The Coast Guard today announced its completion of the Massachusetts-Rhode Island Port Access Route Study. The Study recommends that the Massachusetts-Rhode Island Wind Energy Area’s turbine layout be developed along a standard and uniform grid pattern with at least three lines of orientation and standard spacing to accommodate vessel transits, traditional fishing operations, and search and rescue operations [...]
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World Economic Forum to Hold Virtual Ocean Dialogues
With the postponement of the 2020 UN Ocean Conference that had been scheduled for June, the World Economic Forum and Friends of Ocean Action will curate a series of Virtual Ocean Dialogues on June 1-5 in order to “maintain momentum in the face of COVID-19 to continue working for ambitious and urgent global action for a healthy ocean.” [...]
UN Launches Series of 2020 Ocean Conference Prep Webinars
Although the 2020 Ocean Conference has been postponed due to the pandemic, the UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs recently launched a series of “Keeping the Momentum for Ocean Action” webinars as part of substantive preparations for the event. During a May 14 webinar focused on youth participation and engagement, Permanent Representative of Portugal to the United [...]
European Commission Adopts Biodiversity Strategy
The European Commission today announced the adoption of a Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, which is designed to halt biodiversity loss in Europe and around the world. The Strategy calls for designating at least 30% of Europe’s land and 30% of its seas as protected areas, as well as actions to improve the health of EU protected habitats and species, [...]
MACO Hosts Mid-Atlantic Ocean Forum
The Mid-Atlantic Committee on the Ocean (MACO) today held an online 2020 Mid-Atlantic Ocean Forum to address future regional ocean policy issues and activities and review MACO collaboration efforts in addressing regional issues and discuss further collaboration needs and opportunities. Following welcome remarks from Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO) Management Board Chair Kisha Santiago-Martinez (NY Deputy Secretary [...]
POTUS Issues Executive Order on Seafood Competitiveness
President Trump today issued an Executive Order on “Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth.” Noting the importance of a strong domestic seafood industry, reliance on imported seafood, impacts of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and need for more effective aquaculture permitting and streamlining of fishery regulations, the order makes if official policy to identify [...]
USCG Seeks Comments on NJ/Delaware Bay Port Access Route Study
The U.S. Coast Guard today announced that it is seeking comments by Monday, July 6 on its efforts to conduct a Port Access Route Study to determine whether existing or additional vessel routing measures are necessary along the seacoast and approaches to the Delaware Bay in order to improve navigation safety due to factors such as planned or [...]
NROC Ocean Planning Committee to Hold Webinar
The Northeast Regional Ocean Council (NROC) today announced that it will hold an Ocean Planning Committee webinar on Thursday, May 28. The meeting will feature an update of state-led marine planning efforts in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, as well as an update from the New England Fishery Management Council. Presenters will describe their policies related to [...]
Comments Sought on Review of Sanctuary Nomination
NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries today announced that it is seeking comments by Monday, June 15 on whether to allow the 2015 nomination of the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary to remain on the inventory for an additional 5 years. The proposed sanctuary would span ~140 square miles of coastline from Cambria to Santa Barbara, CA. [...]
Comments Sought on Expansion of Flower Garden Banks Marine Sanctuary
NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries today announced that it is seeking comments by Friday, July 3 on its proposal to expand the boundaries of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary by 104 square miles and revise the sanctuary’s terms of designation. In conjunction with the comment period, NOAA will hold virtual public hearings on Monday, June 8 [...]
