During a U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Environment Subcommittee FY 2024 budget oversight hearing held today, NOAA Admin. Dr. Rick Spinrad among other things highlighted his agency’s efforts to “create value-added, data-driven sustainable economic development, with a particular focus on the new Blue Economy,” continue to work with the Interior Dept. to “minimize the effects of offshore energy projects” and mitigate impacts to fisheries surveys,” and map, explore, and characterize the ocean and Great Lakes.
During the hearing, Rep.’s Bill Posey (R-FL) and Mike Collins (R-GA) highlighted concerns about the impact of proposed vessel speed limit regulations to protect whales on recreational and commercial fishermen, with Collins calling it “the most consequential maritime regulation” ever for the recreational boating and fishing sector. Posey also suggested a nexus between offshore wind activity and whale deaths, to which Spinrad said there is no scientific evidence establishing such a link.
