• Establishment of a National Ocean Council in the Executive Office of the President chaired by an Assistant to the President
• Creation of a non-federal President with Presidential Council of Advisors on Ocean Policy
• Strengthen the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and improving federal agency structure
• Develop a flexible, voluntary process for creating regional ocean councils, facilitated and supported by the National Ocean Council
• Double U.S. investment in ocean research
• Implement the national Integrated Ocean Observing System
• Increase attention to ocean education through coordinated and effective formal and informal programs
• Strengthen the link between coastal and watershed management
• Create measurable water pollution reduction goals, particularly for nonpoint sources, and strengthen incentives, technical assistance, and other management tools to reach those goals
• Reform fisheries management by separating scientific assessment and allocation, improving the Regional Fishery Management Council system, and exploring the use of dedicated access privileges
• Accede to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
• Establish an Ocean Policy Trust Fund based on revenue from offshore energy activity and other new and emerging offshore uses to pay for implementing the recommendations.

"This is a crossroads moment for our country and the future of our nation's oceans and coasts," said Watkins. "It will require great political will, investment and support of the public. But the benefits and pay off to this country--and its citizens--will far exceed the cost and the effort for generations to come."

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Contact: David Roscow
703-276-2772 x21
U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy
20-Apr-2004