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National Marine Fisheries Service Deputy Assistant Admin. for Operations Paul Doremus today highlighted the work of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee, including its recent meeting that included completion of reports on seafood marketing and promotion and potential impacts of offshore wind development, sharing of experiences regarding COVID and impacts on fishermen and the industry, and endorsement of [...]

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service and the Interior Department’s Fish and Wildlife Service today announced their decision not to identify the Northwest Atlantic population of the leatherback turtle as a distinct population segment and to list it as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. In making the 12-month finding, which responds to a petition filed by the Bluewater [...]

The Interior Department today announced the finalization of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Israeli government to support cooperation and exchanges on biodiversity conservation, protected areas, and protection of cultural and historical heritage. DOI noted that the MOU provides a framework to address challenges including protecting ecosystems, wildlife trafficking, and managing parks and cultural sites, and that [...]

NOAA today announced a new agreement with the Navy to jointly expand the development and operations of unmanned maritime systems in U.S. and international waters, noting that the partnership “will enable NOAA to leverage the Navy’s expertise, infrastructure, best practices and training to accelerate its science, service and stewardship mission.” Assistant Sec. of Commerce for Oceans and [...]

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced the availability of 65 final 2019 marine mammal stock assessment reports (SAR’s) for marine mammals in the Atlantic (includes Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and U.S. territories in the Caribbean), Alaska, and Pacific regions. The Marine Mammal Protection Act requires NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to prepare stock assessment [...]

The State Department today announced the appointment of Jim DeHart as U.S. Coordinator for the Arctic Region.  DeHart will be the principal advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of State on all Arctic matters and lead and coordinate policymaking and diplomatic engagement on Arctic issues. DeHart has been a member of the Senior Foreign Service for 28 years [...]

NOAA today announced the availability of the 2019 Status of U.S. Fisheries Report and 2017 Fisheries Economics of the United States. The 2019 Status report outlines the status of 461 managed U.S. stocks or stock complexes, with the overfishing list reaching a record low in 2019, with 93% of stocks for which a determination can be made found [...]

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced its conclusion that the dwarf seahorse is not currently in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range and is not likely to become so within the foreseeable future.  Dwarf seahorses have been reported in the southeastern U.S. including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, as [...]

President Trump today announced his intent to appoint Jon Harrison to serve as Chairperson of the Arctic Research Commission and Michael Newton to serve as a Member of the Arctic Research Commission. Harrison has been serving as a Senior Advisor in the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, while Newton is a [...]

With a theme of “Urgent Action on Biodiversity for Sustainable Development,” the United Nations Biodiversity Summit is set to take place on Wednesday, Sept. 30.  The Summit, which will be convened at the level of Heads of State and Government, will highlight the need for action in support of a global biodiversity framework that contributes to the 2030 [...]