Listen to the Ocean

The Obama Administration announced on June 2 the launch of a series of listening sessions to gather input from the communities that depend on and care for our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes – continuing work to implement the nation’s first comprehensive ocean policy. Feedback and comments gathered through these public engagement opportunities will assist the National Ocean Council as it continues implementing the new National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, our Coasts, and the Great Lakes.

The National Ocean Council will host a series of 12 public listening sessions across the country. EPA will be coordinating efforts with other federal agencies and partners to host a listening session in the Gulf of Mexico region and co-host a listening session in the Great Lakes region alongside the U.S. Coast Guard. Following the executive order issued by President Obama last July that established the National Ocean Policy and the National Ocean Council, these public engagement sessions mark the latest milestone in implementing an ocean policy that addresses critical issues facing our oceans.

In addition, the National Ocean Council has launched a month-long online public review period for strategic action plan outlines. The outlines and their corresponding action plans were drafted with input from a wide range of stakeholders. After public comment period, the outlines will be used to develop strategic action plans that will propose attainable goals and specific, measureable actions the federal government can implement to address key challenges facing our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes.

To visit the National Ocean Council click: NOC

To review the latest recommendations offered by the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force click: Task Force