West Coast Governors Release Ocean Plan

The governors of California, Oregon and Washington on Tuesday released their Ocean Action Plan outlining strategies to coordinate management of coast and ocean resources.

The plan will implement ecosystem-based management similar to provisions in Oceans-21 (H.R. 21), a bill introduced by Congressman Sam Farr (D-Carmel). Rep. Farr released the following statement:

"This is another example of states being two steps ahead of the federal government. With the White House and GOP leadership continuing to block environmental bills, states are being forced to come up with their own plans.

"Instead of wasting time debating offshore drilling plans that are opposed by the public and which will do nothing to solve our energy problems, the Ocean Action Plan wisely promotes renewable offshore energy and ecosystem-based management to ensure our ocean are being administered responsibly and protected for future generations.

"The plan echoes calls for a commitment to our oceans through an ocean trust fund and regional ocean management. Federal legislation I introduced last year would create a trust fund to provide support for regional plans exactly like the one introduced on Tuesday."

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