NOAA today announced the designation of a new ~18 sq. mile national marine sanctuary in Maryland state waters ~40 miles south of Washington, DC effective after 45 days of continuous congressional session. Nominated by the State of Maryland in 2014 to protect and conserve shipwrecks and cultural heritage resources, foster education and research partnerships, and increase opportunities for [...]
Archive | July, 2019
UN Intergovernmental Conference Releases Draft Text on Marine Conservation
A UN Intergovernmental Conference (Conference) established to develop an international legally binding instrument under the Law of the Sea Convention regarding the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction has released draft agreement text. The text includes provisions related to area-based management measures including marine protected areas, international cooperation, environmental impact assessments, [...]
EPA Administrator Attends Inaugural G20 Energy & Env. Ministerial Meeting
EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler recently attended the inaugural G20 Energy and Environmental Ministers Meeting in Japan, which included a session focused on resource efficiency and marine debris. Wheeler addressed marine debris in meetings with Japan, South Korea, Thailand, China, and Vietnam, including working together to assist Asian nations with reducing their contributions to marine debris and [...]
West Coast Ocean Alliance Announces December Meeting Dates
The West Coast Ocean Alliance last week announced that it will hold its annual meeting on Dec. 3-4 in Tacoma, WA. Day 1 will include a West Coast ocean data public workshop, while Day 2 will feature the West Coast Ocean Alliance public meeting. The meetings will include federal, state, and tribal government officials and technical experts for discussions [...]
MARCO Announces Steering Committee for New Committee
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO) recently announced that Steering Committee members have been confirmed for the organization’s new Mid-Atlantic Committee on the Ocean (MACO). The 8-member Steering Committee is comprised of representatives from Virginia (Chair), New Jersey, New York, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, US Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA, Shinnecock Indian [...]
NROC Holds Ocean Planning Meeting
The Northeast Regional Ocean Council’s (NROC) Ocean Planning Committee (Committee) convened last month in Gloucester, MA to review Committee activities since its last public meeting in November 2018, receive an update on federal progress in implementing the June 2018 ocean policy Executive Order and consideration of potential implications for the Northeast and the Committee’s work plan, and [...]
Gulf of Mexico Alliance Convenes Annual Meeting in Gulf Shores, AL
The Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA) last month convened its 2019 All Hands Meeting in Gulf Shores, AL. In addition to a Gulf of Mexico Monitoring Community of Practice Workshop and series of team/cross-team meetings, the conference included an opening plenary session that included remarks by GOMA Executive Director Laura Bowie, NOAA Acting Deputy Asst. Administrator/Office for Coastal Management Director Jeff Payne, Alabama Dept. of [...]
Climate Features Prominently at Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2019
Policymakers and ocean stakeholders gathered in Washington, DC last month for Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2019. The annual conference featured remarks from 10 Members of Congress, international, federal, state, and tribal agencies, NGOs, academia, businesses, and industry trade associations. In addition to an emerging leaders panel, topics addressed “Powering Our Future,” “Ocean Disrupted,” “Transforming the Global Seafood [...]
