U.S. Congressman Mike Ezell (R-MS-04) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) introduced the bipartisan Regional Ocean Partnership Reauthorization Act on Oct. 6, 2026. If passed by Congress and signed by the President, the Act will reauthorize Regional Ocean Partnerships (ROPs) for the next five years and bring continued support for voluntary, intergovernmental coordination to address ocean…
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO) developed the Rethink Your Drink campaign to positively reward individuals using reusable water bottles and empower them to invite their family, friends, and neighbors to do the same. MARCO has a Marine Debris Work Group that regularly monitors beaches up and down the Mid-Atlantic coast for trash…
This panel brought together leadership from the West Coast Ocean Alliance, Gulf of America Alliance, Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean, and Northeast Regional Ocean Council to share progress, highlight innovative projects, and demonstrate how place-based collaboration is making a difference across U.S. ocean regions. Also joining the panel is the Regional Wildlife Science Collaborative…
The Gulf of America Alliance is investing $2.2 million in funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office for Coastal Management to increase regional collaboration and advance priorities identified by the five Gulf states. The funds are being used to increase capacity and implement projects that address priority issues for the region. Four…
The West Coast Ocean Alliance’s new five-year Strategic Plan (2026-2031) was finalized in June, as approved by the WCOA Membership Council. WCOA developed this five-year Strategic Plan to guide their activities in 2026-2031. This Strategic Plan reflects WCOA members’ shared priorities and desired focus areas. The goals of the Strategic Plan include: strengthening coordination, foster…
The 2026 Mid-Atlantic Ocean Forum convened more than 100 participants from federal and state agencies, Tribal governments, academia, NGOs, industry, and regional organizations, with most attendees participating in person in Virginia Beach. The three-day event created space for regional coordination, information exchange, and strategic discussion on emerging ocean and coastal issues across the Mid-Atlantic. Day…
