The Maritime Administration today announced the availability of funding for grants and selection criteria and application requirements for the America’s Marine Highway Program, which makes grants available to previously designated Marine Highway Projects that support the development and expansion of documented vessels or port and landside infrastructure. Grant applications are due by Friday, June 17.
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Earth Day Executive Order includes First-Ever U.S. Nature Assessment
In an Executive Order issued on Earth Day, President Biden directed the development of an assessment of the condition of nature in the United States, tasked the Office of Management and Budget Director with issuing guidance on the valuation of ecosystem and environmental services and natural assets in federal regulatory decision-making, and directed the Council on Environmental Quality Chair, Office [...]
Comments Sought on NMFS Draft Climate Science Regional Action Plans
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it is seeking comments on the following Draft 2022-2024 Climate Science Regional Action Plans by Thursday, June 2: Southeast (South Atlantic/ Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean); Northeast; Gulf of Alaska; Eastern Bering Sea; Beaufort and Chukchi Seas; California Current Large Marine Ecosystem; Pacific Islands. NMFS said that the plans are intended to increase the production, delivery, and use of [...]
NOAA Renews Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced the 2-year renewal of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee. Established in 1972, the Committee advises and reviews the adequacy of living marine resources policies and programs to meet the needs of commercial and recreational fisheries, aquaculture, environmental, consumer, academic, tribal, governmental, and other national interests.
State Dept., EPA Announce U.S. Ocean Commitments
After the conclusion last month’s Our Ocean 2022 conference held in Palau, the U.S. State Dept. today announced over 110 commitments from 14 agencies and offices totaling ~$2.64 billion. Commitments include an effort to encourage countries to commit to conserve, protect, or restore at least 30% of waters under their national jurisdiction by 2030, expand the membership of [...]
CEQ Issues Updated NEPA Regulations
The White House Council on Environmental Quality today announced a final rule effective May 20 that modifies National Environmental Policy Act regulations to (1) require federal agencies to evaluate all relevant environmental impacts of decisions under review (direct, indirect, and cumulative); (2) provide agencies with authority to work with communities to develop and analyze alternative approaches that could [...]
NOAA Highlights New Marine Species Mapping Tool
NOAA today announced the launch of the Distribution Mapping and Analysis Portal, a tool to track the location and movement of over 800 species of fish and invertebrates in U.S. waters. Portal data was collected from National Marine Fisheries Service bottom trawl surveys in the Northeast, Southeast, Gulf of Mexico, West Coast, and Alaska, with data for the [...]
Comments Sought on IUU Fishing, Shark Catch Information
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that information is being sought by Dec. 31 on (1) nations or entities whose vessels are engaged in illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) fishing practices that result in the bycatch of protected living marine resources without a regulatory program comparable in effectiveness to that of the United States; and (2) fishing [...]
Gulf of Maine Renewable Energy Task Force to Hold Public Meeting
The Interior Dept.’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today announced that the Gulf of Maine Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, May 19. According to the announcement, meeting topics will include the planning process for commercial wind energy leasing, state and federal perspectives on offshore wind in the Gulf of Maine, framework approach for [...]
POTUS Cites 30×30 Goal in Address to Ocean Conference
During pre-recorded brief remarks at the Our Ocean 2022 conference held in Palau (see 47:04 mark here), President Biden today underscored the importance of ocean health for future conservation as well as survival today for island states around the world. Biden said that “we can no longer delay action” in areas including climate change, pollution, plastics, and overfishing, [...]
