West Coast Governors Agreement on Ocean Health

Background
On September 18, 2006 the Governors of California, Oregon and Washington announced the West Coast Governors’ Agreement on Ocean Health. The Agreement launched a new, proactive regional collaboration to protect and manage the ocean and coastal resources along the entire West Coast, as called for in the recommendations of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the Pew Oceans Commission.

After extensive public participation and close coordination with three federal co-leads from the Department of Commerce, the Department of the Interior, and the Environmental Protection Agency, the Governors released their Action Plan in July 2008.

The Action Plan highlights two overarching actions:
1) establish a national ocean trust fund and
2) mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts.

In addition to these overarching actions, there are 24 visionary actions within the following areas:

* Polluted runoff
* Harmful algal blooms and hypoxia
* Marine debris
* Oil spill prevention and response
* Maritime shipping emission controls
* Habitat protection and restoration
* Marine invasive species
* Ecosystem-based management
* Offshore oil and gas operations
* Alternative environmentally sustainable energy development
* Ocean awareness and literacy
* Regional marine research
* Ocean observing and long-term monitoring
* Seafloor mapping
* Working waterfronts and sustainable coastal economies
* Regional sediment management

In late summer 2008, nine Action Coordination Teams (ACTs) were established including representatives from the three states, federal and tribal governments, academia, industry, non-governmental organizations and interested citizens. In October 2008, the ACTs convened in Seattle to develop specific work plans that will be available in Spring 2009.

Action Coordination Teams
* Climate change
* Polluted runoff
* Marine debris
* Spartina eradication
* Renewable ocean energy
* Ocean education
* Sustainable communities
* Sediment
* Regional research
* Seafloor mapping
* Integrated ecosystem assessments (IEAs)

Partners
California Governors Office
California Natural Resources Agency
Oregon Governors Office
Washingtion Governors Office
NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service
NOAA Coastal Services Center
Department of the Interior
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Events
*There are no events at this time

Council Documents
OPC Resolution on the West Coast Governors Agreement

Related Projects
Gulf of Mexico Alliance
Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment
Great Lakes Regional Collaboration
Northeast Regional Ocean Council

For more information, please visit:
http://westcoastoceans.gov/

Contact:
Valerie Termini, OPC Project Manager