Issue Highlights:
Washington State Developments
State Ocean Policy News
Federal Ocean Policy News
Other News
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Washington State
Developments
Governor’s Office
The Washington Ocean Policy Work Group was formed in August 2005 through a budget proviso for the Governor’s office, and has to date had two full work group meetings. The work group consists of 20 members, made up of agency heads, legislative members, the Governor’s office, and tribal representatives. The work group has been tasked with compiling two reports, the first due in December 2005, and the second due in December 2006.
The work group’s first task is a report with recommendations of immediate actions for the Governor to consider for more effective ocean governance. The work group has agreed on an issue list for this report, and a lead on each issue has been identified.
To aid in the research and writing of this first report, a seminar class at the University of Washington’s School of Marine Affairs has begun working directly with the work group members. This student group will provide background research and consult with work group members on potential steps the State might take in each topic area.
An additional product of the University of Washington’s partnership with the work group is this periodic newsletter, which is provided for both the work group and all interested parties. The newsletter is produced at the UW’s School of Marine Affairs, and will provide updates on Washington ocean policy, as well as relevant policy updates from around the country.
The work group has had two meetings, and reports from each of these meetings are available below. The next work group meeting is scheduled for early November 2005.
Report of Meeting #1 - August 22, 2005 (PDF, 5mb)
Report of Meeting #2 - September 23, 2005 (PDF, 140k)
 State Ocean
Governance Update
Note: We hope to track the most active States in ocean policy. Among those we are currently tracking are CA, OR, WA, AK, HI, FL, NJ, and MA. The following three are selected examples, and we hope to include further examples in future issues. If you have specific updates on these States' activities, please contact the newsletter (see left).
California
California's Ocean Protection Council had a meeting on September 23, 2005, in La Jolla, CA. The Council plans to address adoption of a research priorities plan, review of oil spill response readiness, and status of project funding, among other topics. The full report for the Sept. 23rd meeting is available online, as well as a new homepage for the council.
Oregon
The Oregon Ocean Policy Advisory Council will have a meeting on Friday, October 28 in Florence, OR. The agenda for this meeting is not available online, but the meeting itself is open to the public, and will take place at the Florence Events Center from 9am until 4pm.
The following day, there will be an Oregon ocean policy conference at the Florence Events Center, adressing such issues as governance, fisheries, and scientific research relevant to Oregon's ocean and coasts. For more information, visit the conference website.
New Jersey
In the spring of 2005, New Jersey's Coast 2005 initiative was announced by Acting Governor Richard J. Codey. The state maintains a website that highlights the details of its plan to "protect the integrity and economic viability of New Jersey's valuable coastal resources."
 Congressional
News
House Committees Respond to Hurricane
Congress has recently returned from recess, and its ocean and coastal affairs have been largely devoted to the response to Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast. Early activities include possible hearings on environmental damage in front of the House Energy and Commerce committees. More...
Federal Agencies & the Executive Branch
White House Proposes Fisheries Bill
The Bush Administration has recently released its proposed reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The full text of the bill is available here, and NOAA fisheries has a website with background and summary of the bill and the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
White House Releases Aquaculture Bill
In June, the Bush Adminstration, as part of the U.S. Ocean Action Plan, sent to Congress a bill that would grant NOAA authority to permit marine aquaculture facilities in the open ocean. Press Release
Other News…
Oregon Dead Zone
CORVALLIS - The Pacific Ocean off of Oregon has experienced a die-off of birds, declining fisheries and wildly fluctuating conditions in the past few months, and has set the stage for another hypoxic "dead zone" like those of 2002 and 2004, according to experts at Oregon State University. Full article...
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