The White House’s National Ocean Council issued a National Ocean Policy draft on Jan. 12 that describes actions the federal government might take to address the most pressing challenges facing oceans and US coasts, as well as the Great Lakes.
The proposals focus on nine priority objectives, describe possible actions and their intended outcomes, outline key milestones, identify key agencies and other responsible entities, and list time frames. Comments will be accepted through Feb. 27.
The strategy is based on Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM), which the draft described as an integrated resource management approach that considers the entire ecosystem, including humans.
“It requires managing ecosystems as a whole instead of separately managing their individual components or uses, considers all the elements that are integral to ecosystem functions, and accounts for economic and social benefits as well as environmental stewardship concerns,” the ocean policy draft said.
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