Coastal Conservation Association

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	Obama National Ocean Policy
CCA Federal Lobbyist Matthew Paxton Before joining CCA, Paxton was senior counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. He spent more than five years in the U.S. Senate working on legislative and policy issues focused primarily on natural resources, environment and fisheries matters. As senior counsel on the Commerce Committee, he worked on the development and drafting of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006. He also oversaw several subcommittees that dealt with fisheries issues and policy, and worked almost exclusively on the Magnuson-Stevens Act for the chairman of the committee at that time, Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK). Before joining the Commerce Committee, Paxton was the Legislative Director for Sen. Stevens where he worked on numerous legislative and policy issues involving fisheries in the North Pacific. He earned his degree in Political Science from the University of Washington and his Juris Doctor from Willamette University College of Law. He is a member of the Washington State Bar Association.	On June 12, President Obama created the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force. The Task Force, led by the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), was charged with developing a national policy and implementation strategy for conserving and managing the United States ocean territory and the Great Lakes. The policy will govern ocean and Great Lakes resource management and coordinate efforts among countless federal, state and local agencies. The Task Force's Interim Framework for a National Ocean Policy was out for public review and comment until Feb. 12, 2010. The single most obvious flaw in the report is the omission of responsibly regulated recreational fishing as a key activity for the oceans and the Great Lakes. In addition, as a national policy document governing the oceans and Great Lakes, the report is skewed toward a preservationist policy of locking up public waters instead of one that promotes sustainable uses such as recreational fishing. CCA News Comments on the Draft National Ocean Policy Implementation Plan – March 27, 2012 Our community came together to submit an initial set of comments on the Draft Implementation Plan earlier in the public comment period focusing on more general themes that we would like to see incorporated into the final Implementation Plan. However, as the deadline was extended, we were encouraged to submit a second set of comments detailing where specific language changes could be made that would promote both recreation and conservation throughout the Implementation Plan. Testimony before the House Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs on “Empty Hooks: The National Ocean Policy is the Latest Threat to Access for Recreational and Commercial Fishermen,” – March 22, 2012 Click HERE* to read full testimony.* Sportfishing and Boating Community Comments on the Draft National Ocean Policy Implementation Plan – Feb. 27, 2012 It is unfortunate that many of the questions and concerns we have raised since the initial release of the work of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force, and which we have reiterated in subsequent communications regarding the development of the National Ocean Policy (NOP), still remain unanswered. An overarching concern of our community with the NOP, particularly as it pertains to Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning (CMSP), is the treatment of recreational uses as one of numerous ocean “sectors” for which planning activities will occur, along with oil, gas, mining, commercial fishing, transportation and defense. We firmly believe that there is a distinct and inherent difference between recreational and industrial ocean uses, and their respective impact on the ocean environment. Click HERE* for a complete copy of the comments.* Formal written comments on the Priority Objectives of the National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great Lakes - April 29, 2011 The recreational fishing and boating community is anxious to engage in the National Ocean Policy development to insure our community is adequately represented in this significant policymaking process. We come to this engagement trying to answer an ever‐increasing number of questions from our members, businesses and partners as to what exactly will be the impacts of this process on the interests of recreational anglers and boaters. Sportfishing and Boating Communities Continue to Call for Public Access in New National Ocean Policy - July 21, 2010 On July 19, 2010, the White House's Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force released its final report on a new national policy with the stated goals of ensuring protection, maintenance and restoration of the nation’s oceans, coastal areas and the Great Lakes. Over the past year, the recreational fishing and boating community provided substantial input to the Task Force, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and advocated that the social, economic, public health and conservation benefits of sustainable use of our nation’s public resources receive priority consideration in the new coastal and ocean management policy. U.S. Recreational Fishing & Boating Coalition Comments on White House Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force Interim Framework for Effective Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning - Feb. 12, 2010 These comments were prepared and signed by representatives of the following groups: American Sportfishing Association, Bass Anglers Sportsmen Society, Berkley Conservation Institute, Center for Coastal Conservation, Coastal Conservation Association, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, International Game Fish Association, National Marine Manufacturers Association, Shimano Sport Fisheries Initiative, and The Billfish Foundation. Click HERE* for a complete copy of the comments.