Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force established

On Jun 12, 2009, Pres Obama issued a memorandum calling on the heads of all executive departments to help create a unified national ocean policy. To achieve this goal, the president created an Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force (Task Force) to develop a recommended policy and frameworks for policy coordination to ensure ecosystem-based integration and collaboration and effective coastal and marine spatial planning. Pres Obama signed Executive Order 13,547 (Ocean Policy EO) adopting the Task Force's recommendations shortly thereafter. The Ocean Policy EO draws on a dialogue occurring at the federal and state levels over the past several decades. In conclusion, the Ocean Policy EO is part of an ongoing evolution in thought regarding how best to manage their fragile marine resources.