The National Ocean Council, in following the development of a National Ocean Policy by Executive Order <http://sea.typepad.com/sea-blog/2010/07/white-house-issues-executive-order-on-oc.html#tp> is requesting public comments to inform their development of strategic action plans in a number of important areas. Please consider going to the National Ocean Council website to comment <http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/oceans/sap>. I have also copied the description and focus areas in this blog post, as well as the website for where to comment (below).
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The National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, our Coasts, and the Great Lakes prioritizes nine action areas to address some of the most pressing challenges facing these precious resources. The Nation Ocean Council will prepare strategic action plans for each of these priority objectives.
The National Ocean Council is seeking public input as it develops the strategic action plans. Public comments will be accepted through April 29, 2011. Draft strategic action plans will be released in the summer of 2011, and will also be available for public comment.
The national priority objectives are:
1. Ecosystem-Based Management: Adopt ecosystem-based management as a foundational principle for the comprehensive management of the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes.
2. Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning: Implement comprehensive, integrated, ecosystem-based coastal and marine spatial planning and management in the United States.
3. Inform Decisions and Improve Understanding: Increase knowledge to continually inform and improve management and policy decisions and the capacity to respond to change and challenges. Better educate the public through formal and informal programs about the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes.
4. Coordinate and Support: Better coordinate and support Federal, State, tribal, local, and regional management of the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes. Improve coordination and integration across the Federal Government and, as appropriate, engage with the international community.
5. Resiliency and Adaptation to Climate Change and Ocean Acidification: Strengthen resiliency of coastal communities and marine and Great Lakes environments and their abilities to adapt to climate change impacts and ocean acidification.
6. Regional Ecosystem Protection and Restoration: Establish and implement an integrated ecosystem protection and restoration strategy that is science-based and aligns conservation and restoration goals at the Federal, State, tribal, local, and regional levels.
7. Water Quality and Sustainable Practices on Land: Enhance water quality in the ocean, along our coasts, and in the Great Lakes by promoting and implementing sustainable practices on land.
8. Changing Conditions in the Arctic: Address environmental stewardship needs in the Arctic Ocean and adjacent coastal areas in the face of climate-induced and other environmental changes.
9. Ocean, Coastal, and Great Lakes Observations, Mapping, and Infrastructure: Strengthen and integrate Federal and non-Federal ocean observing systems, sensors, data collection platforms, data management, and mapping capabilities into a national system and integrate that system into international observation efforts.
To provide comment, please go to <http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/oceans/comment> and choose which of the nine action areas listed above you wish to address. Three questions are posed to guide your input.