Regional Ocean Partnership Act of 2021

Regional Ocean Partnership Act of 2021

This bill allows the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to designate and support Regional Ocean Partnerships between coastal states that share a common ocean or coastal area.

Specifically, NOAA may designate a partnership as a Regional Ocean Partnership if it (1) is established to coordinate the interstate management of coastal resources; (2) focuses on the environmental issues affecting the ocean and coastal areas of the coastal states participating in the partnership; (3) complements existing state coastal and ocean management efforts on an interstate scale, focusing on shared regional priorities; (4) does not have a regulatory function; and (5) is not duplicative of an existing Regional Ocean Partnership.

The bill designates the following entities as Regional Ocean Partnerships:

• the Gulf of Mexico Alliance,
• the Northeast Regional Ocean Council,
• the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean, and
• the West Coast Ocean Alliance.

Each partnership must maintain mechanisms for consultation and engagement with the federal government, tribal governments, and nongovernmental entities, such as academic organizations.

A partnership may use provided federal funds to award grants and enter into contracts for certain purposes, including to monitor the water quality and living resources of multistate ocean and coastal ecosystems.

Bill 117 HR 3817, also known as the Regional Ocean Partnership Act of 2021, aims to enhance coordination and collaboration among federal, state, tribal, and local governments in managing and protecting the nation's oceans and coastal areas. The bill seeks to establish Regional Ocean Partnerships (ROPs) in nine regions across the United States, each consisting of stakeholders from various sectors such as government, academia, industry, and non-profit organizations.

The ROPs will be responsible for developing and implementing regional ocean plans that address issues such as marine conservation, sustainable fisheries, coastal resilience, and ocean acidification. These plans will be based on the best available science and will aim to balance the economic, environmental, and social needs of the region.

The bill also provides funding for the ROPs to carry out their activities, including conducting research, monitoring, and outreach efforts. Additionally, the bill encourages the ROPs to work with other regional and national entities to coordinate their efforts and share best practices. Overall, the Regional Ocean Partnership Act of 2021 seeks to improve the management and protection of the nation's oceans and coastal areas by fostering collaboration and coordination among stakeholders at the regional level.