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Program on Ocean Governance (POG)

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A Policy Context and Analytical Framework for Advancing Regional Ocean Governance in the United States

This report describes the concepts of regionalism in the ocean arena, the meaning of an ?ecosystem-based approach?, the geographic scope of an ocean and coast region, and the meaning of ?governance?. This report is a literature review and suggested framework for evaluating existing regional and sub-regional activities for their alignment with the concepts of ROG. This report is the master?s thesis of Craig Russell, research assistant for the project, successfully defended in November, 2005. The PI was the chair of the thesis supervisory committee. (PDF, 445k)

Report on Interviews with regional ocean and coastal leaders in the Pacific Northwest, August 2004 to January 2005

This report identifies over 90 leaders in the region and explores the priority issues they identify as starting points for improved ocean governance for the region. (Internal Link)

Coastal Zone '05 - Workshop on ROG activities in the US

This work shop and its products help set the stage for continuing monitoring and reporting of ROG policy and organizational developments by the JOCI, CSO and other organizations. The workshop was organized by Craig Russell and six graduate students. The products (linked at right) are: workshop agenda; background paper; action agenda; workshop proceedings; and participants list. More information is available at http://courses.washington.edu/oceangov/ cz05_workshop.html#wssummary.

Workshop Agenda

Background Paper

Action Agenda

Proceedings

Participants List

Regional Ocean Governance in the United States: Concept and Reality

This paper was published in the symposium issue of Duke Environmental Law and Policy Forum, Spring, 2006. This paper summarizes the policy context, definitions, and analytical framework, and reports on regional and state-level ocean policy initiatives in the US as of early 2006. Citation: Hershman, Marc J. and Craig W. Russell, 2006, “Regional Ocean Governance in the United States: Concept and Reality”, 16 Duke Env. L. and Policy Forum, pp. 227 – 265. (External Link)

Information Programs to Support Regional Ocean Governance: Information Program Elements, Current Efforts and Relevance to the Pacific Northwest

By Simon Geerloffs, Craig Russell, and Marc Hershman. This paper is a literature review and initial analysis of the concept of regional ocean information programs that would support regional ocean governance in the US. It includes a discussion of five components of regional information programs, examples of information programs in existence, and recommendations for a regional ocean information program in the Pacific Northwest. (MS Word, 235k)

Report on existing sub-regional ocean governance activities within the Pacific NW

By Marc Hershman and Craig Russell. This report provides profiles of 4 existing sub-regional ocean governance activities underway in the Pacific NW, and comments on their role in larger scale regional ocean governance and their potential to inform larger scale regional ocean governance. These examples are used to illustrate how the seven priority areas for regional collaboration on the West Coast, as outlined in the recent West Coast Governors Agreement, might be approached.

Report on ROG special session at The Coastal Society 20 Conference, May 15, 2006, St. Petersburg, FL

John Hansen and Marc Hershman organized this session at TCS20, which brought together 4 speakers from different regions around the US (Pacific NW, Gulf of Mexico, Southeast, and Northeast) to discuss current activities relating to regional governance, and what future steps are necessary to pursue widespread implementation. Among the conclusions of the session were the need to define what regional governance means in a particular context, incentives to push regional developments are crucial, and institutionalization of regional agreements are needed to sustain long-term efforts and achieve goals. (PDF, 8.5mb *note large file size*)

Report on ROG Special Session at the conference on California and the World Ocean, May 18, 2006

This session was organized and coordinated by Craig Russell, and was the final formal activity of the project. Speakers included Kathleen Drew (WA Governor’s Office), Jessica Hamilton (OR Governor’s Office), Brian Baird (CA Ocean Protection Council), William Douros (Nat’l Marine Sanctuary Program), Russell Moll (CA Sea Grant), and Marc Hershman.  The speakers commented on the regional collaboration announced by the three West Coast Governors earlier that day and offered insights into key opportunities and challenges with implementing the collaboration. There was considerable discussion and questions from the audience. (PDF file, 299k)

ROG for the US West Coast: Summary and Overview 

Summary of the project and suggested next steps to be taken by the three states.

The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy: An Historical Overview (1997–2005)

By Marc Hershman and John Hansen. This paper, published in the Ocean Yearbook, contains a major section on regional ocean governance. Ocean Yearbook Vol. 20, 93-145. (PDF file, 238k)

Staff Support to Washington State Ocean Policy Work Group 

This state ocean policy group produced an Interim Report, Action for Washington’s Oceans, and is currently drafting its final report.  The PI helped initiate the state’s activities in response to the results of project interviews, which indicated a need for upgrading of WA State’s ocean policies, including a clear recommendation for regional collaboration with the west coast states and British Columbia.  The PI received separate funding from WA State Governor’s Office to support this project. More information available at: http://courses.washington.edu/oceangov/OPWG.html.

Interim Report

Final Report Vol. 1

Final Report Vol. 2

Developments in State Ocean Governance: Innovation, Action, and the Progress of United States Ocean & Coastal Policy

John Hansen, whose draft thesis title is listed above, was a research assistant to PI during work with state ocean policy work group, also receiving separate funding from Governor’s Office.  His thesis research on ocean governance, and how state-level ocean initiatives might play a role in regional development, has provided additional background for the project.  Thesis completion expected December 2006.