Washington state Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, has been re-appointed as an advisor to President Barack Obama’s National Ocean Council.

The Ocean Council is charged with implementing National Ocean Policy. Ranker was first appointed to the council in 2011 and is excited to continue his work with the advisory group.

“From emerging threats from increased vessel traffic to massive changes locally and globally due to climate change, our oceans and the thousands of jobs that depend on them are under threat,” Ranker said in a prepared statement. “Our state’s coastline and maritime industries are the lifeblood of our economy. I’m honored to be a voice for our Washington in the other Washington.”

Ranker was re-appointed to the council’s Governance Coordinating Committee, which includes 18 thought-leaders from across the country who serve as advisors to the ocean council. The GCC serves as the coordinating body on inter-jurisdictional ocean policy issues.