An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century - California Ocean ...

SECTION 2OCEAN AND COASTAL-RELATEDFEDERAL COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES,AND COUNCILSAquatic Nuisance Species Task ForceEstablished in 1990 by the Nonindigenous AquaticNuisance Prevention and Control Act (Pub. L.101–646; 16 U.S.C. §§ 4701 et seq.) and expandedby the National Invasive Species Act in 1996 (Pub. L.104–332), the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Forceconvenes regional panels and issue-specific committeesto coordinate governmental efforts dealing withaquatic nuisance species in the United States. Itsactivities include research, formulation of strategiesto prevent species introductions and dispersal,species control and monitoring, dissemination ofinformation, and the development of state managementplans. NOAA and USFWS co-chair the taskforce, which includes seven federal agency representatives,an observer from Canada, and twelve nonfederalstakeholders.Web: .See Section 3 (Federal Laws): Nonindigenous AquaticNuisance Prevention and Control Act; NationalInvasive Species Act.Arctic Research CommissionCreated by the Arctic Research and Policy Act of1984 (Pub. L. 98-373; 15 U.S.C. §§ 4102 et seq.), theArctic Research Commission’s five members,appointed by the President, review federal researchprograms in the Arctic, make recommendations, andpublish a report to the President and Congress.Members are drawn from academia, indigenous residents,and private industry.Web: .Atlantic States MarineFisheries CommissionIn 1942, fifteen Atlantic Coast states, stretching fromMaine to Florida and including Pennsylvania, formedthe Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission(ASMFC), a Congressionally-chartered interstatecompact agency. The ASMFC assists in managing andconserving coastal fishery resources in state watersthrough the development of interstate fishery managementplans that rely on state authorities forimplementation. Congressional legislation in 1984and 1993 made compliance with the plans, whichwas originally voluntary, enforceable by giving theSecretary of Commerce authority to close a state’sfishery upon the recommendation of the ASMFC.The ASMFC’s other program areas are research, habitatconservation, sport fish restoration, and lawenforcement.Web: .See Section 3 (Federal Laws): Atlantic CoastalFisheries Cooperative Management Act.Coral Reef Task ForceEstablished in 1998 by Executive Order 13089, theCoral Reef Task Force has a mandate to map andmonitor U.S. coral reefs, research the causes andsolutions to coral reef degradation, reduce and mitigatecoral reef degradation from pollution, overfishingand other causes, and implement strategies topromote conservation and sustainable use of coralreefs internationally. Co-chaired by the Departmentsof Commerce and the Interior, other membersinclude CEQ, USDA, DOD, DOJ, DOS, DOT, EPA,NASA, NSF, USAID, USCG and affected U.S. statesand territories.Web: .APPENDIX D: GLOSSARY OF FEDERAL OCEAN AND COASTAL-RELATED COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES, COUNCILS, LAWS, AND PROGRAMSD 5