This post was originally featured by the Healthy Oceans Coalition. 

Today the White House’s National Ocean Council released its Report on the Implementation of the National Ocean Policy. This is a huge milestone for the White House and the National Ocean Council in its efforts to ensure the Federal agencies with current management authority over our ocean and coastal resources are working together to protect, maintain and restore these incredibly important resources. As National Ocean Council DirectorBeth Kerttula so rightly states:

“Our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes provide us with rich cultural, recreational, and commercial opportunities.  Collectively, these treasured waters support tens of millions of jobs and contribute trillions of dollars a year to the national economy. The actions underway across Federal agencies and in collaboration with states, regions, and communities will ensure that our oceans resources remain safe and healthy, and that our ocean economy continues to thrive for the benefit of all Americans.”

The Report focuses on the five narratives contained in the original NOP Implementation Plan andAppendix:

1. Ocean Economy

2. Safety and Security

3. Ocean and Coastal Resilience

4. Local Actions

5. Science and Information

The Report details where the federal family has gotten in the two years since the Implementation Plan’s release in 2013 on meeting the 200+ actions it set out in each of these categories to implement the priority objectives of the National Ocean Policy. The Report states:

So what are the numbers?

• 77% of the Implementation Plan’s actions are either completed or “well underway”
• Approximately one-third of the 2013 actions are fully completed
• Only 4% have not yet been started, and only one of the items are deemed “overdue”

We will take a deeper dive into the Report next week. So grab a coffee or tea, take a read and then leave us a comment below on your take of the Highlights Report. What is missing? What are you excited to see the Federal agencies tackle together to ensure #HealthyOceans #HealthyCoasts #HealthyGreatLakes for all. Today is a definite peace of #OceanOptimism !

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