This afternoon, President Obama is expected to sign an executive order on ocean policy, based on recommendations from the Ocean Policy Task Force.

“We already have a Clean Air Act and a Clean Water Act. With today’s executive order, President Obama in effect creates a Clean Ocean Act," says U.S. Rep. Sam Farr (D-Carmel), who has long supported the creation of a comprehensive national ocean policy.

The executive order will include:

• Establishing a National Ocean Council to coordinate the various federal agencies that oversee ocean issues;
• Creating a national policy for stewardship of the ocean, coasts and Great Lakes;
  
• Authorizing a plan for coastal and marine spatial planning; and
• Drafting strategies to carry out nine categories of action focused on ocean conservation and stewardship.
  
  

  Read more on the National Ocean Policy on the White House website.