A critical part of the Inland Ocean Coalition’s work is connecting with legislative leaders across the nation to advance ocean conservation policies and priorities. We do this through virtual and in-person meetings with legislators and staffers, call-in days to elevate the importance of action on key ocean protection issues, and coalition-wide engagement to support a healthy future for our ocean.
Policy, legislation, and advocacy are also key avenues for giving individuals and communities the tools they need to get involved in ocean protection and to use their voices to take action on the issues they care about. We focus on legislation at the local, state, and national levels that helps protect our ocean, climate, and waterways and which shares the collective vision for a more just, equitable, and inclusive future. We empower our Ambassadors and volunteers with up-to-date legislation movement and advocacy toolkits to ensure our message is clear, concise, and well-informed.
While the ocean may not be at our doorsteps, the call to action certainly is. Our voices and visions are critical to establishing policies and laws that govern and dictate the future of our ocean planet.
Advocacy Toolkits
Explore these partner resources to learn about current ocean policy issues and support informed advocacy.
NOAA Fisheries Reform Roadmap Toolkit
Background, key messages, and resources on NOAA Fisheries’ reform roadmap, including sustainable fisheries, marine wildlife protections, and seafood policy.
Prepared by the Federal Fisheries Policy Coalition and Ocean Defense Initiative, September 2026.
Ocean Impacts of Permitting Reform
Analysis and advocacy messages on proposed federal permitting changes and their potential effects on offshore energy, deep-sea mining, marine wildlife, and coastal communities.
Prepared by Ocean Defense Initiative, October 2026.
Open permitting reform toolkit ↗
Data Centers and Permitting Reform
Oil Change International’s analysis warns that S. 5653, the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026, could accelerate gas-fired power plants and pipelines serving AI data centers. The introduced proposal would narrow certain Clean Water Act reviews and restrict environmental court challenges. It also proposes transmission-cost protections for grid-connected data centers; Oil Change International argues these would not address off-grid gas development.
Read the data-center analysis ↗
Current Legislation
Marine Aquaculture Research for America (MARA) Act
The MARA Act would authorize NOAA to permit and study commercial-scale offshore aquaculture in U.S. federal waters. The latest House proposal, H.R. 9802 (MARA Act of 2026), would allow 10-year demonstration permits, with possible renewal, and require studies of environmental, economic, and community impacts. Introduced on July 21, 2026, it remains referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources and has not become law.