Intergovernmental Policy Council
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Signing the Intergovernmental Policy Council agreement. |
Washington's coastal treaty Indian tribes and Washington’s citizens have always relied on the
ocean's resources. Tribes, along with state and federal agencies, share an interest in these
resources and believe that holistic ecosystem management is essential in meeting both the needs of
the resources and the people who depend on them.
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary is entirely encompassed by the traditional harvest areas
of the Hoh, Makah, and Quileute tribes, and the Quinault Indian Nation. As sovereign nations, the
tribes have treaty fishing rights and co-management responsibilities with the State of Washington
for fishery resources and fishing activities within the sanctuary.
These common interests and joint authorities led the Hoh, Makah, and Quileute tribes, the
Quinault Indian Nation, the state of Washington and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Office of National Marine Sanctuaries to create the Olympic Coast Intergovernmental
Policy Council (IPC) in 2007.
The first of its kind in the nation, the IPC provides a regional forum for resource managers to
exchange information, coordinate policies, and develop recommendations for resource management
within the sanctuary.
The IPC's goals include:
- protecting the safety and health of coastal residents,
- enhancing the social and economic vitality of coastal communities, and
- improving the understanding and management of marine resources
Since its inception, the IPC has laid the groundwork for successful government-to-government
collaboration, focusing on the following activities:
- participating in the required review of the sanctuary’s management plan
- identifying research priorities, including the development of a five-year Ocean Ecosystem Monitoring and Research Initiative
- establishing initial priorities for a transition to ecosystem-based management, and
- seeking stable and long-term funding to support operation of the IPC.
Olympic Coast Intergovernmental Policy Council Charter
(33k pdf)
Memorandum of Agreement between NOAA and the Hoh Tribe, Makah Tribe, Quileute Tribe, Quinault
Indian Nation and State of Washington (890k pdf)
Contact for page content: olympiccoast@noaa.gov
Policy Council
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