NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced the extension of the comment period on its draft Equity and Environmental Justice Strategy through Friday, Sept. 30. NMFS cited requests from partners and stakeholder communities in announcing the extension. The draft Strategy includes goals for prioritizing the identification, equitable treatment, and meaningful involvement of underserved communities, providing equitable delivery of services, [...]
Archive | August, 2022
NOAA Extends Deadline for Ocean Research Advisory Panel Nominations
NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research today announced the extension of time for nominees to submit interest in serving on the Ocean Research Advisory Panel through Friday, Sept. 30. Authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act, the Panel will include 10-18 members and advise the Ocean Policy Committee on policies and procedures to implement the National Oceanographic Partnership Program; [...]
NOAA Announces Sanctuary Council, Seeks Nominees
NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries today announced the establishment of the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, and requested nominations from individuals interested in serving on the Council by Oct. 1. Voting seats will be held by the following representatives: Citizen-at-Large (3), Diving/Dive Clubs/Archaeology (2), History, Heritage and Public Interpretation (2), Tourism and Marketing (2), Education (K–12), [...]
NOAA Announces Coastal Resilience Grants
NOAA and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation today announced the award of $7.7 million in grants to support coastal resilience in Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Virginia. The grants, which were awarded through the National Coastal Resilience Fund, are being awarded using funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo called coastal maintenance and [...]
Comments Sought on Draft Pacific Coast Port Access Route Study
The Coast Guard today announced that comments are being sought by Tuesday, Oct. 25 on a draft Pacific Coast Port Access Route Study, which evaluates safe access routes for vessel traffic and seeks to determine whether a shipping safety fairway and/or routing measures should be established, adjusted, or modified. The notice states that the Coast Guard has found [...]
POTUS Plans to Nominate Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region
Citing a need to “further American interests and cooperation with Alliance and partners in the Arctic, the U.S. State Department today announced President Biden’s intention to appoint an Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region, with the position subject to confirmation once a nomination is submitted to the Senate. The State Dept. said that the position will advance U.S. [...]
UN BBNJ Intergovernmental Conference Session Ends Without an Agreement
The 5th session of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Conference on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) concluded today without agreement, as delegations paused negotiations to reach a compromise. The Conference was established to develop text for an internationally legally binding instrument, and some expected that an agreement [...]
Comments Sought on Louisiana Restoration Plan
The Interior Department has announced that comments are being sought by Monday, Sept. 26 on the Draft Phase 2 Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment #7.1: Terrebonne HNC Island Restoration Project. The ~$34 million project would involve the restoration and conservation of bird nesting and foraging habitat that would increase Terrebonne HNC Island’s acreage from 27.6 acres to ~41.1 acres.
NMFS Seeks Comments on MMPA Stock Assessment Guideline Revisions
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it is seeking comments by Monday, Sept. 26 on draft revisions to the Guidelines for Preparing Stock Assessment Reports under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The MMPA requires NMFS and the Fish and Wildlife Service to prepare stock assessments for each stock of marine mammals occurring in U.S. waters. Potential [...]
S. Atlantic Fishery Mgmt. Council Meeting to Address Sanctuary Rule
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a public webinar on Wednesday, Sept. 21 to, among other things, review and comment on the proposed rule for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. NOAA is currently seeking comments on the proposed expansion of the sanctuary boundary from 3,800 sq. miles to [...]
