd Aquarium

Stewardship

• Tentative Topics:
  • Stewardship of ocean and coastal resources:
    • Fisheries
    • Marine protected species
    • Marine protected areas
    • Coral reefs
  • Protection of marine environment and prevention of marine pollution
    • Water quality
    • Marine debris
• Commissioners:
  • Chairman Paul A. Sandifer of South Carolina
    Director of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
  • Paul L. Kelly of Texas
    Sr. VP of Rowen Companies
  • Paul G. Gaffney of Washington, D.C.
    President of the National Defense University in Washington, D.C.
  • Ann D'Amato of California
    Chief of Staff for City Attorney in Los Angeles
  • Frank Muller-Karger
    Professor at the College of Marine Science at the University of South Florida

Governance

• Tentative Topics:
  • Federal activities
  • State and Federal integration efforts
  • Cumulative effect on Federal laws
  • Relationships between Federal, state, and local government and the private sector
  • Modifications to Federal laws and/or the structure of Federal agencies
  • The effectiveness of existing Federal interagency policy coordination
  • Law of the Sea and other international issues
  • Protection of life and property
  • Close cooperation among government agencies
  • U.S. leadership in ocean and coastal activities
• Commissioners:
  • Chairman William D. Ruckelshaus of Washington State
    Strategic Director of Madrona Venture Group
  • Marc J. Hershman of Washington State
    Director of the School of Marine Affairs, University of Washington
  • Lawrence Dickerson of Texas
    President, C.E.O., and Director of Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.
  • Lillian Borrone of New Jersey
    Director of the Port Authority of N.Y. and N. J. (retired 2000)
  • Andrew A. Rosenberg of New Hampshire
    Dean of College of Life Sciences and Agriculture at the University of New Hampshire
  • Christopher Koch of Virginia
    World Shipping Council C.E.O. and President

Investment and Development

• Tentative Topics
  • Enhancement of maritime commerce
  • Supply and demand for ocean and coastal resources
    • Tourism
    • Non-living resources
    • Energy
    • Biotechnology
    • Aquaculture
  • Opportunities for the investment in new products and technologies
  • Investments in technologies to promote energy and food security
  • Facilities (people, vessels, computer, satellites)
  • Opportunities for the investment in new products and technologies
• This sub-committee will be formed at a later date.

For more information on the Presidential Commission on Ocean Policy established by the U.S. Oceans Act of 2000, visit: www.oceancommission.gov.

Oceans Act of 2000 | Act Overview | Major Issues | Seminar on Ocean Governance
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