National Ocean Council Issues Draft Plan For Comprehensive Ocean And Coastal Management

On January 12, 2012, the National Ocean Council released a Draft National Ocean Policy Implementation Plan aimed at implementing the nine Priority Objectives identified by President Obama's June 2010 Executive Order through more than 50 action items.  The Draft Implementation Plan is the latest step in the Council's effort to develop and assist federal, state and local agencies with the implementation of a National Ocean Policy that is consistent with the Executive Order.

Background

On June 12, 2009, President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum creating an Interagency Ocean Task Force charged with developing recommendations for a National Ocean Policy and a recommended framework for effective Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning ("CMSP").  The Task Force conducted stakeholder meetings and briefings through fall 2009, issued an interim report on September 10, 2009, and released an interim framework for CMSP on December 9, 2009.  On July 19, 2009, the Task Force