State Ocean Caucus to Hold Public Meeting in Westport

Coastal residents are invited to participate in the next Washington State Ocean Caucus meeting this Tuesday, April 27th, the Westport Maritime Museum’s McCausland Hall. There will be an open house at 5:30 to allow attendees time talk with resource managers from various agencies with the meeting starting at 6 p.m. The Caucus will include updates from the Grays Harbor County Marine Resources Committee, presentations on ocean acidification and marine spatial planning. Attendees will be encouraged to offer input, raise concerns, and/or ask questions regarding our area’s marine resources.

Co-sponsored by the Grays Harbor County Marine Resources Committee, this is one of several public meetings the Ocean Caucus offers at different coastal locales throughout the year with the goal of offering outreach and providing updates about our state’s ocean resources.

The Washington State Ocean Caucus is a team of state agencies that originally came together through the coordination of Department of Ecology in 2007, when the legislature provided funding to coordinate a group that could help implement recommendations outlined in Washington’s Ocean Action Plan. The Action Plan was the result of work completed by Washington’s Ocean Policy Work Group, formed in 2005 at the direction of the legislature and Governor’s Office.

Made up of representatives from state agencies and commissions, county commissioners, Legislators, stakeholder groups, city, county, port associations and tribal representatives, the Work Group created a final report entitled “Washington’s Ocean Action Plan - Enhancing Management of Washington State’s Ocean and Outer Coasts.”

The plan presents 50 different recommendations for improving protection and management of Washington’s ocean resources covering a broad range of ocean and coastal management topics, such as ecosystem-based management, fisheries, aquaculture, ocean research, education, alternative ocean energy, climate change, coastal hazards, coastal communities and governance.

The State Ocean Caucus utilizes this Action Plan as they work to provide a better ways for state agencies to work together to prioritize activities and solve problems related to the ocean environment with help and recommendations from stakeholders and the public.

For more information on the Washington State Ocean Caucus: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/ocean/meetings.html or you may contact jen461@ecy.wa.gov.