National Governors Association

Waves of Change Best Practices Conference

 

Ocean Resource Management

Issues, Concerns, Opportunities,

Robert Bailey, Oregon Coastal-Ocean Management Program

1. Background: States and the Ocean

A. Historical setting

• State boundaries and jurisdiction

• The limitless ocean mindset

• The Cold War

• The Wave of Change…ride it or get left behind

The Oregon Coast and OceanJurisdictional Context

OregonInternational

United States

Geographic ContextOregon Ocean Area

(State waters: approx 1200 sq mi)

(Federal waters)

Territorial Sea (3 n.m. wide)Territorial Sea (3 n.m. wide)

Ocean Stewardship Ocean Stewardship AreaAreaOcean Stewardship Ocean Stewardship AreaArea(Assert interest, not jurisdiction : approx 12,000 sq mi))

Heceta Bank

Astoria Canyon

Cape Blanco

Continental SlopeContinental SlopeContinental ShelfContinental Shelf

1. Background: States and the Ocean

B. 1972 Coastal Zone Management Act

• unique state-federal partnership

• land-use planning for the coast

• focus on “coastal waters”

• federal consistency

• financial assistance: capacity-building

1. Background: States and the Ocean

C. State-federal tensions

• “the national interest” vs state “interests”

• OCS oil and gas leasing

• fishery management councils

• federal “consistency”

1. Background: States and the Ocean

D. Mysteries of the Deep

• Revolution in science and technology post WWII

= understanding and exploitation

• Marine ecosystems and biodiversity: broad linkages and non-linear feedback

loops

• A shrinking ocean: technology is the problem; is technology is the answer?

2. Major problems or concerns

A. Institutional

• Capacity: financial/legal/institutional

• Jurisdictional uncertainties, gaps, overlaps

• Multi-sectoral processes and management

• Time scales: science vs management vs funding vs

political

2. Major problems or concerns

B. Management/Governance Misfit/Inadequacies

• States embedded in larger marine setting

• Area-based management vs dynamic management

• Ad-hoc management/regulatory response vs ecosystem coherence

• Ecosystem conditions & dynamics vs site-specific management

Geographic ContextCalifornia Current Region

Oregon Ocean AreaOregon Ocean Area

2. Major problems or concerns

C. Environmental Realities

• Vast, dynamic, variable, hostile environment

• Nested scales of processes: ecological, physical, economic

• Complexity: environment & governance

• Informational asymmetry: state/federal/research

2. Major problems or concerns

D. Cultural

• Language: scientists/managers/users

• Cowboys and Pirates

• Freedom of the Seas

3. How were state “best practices” developed

(How was Oregon ocean program developed?)

A. Extension of existing programs & culture

• Coastal Mgmt Program

• Statewide Planning Goals

• State Agency Programs and Regulations

• Legislative validation and direction

3. How were state “best practices” developed

(How was Oregon ocean program developed?)

B. Slow stepwise:

• 1975 report & policy recommendations

• 1977 statewide planning goal ocean resources,

• 1986 Territorial Sea Study;

• 1987 state law: broad Ocean Resources Plan,

• 1991 state law: Ocean Policy Advisory Council Territorial Sea Plan

• 1994 Territorial Sea Plan adopted

• 1999 amendment to Ocean Planning Goal

3. How were state “best practices” developed

(How was Oregon ocean program developed?)

C. Public Involvement

• Public workshops

• Open meetings

• Support for local programs

3. How were state “best practices” developed

(How was Oregon ocean program developed?)

D. Science/Information

• Opportunistic predation

• ODFW Marine Habitat Program

• OSU (Zoology, Oceanography, other)

• NOAA/COP PNCERS

• In-house Digital Coastal Atlas

3. How were state “best practices” developed

(How was Oregon ocean program developed?)

E. Get wet slowly from shore

• Rocky Shore Strategy

• Kelp Reef Habitat Assessments

• Telecommunication cables

• Marine Reserves

4. Reasons for success

A. Political support/agency buy-in

  B. Linkage to CZM agency & Governor’s Office

  C. Clear planning framework, purpose

 D. Existing planning culture

  E. Caution

5. What is needed to advance or promote your approach

A. Information • environment, ecosystem, economic

• research targeted to management time scales

  B. State-federal region-scale process

  C. Capacity • technical • policy • research • information management

 D. Integrated federal policies and processes

E. Integrated PROCESS for involving states 

QUESTIONS?