National Ocean Policy Implementation Plan

The National Ocean Policy Implementation Plan is a national sectoral plan of the United States of America. The Plan provides that specific actions to implement the Policy will benefit: (1) The Ocean Economy, (2) Safety and Security, and (3) Coastal and Ocean Resilience by supporting (4) Local Choices, and providing foundational (5) Science and Information.
More specifically, the Plan provides to advance the mapping and charting capabilities and products to support a range of economic activities; provide greater accessibility to data and information to support commercial markets and industries, such as commercial fishing, maritime transportation, aquaculture, and offshore energy; sustain and further develop observing systems for the economic benefit of maritime commerce and marine industry; increase efficiencies in decision-making by improving permitting processes and coordinating agency participation in planning and approval processes; provide jobs and economic value by protecting and restoring coastal wetlands, coral reefs, and other natural systems; prevent lost employment opportunities and economic losses associated with environmental degradation; develop human capacity and the skilled workforce necessary to conduct ocean research and manage ocean resources; enhance remote sensing systems for ocean observations to support maritime domain awareness; engage internationally to exchange information, expertise, and knowledge about policy issues in the maritime domain; enhance communication systems in the Arctic to improve our capability to prevent and respond to maritime incidents and environmental impacts; improve Arctic environmental incident prevention and response to ensure coordinated agency action, minimize the likelihood of disasters, and expedite response activities; improve Arctic sea ice forecasting to support safety at sea; improve Arctic mapping and charting for safe navigation and more accurate positioning; conduct Waterway Analysis and Management System assessments and Port Access Route Studies to support decisions on waterways management and other navigational priorities; assess the vulnerability of our ports and waterways to sea-level rise and extreme weather events or other natural disasters and enable actions that more effectively reduce risks and impacts; advance ocean observing systems to further enhance search and rescue operations and spill response in our ports and waterways; reduce coastal wetland loss; protect, conserve and restore coastal and ocean habitats; locate, control, prevent, and eradicate invasive species populations; improve and preserve our Nation’s coastal and estuarine water quality to provide clean water for healthier waterways, communities, and ecosystems; strengthen and integrate observations into a coordinated network of sentinel sites to enhance the Nation’s ability to provide early warnings, risk assessments, and forecasts for impacts; determine the impacts of interacting stressors on ecological systems, economies, and communities; assess the vulnerability of coastal communities and ocean environments to climate change and ocean acidification and, in partnership with tribes, coastal communities and States, design and implement adaptation strategies to reduce vulnerabilities; establish a framework for collaboration and a shared set of goals to promote ecosystem-based management; improve coastal and estuarine restoration efforts through better monitoring, coordination, and planning; improve the Nation’s preparedness for, and response to, environmental hazards through better forecasts, increased and more integrated monitoring, and strengthened preparedness; and protect significant natural and cultural marine and Great Lakes areas and sufficient habitat to ensure maintenance of ecosystem processes.