Since 1969, US ocean-front states have seen a population boom. More than half of the US population lives in states with ocean frontage, according to the US Commission on Ocean Policy.

Growth has spurred bacteria-infested waters, overfishing and a string of government-ordered beach closings because of harmful runoff from sewers and farming operations.

US President George W. Bush on Friday signed an executive order creating the Committee on Ocean Policy to advise on ocean issues.

The move comes after a 16-member commission issued a report in April, which called for action.

"The commission provided us a substantial analysis of the problems we face when it comes to our oceans, and with the action today, the president is leading with a substantial set of solutions," said James Connaughton, chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Connaughton will head the new committee.

The new office will pursue local quotas aimed at taming overfishing, convert some US Navy warships to research vessels and lay thousands of high-tech buoys to monitor sea conditions, Connaughton said.

It will also address the declining health of coral reefs and seek to ratify a global sea treaty, he said.

However, the administration avoided action on a panel recommendation to use off-shore oil and natural gas drilling royalties to fund ocean cleanup efforts.

The move got mixed reviews from environmental groups.

"We are pleased with the administration's first steps toward protecting the oceans," said David Festa at Environmental Defense.

The Natural Resources Defense Council, also an environmental group, said the administration effort comes up short because it ignores many of the independent panel's suggestions.