Ocean Policy

CMTS Role in U.S. Ocean Policy

“My Administration recognizes the foundational role our bordering oceans have played in our treasured national story — and we pledge to harness their resources, preserve their majesty, and channel their power to safeguard American interests and uphold our way of life.” – President Donald Trump, National Ocean Month Proclamation, June 6, 2025

Purpose

To make recommendations and identify areas where common interests and goals exist between the CMTS and Domestic Ocean Policy Initiatives.

Value

The CMTS aims to support ocean policy initiatives as it relates to the MTS.

The MTS is a critical component of national ocean policy, and the CMTS offers expertise and an established forum with a proven track record of facilitating inter-departmental cooperation and collaboration.

The CMTS Executive Secretariat will continue to be involved in the Science & Technology and Ocean Resource Management subcommittees under the Ocean Policy Committee and other USG initiatives.

Chronology of Ocean Policy

March 2023: Ocean Climate Action Plan.
October 2023: Implementation Plan for the 2022 National Strategy for the Arctic Region.
October 2022: National Strategy for the Arctic Region.
January 2021: Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Ocean Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing the United States Exclusive Economic Zone
August 2020: Office Of Coast Survey Contributions to a National Ocean Mapping Strategy
June 2020: National Strategy for Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone.
June 2020: A Strategy for Mapping the Arctic and Sub-Arctic Shoreline and Nearshore of Alaska
June 2020: Recommendations for Increasing the Efficiency of Permitting for Ocean Exploration, Mapping, and Research Activities
November 2019: President issues memorandum on "Ocean Mapping of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone and the Shoreline and Nearshore of Alaska" with oversight by OSTP and the Ocean Policy Committee.
September 2018: The CMTS and the Wilson Center Polar Initiative hosted the Ocean Policy Roundtable, “What’s Maritime Transportation Got to Do with It?” at the Wilson Center. Panelists provided their unique perspectives on where marine transportation fits into the wider discussion of ocean policy. They highlighted the need for not just a whole-of-government approach, but also a cooperative international approach to maximize efforts in ensuring sustainable use of the ocean while maintaining a healthy and growing marine transportation system. Ultimately, the conversations concluded that the maritime transportation system is incredibly vital to ocean policy. To learn more, please view the footage of this event.
June 2018: President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 13840: Executive Order Regarding the Ocean Policy to Advance the Economic, Security, and Environmental Interests of the United States. This Executive Order replaces the NOC with the OPC and places a focus on the ocean economy and the sharing of ocean-related data, specifically through Marine Cadastre.
December 2017: The United Nations declared that a Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development would be held from 2021 to 2030. This Decade will provide a common framework to ensure that ocean science can fully support countries to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/oceandecade.
July 2011: The U.S. Marine Transportation System in the National Ocean Policy: Response of the Committee on the Marine Transportation System was approved by the CMTS Coordinating Board and transmitted to the Chair of the NOC. This document outlines the role of the CMTS in ocean policy, especially as an aid to the NOC in facilitating interagency collaboration and providing recommendations. This response was formulated with the help of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, U.S. Coast Guard, Office of the Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Maritime Administration, and U.S. Transportation Command.
July 2010: President Barack Obama signed Executive Order 13547: Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great Lakes. This executive order established the NOC, and placed an emphasis on environmental protections for the oceans, scientific exploration of the ocean, and promotion of public understanding. This executive order was closely aligned with the recommendations from the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force.
July 2010: Final Recommendations Of The Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force were presented to President Barack Obama by the White House Council on Environmental Quality. This set of final recommendations included an emphasis on environmental stewardship, the role of oceans in relation to the global economy, and a scientific understanding of ocean environments to inform policy.
January 2005: The U.S. Ocean Action Plan was published by the Bush Administration to guide national ocean policy. This plan built upon Executive Order 13366 and provided the following areas of focus: ocean leadership and coordination, understanding of oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes, use and conservation of ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources, managing coasts and watersheds, supporting maritime transportation, and international ocean science and policy.
June 2004: President George W. Bush signed Executive Order 13366 to establish the Committee on Ocean Policy. This body was developed to coordinate executive departments on ocean-related matters and is led by the Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. The committee was charged with focusing on the use of science, collection of information through structures like Global Earth Observation System of Systems, and dissemination of information.

Purpose

Value

Chronology of Ocean Policy

Resources