The Investment and Implementation Working Group focused on the new investment and implementing strategies needed to carry out the Commission's proposed ocean policy. The Working Group answered the question, "Given the issue-specific recommendations of the other working groups, what Federal structures, processes or investments are necessary to integrate, implement and sustain the Commission's recommendations?" The findings and recommendations of the Working Group were reported to the full Commission as the basis for discussion and possible action.

Working Group Members

Admiral James D. Watkins, USN (Ret.)
Dr. James M. Coleman
Vice Admiral Paul G. Gaffney II, USN
Mr. Paul L. Kelly
Mr. Christopher Koch
Mr. Edward Rasmuson
Mr. William D. Ruckelshaus
Dr. Paul A. Sandifer

Issues (subject to revision)

Harmonizing recommendations for addressing issues related to developing a national ocean policy, is ultimately a task for the Ocean Commission as a whole. Issue-specific recommendations, however, will be explored in depth and outlined succinctly within three of the four Working Groups, i.e. (1) Research, Education and Marine Operations; (2) Stewardship; and (3) Governance. These Working Groups, along with the Commission staff, will integrate their findings and develop recommendations for a coherent, integrated, comprehensive long-range ocean policy required by the Oceans Act.

It will then be the task of the Investment and Implementation Working Group to focus on new investment and implementing strategies needed to carry out the proposed policy. In short, the task given to the Investment and Implementation Working Group is to answer the question "Given the issue specific recommendations of the other Working Groups, what Federal structures, processes and investments are necessary to integrate, implement and sustain the Commission's recommendations?"

To answer this question, the Investment and Implementation Working Group will need a thorough assessment of existing Federal programs plans and budgets (as required to be submitted to the Congress by the Administration in Section 5 of the Oceans Act) and the assessment of ocean and coastal facilities as required by Section 3(f)(2)(A) (to be coordinated by the Research, Education and Marine Operations Working Group).

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Specific questions before the Working Group include:

1. Is the current Federal budget process, with respect to ocean programs, adequate to the task of integrating across multiple Federal agencies and allowing for appropriate involvement of stakeholders (i.e., state and local government, marine business and industry, academia, and other public and private entities) who share a legitimate stake in ocean matters?
   
   
2. What options for Federal governmental structure may be required to carry out the integrated recommendations of the Commission?
   
   
3. What cost impacts are associated with implementing the Commission's recommendations?
   
   
4. How will a comprehensive oceans policy receive periodic review and adjustment in the future
   
   
5. How may the U.S. Government investment in ocean programs be consistently and transparently expressed in a manner that best enables cross-agency and multi-agency management and cooperation and best informs related constituencies and the general public?
   
   

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