A Comprehensive National Ocean Policy: America's Next Step?

by Gove, Matt

Historically, ocean governance has been sectoral in nature: different levels and sectors of government divide responsibility for ocean issues among them. In 1998, Australia released Australia’s Oceans Policy, the first comprehensive national ocean policy statement in the world. This policy framework addresses every level and sector of Australian ocean governance. Since then, other nations have joined Australia in unifying and clarifying their ocean governance. The U.S. may be next. Two reports, the Pew Oceans Commission and the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, recommend sweeping overhauls to U.S. oceans governance, including the creation of a comprehensive national ocean policy. Released within the last two years, these reports have caught the attention of legislators. I examined and compared the creation and implementation of other nation’s comprehensive national ocean policies, gaining insights into the composition of a successful policy. I recommend, among other things, that the U.S. pass an integrated, fully encompassing, authoritative, and binding National Ocean Policy Act.