Governor signs coastal advisory council into law

An advisory council that provides a coastal perspective on Washington's ocean policies has been signed into law by Gov. Jay Inlsee. Under Senate Bill 5603, the Washington Coastal Marine Advisory Council will be written into state statute. The council was created by the Department of Ecology in 2011 as a stakeholder group comprised of representatives from coastal industries. SB 5603, sponsored by Sen. Brian Hatfield, will allow the governor to appoint representatives to advocate for the best interests of coastal communities and industries.

The creation of the statute will bring more than a dozen representatives of coastal industries together to work with representatives from the governor's office and five state agencies. Together they will create an open dialog and make recommendations on state, local and tribal policies dealing with coastal waters issues, including resource management, fisheries, shellfish aquaculture and ocean energy.