This section provides a record of the public meetings of the Commission on Ocean Policy. Click on the date to access the meeting agenda and summary when it becomes available.

July 22, 2004, Washington, DC

The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy held its sixteenth public meeting on Thursday, July 22, 2004, at the Ronald Reagan Building Amphitheater in Washington, D.C. At the meeting, the Commission approved changes to its Preliminary Report and directed staff to prepare the Final Report for delivery to the President and Congress.

For more information, contact the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy by phone, 202-418-3442.

April 2-3, 2003, Washington, DC

The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy held a meeting at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., on April 2-3, 2003, to discuss the development of recommendations for a coordinated national ocean policy. The meeting included discussion of draft policy options and a public comment period. This was the third Commission meeting dedicated to public discussion of policy options and the fifteenth public Commission meeting overall.

For more information contact the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy by phone, 202-418-3442.

January 24, 2003, Washington, DC

The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy held its 14th public meeting on January 24, 2003, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center Amphitheater in Washington, D.C. At the meeting, the 16-member Commission continued its discussion of various policy options to address the key issues associated with developing a comprehensive and coordinated national ocean policy. This was the second Commission meeting dedicated to public discussion of policy options.

For more information contact the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy by phone, 202-418-3442.

November 22, 2002, Washington, DC

The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy completed its fact-finding phase and began the next phase of its work at a public meeting held on November 22, 2002, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center Amphitheater in Washington, D.C. At the meeting, the 16-member Commission discussed various policy options to address the key issues associated with developing a comprehensive and coordinated national ocean policy. These policy discussions marked the transition from the Commission’s 10-month fact-finding phase, which included nine regional meetings in every coastal area of the nation, to the deliberative phase, which will continue into early 2003. This was the Commission’s thirteenth public meeting.

For more information contact the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy by phone, 202-418-3442.

October 30, 2002, Washington, DC

The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy held a meeting on Wednesday, October 30, 2002, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. to hear and discuss ocean-related issues of concern in the development of recommendations for a coordinated national ocean policy. The meeting was held in the Jefferson Auditorium, Department of Agriculture, South Building, 14th and Independence Ave, SW., Washington, D.C. This was the 12th public meeting held by the Commission.

Issues highlighted at the meeting included:

• International Panel
• Satellite and Data Management

For more information contact the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy by phone, 202-418-3442.

September 24-25, 2002, Chicago, IL

The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy held its eleventh public meeting September 24-25, 2002, in the John G. Shedd Aquarium’s Phelps Auditorium, 1200 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois.

At the meeting, the Commission heard presentations on coastal and ocean issues of concern to the Great Lakes Region. The agenda included invited speakers representing local and regional government agencies and non-governmental organizations and comments from the public.

Issues highlighted at the meeting included:

• Natural Resources
• Non-point Source Pollution
• Governance
• Invasive Species
• Education
• Climate Prediction

For more information contact the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy by phone, 202-418-3442.

August 21-22, 2002, Anchorage, AK

The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy held its tenth public meeting August 21-22, 2002, in the Hotel Captain Cook’s Discovery Ballroom, 4th at K Street, Anchorage Alaska.

At the meeting, the Commission heard presentations on coastal and ocean issues of concern to the Alaska Region. The agenda included invited speakers representing local and regional government agencies and non-governmental organizations and comments from the public.

For more information contact the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy by phone, 202-418-3442.

July 23-24, 2002, Boston, MA

The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy held its ninth public meeting July 23-24, 2002, in the Historic Faneuil Hall, 0 Faneuil Hall Square, Boston, Massachusetts.

At the meeting, the Commission heard presentations on coastal and ocean issues of concern to the Northeast Region. The agenda included invited speakers representing local and regional government agencies and non-governmental organizations and comments from the public.

For more information contact the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy by phone, 202-418-3442.

