Trump's New Ocean Policy Emphasizes Energy Independence, Economic Growth

President Donald Trump recently issued a new executive order for an ocean policy that has a marked focus on energy independence, security and economic growth, effectively replacing former President Barack Obama's National Ocean Policy established in 2010.

In a White House news release issued Tuesday, it stated that President Trump’s repeal of the 2010 executive order was done because of “excessive bureaucracy created by the previous administration,” highlighting the National Ocean Council’s 27 departments and agencies. The new order also aims to promote a strong ocean economy by providing regulatory certainty, according to the news release.

In response to the news, Randall Luthi, president of the National Ocean Industries Association, said the order was welcome.

“…It addresses the previous Administration’s National Ocean Policy and its Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) initiative, which caused consternation, uncertainty and concern for the offshore energy industry and other ocean stakeholders,” he said in a statement.

“The offshore oil and gas industry and many others have largely viewed the MSP initiative as an uber-bureaucratic ‘solution’ to a government self-imposed problem….”

He added that the offshore energy industry has “successfully operated side by side with other ocean users, without major conflict, guided by the planning inherent in the five-year offshore national program and the leasing process mandated by the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.”

As a result of the new policy, productive partnerships regarding ocean use can make progress and lead to increased economic, environmental and energy security for America, he said.