* CCA Testimony on Oceans Policy Before Senate Commerce Committee - Nov. 4, 2009 “The focus of my comments will be on the process to establish a national ocean policy and the role of Congress; maintaining regional ingenuity; ensuring access to the marine environment; and finally promoting marine recreation as a core element of the national ocean policy.” - Matt Paxton, CCA Federal Lobbyist Click HERE for a complete copy of Paxton’s testimony CCA to Testify on Oceans Policy Before Senate Committee - Nov. 2, 2009 U.S. Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, has invited Coastal Conservation Association to appear before a hearing on Nov. 4 to testify on the National Ocean Policy Task Force’s Interim Report. CCA federal lobbyist Matt Paxton will address the development of the National Ocean Policy and the role for recreational fisheries in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes stewardship. “The Senate Commerce Committee is critical in the passage and implementation of laws that impact the oceans and fisheries,” said Matt Paxton, CCA federal lobbyist. “This is the committee that gives the Administration the legal authority to do what it wants to do with the National Ocean Policy.” CCA Testimony Before the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force - Oct 19, 2009 Unfortunately, the experience all too often for the recreational community is to be managed or considered after the fact. Federal ocean and fishery management policy has historically focused solely on commercial enterprises, be it energy, shipping or fishing. And recreational interests are simply regulated or managed in a manner to do the least harm. This was the mind-set for years in terrestrial management until bold thinkers like Theodore Roosevelt and others championed the outdoorsman conservation ethic and managed fish and wildlife resources for the sustained enjoyment of the public. - Jeff Angers, President Center for Coastal Conservation Click HERE for a complete copy of the testimony CCA Questions Obama Administration’s Ocean Policy - Oct. 15, 2009 A recently issued report of the White House Interagency Ocean Task Force has caused widespread concern among America’s recreational anglers. Released just weeks after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) promised to take a “fresh look” at the federal agency’s relationship with recreational anglers, the Interim Report threatens to fast-track sweeping reforms for the management of resources in federal waters, but fails to recognize – or even mention – the conservation, economic or social contributions of recreational angling. Coalition letter to White House Council on Environmental Quality on National Oceans Policy - July 15, 2009 Ultimately, anglers, boaters and other sportsmen and women are the most significant funding sources for conservation and recreation in this country. Angler participation and the equipment and fishing licenses they purchase are crucial to conservation management in the United States. In fact, the U.S. user-pay/user-benefit model of fisheries conservation and management is the envy of countries around the globe.	National Ocean Policy News Guest Opinion: Ocean policy reaches far beyond the sea By House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings EnergyGuardian.net January 20, 2012 Fishing industry blasts exclusion from Ocean Council Seacoastonline.com June 28, 2011 'Ecosystem' is the new coastal fishing buzzword The Herald \| HeraldOnline.com June 11, 2011 Ocean Zoning will affect all users; Poachers biggest threat to Alaska SitNews March 26, 2011 Confusion lingers for council about new ocean policy Alaskajournal.com Dec. 3, 2010 Obama Administration Unveils New National Policy for Our Oceans, Coasts and Great Lakes July 19, 2010 NOAA Obama to launch ocean initiative Los Angeles Times July 19, 2010 Veteran Defender of the Seas Tapped to Protect Gulf Coast OnEarth Magazine May 7, 2010 Obama Admin Jumps to Squelch Rumors of U.S. Fishing Ban The New York Times March 11, 2010 Parnell wants state involvement in ocean zone plan KTUU.com Feb. 17, 2010 Bypass plan ESPN Outdoors Feb. 12, 2010 CSF submits comments to task force ESPN Outdoors Feb. 12, 2010 Wild connection ESPN Outdoors Feb. 8, 2010 NOAA Grant Proposal Could Launch Marine Zoning New York Times Feb. 5, 2010 Federal ocean planning recommendation released The Block Island Times Dec. 26, 2009 Now we wait ESPN Dec. 9, 2009 CSC support recreational anglers ESPN Dec. 2, 2009 Sportsmen should have voice in ocean policy discussions Sport Fishing Dec. 1, 2009 Editorial unfairly portrayed letter The Advocate Nov. 17, 2009 response to: Our Views: Premature indignation The Advocate Nov. 2, 2009 MLPA could hit coast fishing hard ESPNOutdoors Nov. 17, 2009 As Oceans Fall Ill, Washington Squabbles STLToday.com Nov. 9, 2009 U.S. Sen. LeMieux (R-FL) Calls for Review of Restrictions on Florida Recreational Fishermen YouTube video from Senate Commerce Committee Hearing Nov. 4, 2009 Task Force member says recreational fishermen will be heard ESPNOutdoors.com Nov. 5, 2009 NOAA Administrator Discusses Recreational Fishing's Concerns World Fishing Network Nov. 3, 2009 No Fluke: Obama's ocean policy task force gets mixed reviews Warwick Beacon October 21, 2009 Key Obama officials hear pleas from La. The Times-Picayune October 20, 2009 Anglers being cast aside? ESPNOutdoors October 19, 2009