June 13-14, 2002, Seattle, WA

The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy held its eighth public meeting June 13-14, 2002, in the Commission Chambers at the Port of Seattle building, Pier 69, 2711 Alaskan Way, Seattle, Washington.

Issues highlighed at the meeting included:

• Living Resource Management in the Pacific Northwest
• Aquaculture
• Ocean Science, Exploration and Education
• Ocean Governance, Coastal Zone Management and Resource Coordination: Mutliple Perspectives
• Science and Policy Interface in Fisheries Management

This was the sixth in a series of nine regional public meetings the Commission will hold around the nation. For more information see the Federal Register Notice and meeting agenda. For more information on upcoming meetings, go to the Calendar.

May 13-14, 2002, Honolulu, HI

The Commission held its seventh public meeting, the Hawaii and Pacific Islands Regional Meeting, May 13 and 14, 2002, at the Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Issues highlighted at the meeting included:

• Management of International Living Resources
• Tourism, Development and Coastal Management
• Coral Reefs
• Oceans and Climate
• Ocean Use and Management

This was the fifth in a series of nine regional public meetings the Commission will hold around the nation. For more information see the Federal Register Notice and meeting agenda with links to speakers' written statements are available.

April 18-19, 2002, Los Angeles, CA

The Commission held its sixth public meeting, the Southwest Regional Meeting, April 18 and 19, 2002, at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro, California.

Issues highlighted at the meeting included:

• Environmental Quality and Human Health
• Marine Biotechnology
• Marine Protected Area Policy
• Habitat and Living Resources
• Marine Science Facilities
• Coastal and Outer Continental Shelf Management

This was the fourth in a series of nine regional public meetings the Commission will hold around the nation. For more information see the Federal Register Notice and meeting agenda with links to speakers' written statements are available.


March 7-8, 2002, New Orleans, LA

The Commission held its fifth public meeting, the Gulf of Mexico Regional Meeting, March 7 and 8, 2002 at the Port of New Orleans Headquarters Building in New Orleans, LA. This was the third in a series of nine regional public meetings the Commission will hold around the nation. For more information see the Federal Register Notice and meeting agenda with links to speakers' written statements and Commission follow-up questions are available.

February 22, 2002, St. Petersburg, FL

The Commission held its fourth public meeting, the Florida and Caribbean Regional Meeting, February 22, 2002 at the Florida Marine Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in St. Petersburg, FL. This was the second in a series of nine regional public meetings the Commission will hold around the nation. Meeting documents, including the Federal Register Notice and meeting agenda with links to speakers' written statements and Commission follow-up questions are available.

January 15-16, 2002, Charleston, SC

The Commission's third public meeting, the Southeast Regional Meeting, was held January 15 and 16, 2002 at the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC. This was the first in a series of nine regional public meetings the Commission will hold around the nation. Meeting documents, including the Federal Register Notice and meeting agenda with links to speakers' written statements and Commission follow-up questions are available.

November 13-14, 2001, Washington D.C.

This was the second meeting of the Commission on Ocean Policy. The Commission met with members of Congress, national-level organizations and federal agencies. The meeting focused on the issues of concern and interest to these members of the ocean community as the commission formulates its recommendations for a coordinated and comprehensive national ocean policy. Several meeting documents (e.g., brief summary, news release, meeting agenda with links to speakers' written statements and Commission follow-up questions, and meeting minutes) are available.

September 17-18, 2001, Washington D.C.

This was the inaugural meeting of the Commission on Ocean Policy. Admiral James D. Watkins, U.S. Navy (Retired) was appointed chairman. Through several work sesssions the commission established four committees: Governance; Stewardship; Research, Education, and Marine Operations; and Investment and Development. Speakers addressing the Commission included Secretary of Commerce Donald L. Evans, White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair, James Connaughton, Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs, Paula Dobriansky, and United States Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, Christine Todd Whitman. Several meeting documents (e.g., brief summary, minutes, and agenda) are available.


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