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Federal Activity on Oceans Policy
Last updated: 06/26/2007

May 2007

In the Headlines

President Bush Urges Senate to Act on Law of the Sea. President Bush released a statement on May 15 urging the Senate to act favorably on U.S. accession to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a longstanding priority of the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative. Joint Initiative Co-Chairs Admiral James D. Watkins (U.S. Navy, Ret.) and the Honorable Leon E. Panetta promptly commended the President for his strong statement of support for U.S. accession and his commitment to the nation’s leadership in international ocean governance. The President’s statement and the letter from Admiral Watkins and Mr. Panetta are attached.

Joint Ocean Commission Initiative Activities

Admiral Watkins Testifies on Oceans and Climate Change before Senate Subcommittee. On May 10, Admiral Watkins provided testimony before the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard on the role of oceans in climate change processes and the impacts of climate change on oceans and coasts. To develop a comprehensive response to climate change, he called for a careful reevaluation of the governance regime guiding climate- and ocean-related science and management programs. He urged Congress to look beyond the current models and existing organizational structures to ensure that both ocean and climate change programs are broad-based and charged with developing a balanced climate change strategy that incorporates science, management, and outreach. Admiral Watkins’ written testimony and a press release are available at http://www.jointoceancommission.org/. An article from E&E Daily is attached.

Joint Initiative Sends Oceans Appropriations Letter to Senate. The Joint Initiative sent a letter on May 7 to Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski and Ranking Member Richard Shelby of the Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. The letter urges the Subcommittee to support $4.5 billion in funding for NOAA, as well as increased support for ocean programs in other federal agencies in the Fiscal Year 2008 appropriations bill. The attached letter notes that these programs are of growing importance given the fundamental role oceans play in climate change and the impact this change will have on coastal communities and ecosystems.

Commissioner Activities

Andrew Rosenberg Presents at the Annual Ocean and Coastal Program Managers’ Meeting. Commissioner Andrew Rosenberg spoke before the nation’s ocean and coastal program managers at their annual meeting in March. In the attached presentation, he explained how the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy addressed coastal resource management and highlighted some priority issues for managers, including the use of ecosystem- and watershed-based management approaches, enhancing the management capacity of state and local governments, consolidating federal coastal programs, and several others.

Frank Muller-Karger Speaks at Florida Aquarium. Commissioner Frank Muller-Karger was invited by the Florida Aquarium to provide an ocean policy primer for its members and invited guests. Dr. Muller-Karger provided an overview of U.S. ocean policy and the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy’s work and encouraged attendees to educate elected officials about timely opportunities to reverse the degradation of coastal and ocean resources.

Lillian Borrone Honored by Rutgers Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences. On May 2, Commissioner Lillian Borrone was recognized by the Rutgers University Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences as a “Visionary for the Port and the Ocean” at its 4th Annual Recognition Reception. In her remarks Ms. Borrone highlighted the efforts of the Joint Initiative to bring about ocean policy reform at the regional, national, and international levels. She discussed the important role oceans play in climate change and the need to equip decision makers with adequate tools and information to address the challenges posed by climate change.

Bill Ruckelshaus Appointed Chair of the Puget Sound Partnership’s Leadership Council. Washington Governor Christine Gregoire appointed Commissioner Bill Ruckelshaus to chair the Leadership Council of the newly created Puget Sound Partnership. The Partnership is a state agency and part of the governor’s executive cabinet, but it will be led by the seven-member Leadership Council comprised of independent citizens. The Partnership will integrate state, local, and federal government actions, as well as local watershed planning and salmon recovery efforts, and will work to achieve Puget Sound restoration by 2020. Governor Gregoire also signed into law bills related to sewage system regulation and oil spills. Additional information can be found at http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/news-view.asp?pressRelease=572&newsType=1.
A Seattle Times article on Mr. Ruckelshaus and his appointment can be found at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003714525_ruckelshaus20m.html.

Items of Note

June 2007 Declared National Oceans Month. On May 31, President Bush declared June 2007 as National Oceans Month. The proclamation notes actions the administration is taking to better manage and protect ocean resources, including the work of the Committee on Ocean Policy and the designation of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands (Papahânaumokuâkea) Marine National Monument. A list of National Ocean Month events is attached and the proclamation can be found on the White House website at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070531-6.html.

U.S. House of Representatives Urged to Participate in Capitol Hill Oceans Week 2007. The co-chairs of the bipartisan House Ocean Caucus sent the attached letter to their House colleagues on May 22, encouraging their participation in Capitol Hill Oceans Week 2007, June 5-7. The letter was accompanied by a copy of the Joint Initiative’s Report From Sea to Shining Sea: Priorities for Ocean Policy Reform. The report describes the Joint Initiative’s highest priorities for congressional action to advance policy reform consistent with the recommendations of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the Pew Oceans Commission. From Sea to Shining Sea is available at http://www.jointoceancommission.org and more information about Capitol Hill Oceans Week 2007 is available at http://nmsfocean.org/chow2007/index.html.

House Oceans Caucus Sends Letter in Support of Increased NOAA Appropriations. Sixty-eight members of the House Ocean Caucus sent a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies calling for a $4.5 billion budget for NOAA in Fiscal Year 2008 appropriations. This amount reflects the funding recommendations made by the Joint Initiative’s report From Sea to Shining Sea and is supported by the Friends of NOAA coalition. The attached letter also echoes the detailed funding recommendations for specific NOAA programs called for in From Sea to Shining Sea.

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