Ocean Law and Policy

Shining a Light on How are Oceans are Governed

The health of our coast and ocean is declining, in part because our regulatory structures are mismatched with the environment they are supposed to protect.  Laws mistakenly keep water quality policies separate from policies managing our use of coastal lands, water flows, and fish and wildlife, when in reality they are all connected.  For example, a June 2009 NOAA Fisheries Biological Opinion found that a lack of sufficient water in California’s Central Valley is jeopardizing the existence of Southern Resident killer whales, which rely on disappearing Chinook salmon runs for food.  Our current, single-focus laws also fail to address climate change impacts, which are altering the fundamental biology, physiology, and chemistry of our oceans.  

Our national and state leaders are taking notice of impacts to our valuable ocean resources. In July 2010, the President released the Final Recommendations of the Ocean Policy Task Force, which would establish a National Policy for Stewardship of the Ocean, Coasts and Great Lakes and create a National Ocean Council to strengthen governance and coordination.  President Obama, the national Joint Ocean Commission and California’s Ocean Protection Council have unanimously called for "ecosystem-based approaches” in state and national ocean policies. To hear what leading scholars, scientists and policymakers have to say about ocean governance, and a wide range of ocean law and policy issues, visit the conference library of the California and the World and Ocean Conference, held in September 2010 in San Francisco.  In June 2011, the Obama Administration released nine draft Action Plans to implement the Task Force’s Final Recommendations.  These Action Plans have received a public review period, where comments were made on topics ranging from enhancing water quality to strengthening the resiliency of coastal communities and the ability to adapt to climate change.  The Administration held a National Ocean Council Listening Session in San Francisco in June to hear public comments regarding the nine draft Action Plans.

CCKA Is Taking Action

In 2009, President Obama established an Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force to bring together the many agencies involved in ocean management.  The Task Force held a public hearing in San Francisco at which CCKA's Executive Director Linda Sheehan was invited to provide expert testimony on marine water quality.  CCKA then submitted written comments to the Task Force on ocean governance and marine spatial planning, which informed the Final Recommendations of the Task Force.

CCKA works regularly with the Ocean Protection Council to advance ecosystem-based governance of our coast and ocean.  CCKA most recently submitted detailed oral and written comments on the five-year review of the Council's activities, and provided recommendations for the Council's upcoming Strategic Plan as an invited member of the Sustainable Fisheries Panel at the Council's May 2011 hearing.  CCKA also works with the State Water Board to advance sound water quality governance of the state's ocean waters, submitting comprehensive input to the Water Board on the areas needed to be covered in the Board's Ocean Plan.