oceanpolicy.com

The White House today convened the Leaders Summit on Climate, which featured 40 leaders from around the world and new commitments from the United States and other nations on climate. During the Summit, Interior Sec. Deb Haaland announced U.S. support for a proposal to protect the Southern Ocean that would involve three marine protected areas proposed by [...]

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that the New England Fishery Management Council’s Habitat Joint Committee and Advisory Panel will hold a public webinar on Monday, May 10.  The meeting will include discussion of regional offshore wind updates, including science planning and surveys, Council energy policies, and open public comment opportunities, as well as discussion of offshore aquaculture projects [...]

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it is seeking comments by Monday, June 21 on the agency’s initiation of a 5-year review for the endangered Southern Resident killer whale. The review will assess the best scientific and commercial data available to determine whether the species should be delisted or reclassified.

President Biden today announced his intent to nominate Oregon State University Professor of Oceanography Rick Spinrad to serve as Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, and Our Daily Planet CEO and Co-Founder Monica Medina to serve as Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Science Affairs. Spinrad’s experience includes positions as NOAA [...]

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced a final rule effective Friday, May 21 designating critical habitat for the Western North Pacific (endangered; 59,411 sq. nautical miles), Central America (endangered; 48,521 sq. nautical miles), and Mexico (threatened; 116,098 sq. nautical miles) distinct population segments of humpback whales. Critical habitat areas include locations off California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska, [...]

The National Climate Task Force led by Assistant to the President and National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy held its third meeting on today. According to a White House summary, among other things Task Force members received a briefing on drought conditions in the West and took initial steps to establish an interagency working group to address the [...]

NOAA today announced the initiation of a 3-year project to outplant over 60,000 fragments of nursery-raised coral off Key West, FL in the Eastern Dry Rocks Sanctuary Preservation Area, as part of the larger effort to restore seven coral reefs within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The project is being carried out by the National Marine [...]

A group led by Conservation International, The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Global Environment Facility, Minderoo Foundation, and the Rob and Melani Walton Foundation today announced the launch of the Blue Nature Alliance, a new global initiative to protect and conserve 7 million square miles of the ocean over the next five years. The announcement noted that the Alliance is working [...]

The Maritime Administration today announced that it is seeking applications by Friday, July 30 for Port Infrastructure Development Program grants to improve coastal seaports, inland river ports, and Great Lakes ports.  Of $230 million appropriated for the program, at least $205 million must be allocated toward coastal seaports or Great Lakes Ports, and at least $41.4 million must [...]