Five regional planning bodies have been established across the United States to coordinate ocean planning: the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, and West Coast. The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions have established charters and are drafting regional marine plans to be completed in 2016. The Pacific Islands has a charter and is beginning to draft a plan, while the Caribbean is still finalizing its charter and the West Coast is working on one.

1. 1
Regional Planning
October 6, 2015
Mid‐Atlantic
Regional Council on
the Ocean (MARCO)
Mid‐Atlantic
Coastal Ocean
Observing System
(MARACOOS)
Mid‐Atlantic
Fishery
Management
Council
Various
Stakeholders
Existing Regional
Partnerships
Mid‐Atlantic
Regional Planning Body
Northeast
Regional Planning Body
West Coast
Regional Planning Body
Pacific Islands
Regional Planning Body Caribbean
Regional Planning Body

2. Five Regional Planning Bodies
• By January 2015, five Regions had established Regional Planning Bodies (RPBs):
– Northeast
– Mid‐Atlantic
– Pacific Islands
– Caribbean
– West Coast
2
• Northeast and Mid‐Atlantic have established
charters, and are working on draft regional
marine plans for completion in 2016.
• Pacific Islands has a charter, and is beginning
to work on a draft marine plan.
• Caribbean is still finalizing their charter.
• West Coast is working on their charter.
• Alaska/Arctic, Great Lakes, South Atlantic, and
Gulf of Mexico regions have not formed RPBs
at this point.
October 6, 2015
Todd Hallenbeck (West Coast Ocean Data Portal)

3. Northeast and Mid‐Atlantic RPBs
• Northeast expects to have final plan to NOC in June 2016.
• Mid‐Atlantic expects to have final plan to NOC in September 2016.
3October 6, 2016
Harvey Spears/Marine Photobank NOAA NOAA

4. Regional Data Portals
4October 6, 2016
Northeast Ocean
Data Viewer
northeastoceandata.org

5. Thanks!
Beth Kerttula, Director,
National Ocean Council
ekerttula@ostp.eop.gov
202‐456‐3267
907‐209‐5104
October 6, 2015 5