oceanpolicy.com

NOAA today announced $4.7 million in federal funding to support 12 research projects to further understanding of the economics of aquaculture and provide market information in support of domestic growth.  Grantees are required to match 50% of their funding with non-federal dollars. National Sea Grant Director Jonathan Pennock said that Sea Grant “is committed to understanding the [...]

NOAA today announced the release of the Blue Economy Strategic Plan for 2021-2025 in an effort to provide a “roadmap for new ways to advance America’s Blue Economy and enhance a global ocean economy,” with a focus on marine transportation, ocean exploration, seafood competitiveness, tourism and recreation, and coastal resilience. The Strategic Plan, which was developed [...]

The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on Tuesday held a confirmation hearing to consider the nomination of Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) to serve as Secretary of Commerce. During opening remarks, Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) noted the importance of vital policy matters including growing the marine economy through the promotion of transportation, seafood, shipbuilding, and technological innovation [...]

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it is extending the comment period through Wednesday, Feb. 24 on the Interagency Working Group on Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing’s Work Plan.  While comments were originally due by Jan. 15, NMFS is extending the comment period in response to public requests for additional time to provide input. The Work [...]

NOAA today announced that the Hydrographic Services Review Panel will hold a virtual public meeting on March 3-4. Agenda items include implementation of the national strategy for ocean mapping, exploration, and characterization, ongoing National Spatial Reference System modernization, Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System sensor enhancements and expansion, NOAA-University of New Hampshire Joint Hydrographic Center Cooperative Agreement projects, the new [...]

In a Secretarial Order issued today, Acting Interior Secretary Scott de la Vega suspended delegated authorities from taking a range of actions for 60 days including the issuance of any offshore fossil fuel authorization, publication of any Federal Register notices, and granting of rights of way, easements, or conveyances of property or interests in property. The Order authorizes [...]

In an Executive Order on “Protecting the Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis” issued today, President Biden directed federal entities to (1) immediately review (and where appropriate, take action to address) federal actions taken in the last 4 years that conflict with national objectives surrounding science-based decisions, improving public health [...]

NOAA’s National Ocean Service today announced that the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System Advisory Committee will hold a virtual public meeting on Friday, Feb. 5.  The meeting, which will include one 10-minute public comment period, will focus on working group updates and ongoing committee priorities, including the role of ocean observations in forecasting, strategy and vision for the U.S. [...]

NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries today announced a final rule that it is expanding the boundaries of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary by 104 square miles and revising the sanctuary’s terms of designation. Under the final rule, which will be effective following a review period of 45 days of continuous session of Congress (as [...]

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced a final rule authorizing the unintentional take of marine mammals incidental to oil and gas-related geophysical surveys in federal waters in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.  Effective April 19, 2021 for five years, the rule allows for the issuance of Letters of Authorization to authorize incidental take, prescribes permissible taking [...]