Congress primed for ocean action

Since the April 20 release of the U.S. Ocean Policy Commission's draft report on the state of the nation's marine resources, members of Congress have been busy drafting legislation to implement some of its recommendations.

Bills to overhaul federal governance of the oceans include measures to reorganize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shift management of fish and other resources to an ecosystem-based approach, and direct the President to explore creation of a federal department of natural resources.

They are matched by more narrowly-focused bills, including one to overhaul the way appointments are made to the nine regional federal fishery management councils and to require those councils to place greater emphasis on scientific information in making management decisions.

At press time, there was little likelihood that Congress would pass any of the ocean bills before adjournment. Some observers feel the flurry of such bills indicates ocean-related issues will be front-and-center when the 109th Congress convenes in early January.

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