Abstract Washington's recent history in ocean policy development started in 1967 when the state's Oceanographic Commission was established. The commission was disbanded in 1982 when the state's interests in ocean policy were at a low point. This lack of interest changed rapidly after 1986 when a federal OCS lease sale was announced. Since then several new organizations have been created and a 1989 law established preliminary ocean policies for the state. The state needs a broadābased task force to establish better linkages among a variety of ocean policy players. Also, the 1989 statute should be revisited and made more specific.