U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy: Archive of Commission Documents

This page provides a list of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy documents in reverse chronological order from 2004-2001. It also includes links to other relevant documents, including information on the Oceans Act of 2000.

(Pre-Publication Copy)An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century - Final Report of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy

Released by the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy on September 20, 2004, An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century (Pre-Publication Copy) (pdf, 10.2 MB), Final Report of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy contains the Commission's final recommendations for a new, comprehensive national ocean policy. A full color version of the final report was also published by the Commission and posted to this website in February 2005.

Summary of Changes to the Preliminary Report As Approved by the Full Commission on July 22, 2004

Released by the Commission on July 28, 2004, the Summary of Changes to the Preliminary Report (pdf, 132k) is a selective summary of significant changes proposed by Governors and Tribal Leaders, non-gubernatorial stakeholders, and other experts and advisers, as well as technical corrections provided from federal agencies, that have been incorporated in the Commission’s Final Report.

Summary of Governor and Tribal Leader Comments on the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy’s Preliminary Report

Summary of Public Comments on the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy’s Preliminary Report

Released by the Commission on July 22, 2004, Summary of Public Comments on the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy’s Preliminary Report (pdf, 108k) identifies and summarizes some of the key issues raised and positions taken in the public comments on the Commission’s Preliminary Report, but is not a comprehensive evaluation of those comments. The complete text of the public comments will be available online after the Pre-Publication Copy of the Final Report is delivered to the President and Congress.

Governors’ Comments on the
U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy’s
Preliminary Report

Released by the Commission on July 22, 2004, the Governors’ Comments on the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy’s Preliminary Report contains the complete text of the responses from 37 governors, five tribal leaders, and one regional governors association. These responses provided valuable insights and perspectives to the Commission on issues and concerns at the state and regional levels, and included examples of successful programs that could serve as models nationwide. As directed by the Oceans Act of 2000, the Commission will include this document as a special addendum to its Final Report. A summary (pdf, 112kb) of Governor and Tribal Leader comments is also available for viewing or download.

Preliminary Report of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy - Governors’ Draft

Released by the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy on April 20, 2004, the Preliminary Report of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy - Governors’ Draft presents the Commission’s preliminary findings and recommendations for a new, coordinated, and comprehensive national ocean policy. The public comment period for the Preliminary Report closed on June 4, 2004, and the Commission is currently reviewing the comments received from the governors and interested stakeholders.

2003

A Synthesis of Testimony Organized by Policy Topic, September 2001-November 2002

Originally posted in June 2003, this document is Appendix 1 of the Preliminary Report of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy. Re-released on April 20, 2004, Testimony Before the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy: Synthesis Indexed by Policy Topic (pdf, 1.3 Mb), highlights the presentations made to the Commission at its public meetings from September 2001 through November 2002.

A Summary of Testimony Indexed by Presenters, September 2001-April 2003

Originally posted in June 2003, this document is Appendix 2 of the Preliminary Report of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy. Re-released on April 20, 2004, Testimony Before the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy: Summary Indexed by Presenter (pdf, 1.5 Mb), includes overviews of invited testimony and public comment before the Commission at its public meetings from September 2001 through April 2003.

Working Table of Contents – Draft Final Report

The Working Table of Contents (pdf, 176k) is the initial framework for the Commission's report. As the title indicates, this is a living document which will continue to evolve based on ongoing analyses, discussions, deliberations, writing and editing. Because the Commission is in its report drafting phase, some sections of the outline reflect more detail than others. This should not be interpreted as an indication of the relative importance of the sections. As the report develops, the Table of Contents will be updated on an ongoing basis, with the date clearly indicated at the top of the document.

Draft Policy Option Documents for April 2-3, 2003

At its meeting on April 2-3, 2003, in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy discussed a multitude of issues associated with developing a new national ocean policy. The document that provided the framework for the policy discussions was Draft Policy Options for April 2-3, 2003 (pdf, 385k). The document was distributed to the public at the meeting.

Draft Policy Option Documents for January 24, 2003

At its meeting on January 24, 2003, in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy discussed a multitude of issues associated with developing a new national ocean policy. Two documents provided the framework for the policy discussions. The first document was the Commission’s draft Table of Contents (pdf, 100k). The second document was the Draft Policy Options for January 24, 2003 (pdf, 200k). Both documents were distributed to the public at the meeting.

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2002

Draft Policy Option Documents for November 22, 2002

At its meeting on November 22, 2002, in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy made the transition from fact-finding to deliberation with the Commission’s first public discussion of draft policy options (pdf, 352kb). The issues were organized and presented within the framework of the Commission’s new draft Table of Contents document (pdf, 96kb), which was made available at the meeting.

Developing a National Ocean Policy: Mid-Term Report of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy

Developing a National Ocean Policy is a report on the Commission’s activities, plans, and some preliminary observations as the Commission moves to complete its fact-finding phase.

Toward a National Ocean Policy: Ocean Policy Topics and Related Issues Document (Working Draft for Public Comment)

This document, Toward a National Ocean Policy: Ocean Policy Topics and Related Issues Document (pdf, 540kb), is designed to present both the scope and content of a potential national ocean policy. Based on the topics and questions outlined in this document, the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy will consider policy options to address key issue areas as required by the Oceans Act of 2000. However, as the opening page of the document makes clear, this is still a work in progress as the Commission continues to gather information during its regional public meeting process

Elements Document

The Elements Document (pdf, 128kb) contains the broad ocean policy elements that the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy has identified as essential to a sound national ocean policy. This document serves as a framework for the Commission’s inquiry and eventual development of recommendations that it will include in its final report. It should be emphasized that this document is a work in progress and part of an iterative process that will be constantly revisited as the Commission’s work progresses. The Commission welcomes and encourages public comment on the document.

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2001

Law of the Sea Resolution

The Law of the Sea Resolution (pdf, 222kb) was passed unanimously by the members of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy at their meeting in Washington, D.C., on November 14, 2001.

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Other Relevant Documents

Information on the Oceans Act of 2000

The Oceans Act established the 16-member U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy to undertake an 18-month study and to make recommendations to the President and Congress for a national ocean policy for the United States. The Act became law on August 7, 2000, and went into effect on January 20, 2001.

This page includes a summary of the key provisions in the Ocean Act of 2000. Complete text of the Act, the Senate Report, and the Legislative History, are also provided as documents.

The Stratton Commission Report – Our Nation and The Sea

The Stratton Commission report, Our Nation and The Sea: A Plan for National Action, was published in 1969. It was the final report of the Commission on Marine Science, Engineering and Resources.

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