UPDATED: Ocean Policy Task Force Releases Interim Report

UPDATE: One think tank, the Center for a New American Security, posted their initial opinion of the OPTF's Interim Report on their "Natural Security" blog. In their assessment, "This Task Force might become the best example yet of the U.S. government fully integrating security and environmental concerns..." Their post is worth a read and they promise follow-on discussion.

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Originally posted Sept. 17, 2009.

Today the Ocean Policy Task Force (OPTF) released its interim report as directed by President Obama in June. The entire report is here , with a one page summary here: /OPTFReportSummary.pdf

This is an interim report being made available to provide an opportunity for public review and comment. Those comments can be submitted here. We encourage everyone to read the report, consider its recommendations, and provide your constructive feedback.

I participated in the OPTF's first public meeting in Anchorage, and today RADM Brice-O'Hara (Deputy Commandant for Operations) is participating in the meeting in San Francisco. Next week the Vice Commandant will participate in the New England meeting in Providence, RI, and RADM Brown (14th District) will participate in the meeting in Honolulu later this month. Next month, DCO will attend the meeting in Cleveland and I will participate in the meeting in New Orleans. As you can see, we are intimately involved in this process and are truly excited about the national-level attention and integrated approach being given to improving our national policy and governance structures related to the Oceans and Great Lakes. This is an issue of critical strategic importance to our service and our vital public responsibilities as we carry out our maritime safety, security, and stewardship roles. Those roles are clearly included in the report's Vision Statement:

An America whose stewardship ensures that the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes are healthy and resilient, safe and productive, and understood and treasured so as to promote the well-being, prosperity, and security of present and future generations.

It is hard to find a section of this report where the Coast Guard does not have some interest and equities, but some of the more significant areas of importance include:

-- Unqualified support for accession to the Law of the Sea Convention.

-- Recognition of the importance and unique nature of the Arctic region and growing need for governance and management. This includes the stated need to address coordinated implementation of the U.S. Arctic Region Policy (National Security Presidential Directive 66/Homeland Security Presidential Directive 25).

-- An improved and more empowered policy coordination framework that ensures sustained senior-level attention on ocean-related issues and established procedures to improve whole-of-government cooperation and coordination.

-- Support for strengthened and integrated ocean observing systems and sensors to monitor and collect information about the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes. Although the thrust is clearly scientific data collection, it encompasses the need for greater "awareness of . . . human activities taking place in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes waters."

-- Commitment to coastal and marine spatial planning that, "...will provide a means to objectively and transparently guide and balance allocation decisions for the use of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes waters and resources. It will allow for the reduction of cumulative impacts from human uses on marine ecosystems, provide greater certainty for public and private sector in planning new investments, and reduce conflicts among uses..."

We will continue to keep you updated on the work and outcomes of the OPTF. We encourage your interest and participation and welcome your ideas and feedback.

ADM A