Editor

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean’s (MARCO) Committee on the Ocean announced today that it will hold its 4th annual Mid-Atlantic Ocean Forum virtually on May 5-6 (registration and additional details will be available soon). The Forum will begin with an open plenary on sustainable ocean management, with Day 1 focusing on sustainable ocean ecosystems, and […]

In legislation passed this week to fund the federal government through the remainder of FY 2022, the U.S. Congress provided funding for ocean-related programs including the National Oceans and Coastal Security Fund ($34M, same vs. FY ’21; Fund received additional monies under last year’s infrastructure bill), Sanctuaries and Marine Protected Areas ($61M vs. $56.5M in FY ‘21), Coastal Zone

In remarks delivered at a “High Seas for One Ocean Reception” amid UN negotiations for an agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond jurisdiction (BBNJ), U.S. Asst. Sec. for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Monica Medina today voiced her hope for a BBNJ agreement in 2022. Medina said that a strong

NOAA on Wednesday announced that the agency’s Science Advisory Board will hold a public webinar meeting on Apr. 27-28.  Agenda items will address items including updates from NOAA, leadership in coastal resilience, 2022 Work Plan topics, and a review of the draft 2022 Report to Congress from the Environmental Information Services Working Group.

Several senior U.S. officials this week participated in The Economist’s virtual World Ocean Summit.  In addition to a keynote interview with U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry on “Ambition and Action to Save the Ocean,” U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad participated in a panel discussion on “Connecting the

The Interior Dept.’s Fish & Wildlife Service today announced that the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council will hold a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, Mar. 23 (RSVP by Mar. 21).  Agenda items include updates on the National Outreach and Communications Program, FWS fish and aquatic conservation, the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, and NOAA. The Council advises the

The National Science Foundation today announced that its Advisory Committee for Polar Programs will hold a virtual public meeting on Thursday, Mar. 24.  Agenda items include upcoming field seasons and COVID-19, updates on Antarctic research vessels and NSF Geoscience Directorate activities, polar partnerships, the South Pole Station, and Russian science collaborations. The Committee provides advice and recommendations to

The State Dept. today announced that it will hold a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, Mar. 15 in preparation for the 109th session of the International Maritime Organization’s Legal Committee, to be held remotely Mar. 21-25.  Agenda items include measures to assess the need to amend liability limits and technical cooperation activities related to maritime legislation, among other things. The

The State Dept. today announced that it will hold a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, Mar. 16 in preparation for the 27th session of the International Seabed Authority Council, to be held in Kingston, Jamaica from Mar. 21 – Apr. 1. The State Dept. will provide an overview of the upcoming session and hear viewpoints from U.S. stakeholders, with particular interest