Editor

The Northeast Regional Ocean Council (NROC) will hold a hybrid in-person/virtual public meeting in Greenland, NH on Thursday, May 15. The meeting will include a demonstration of the new design for the Northeast Regional Ocean Data Portal (being released in June), a summary of efforts to improve the accessibility of datasets relied on to inform government, private sector, and […]

The Interior Department today announced the disbursement of nearly $354 million in offshore oil and gas revenue to Texas (~$95.5M), Louisiana (~$156M), Mississippi (~$52M), and Alabama (~$50M) for coastal protection, restoration, and infrastructure projects. In announcing the disbursement, DOI called the Gulf of America “a critical resource in ensuring that America can become Energy Dominant and meet demands through domestic

NOAA today announced that the designation of the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary and related regulations became effective March 3, 2025, following the Jan. 16, 2025 final rule publication and a 45-day congressional review period.  NOAA noted that the agency is reviewing the final rule for consistency with the Trump administration’s policies and executive orders, including the Executive Order on

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it is seeking public comments by Friday, June 20 on draft 2024 marine mammal stock assessment reports (SAR’s) for marine mammals in the Atlantic (includes Atlantic, Gulf of America, and U.S. territories in the Caribbean), Alaska, and Pacific regions.  NMFS also seeks new information for strategic stocks that were not updated in 2024. The Marine Mammal Protection Act requires NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

NOAA today announced that it is seeking comments by Monday, May 5 on a request by the Makah Indian Tribe for a 28-month permit for a ceremonial and subsistence hunt of eastern North Pacific gray whales.  The Tribe proposes to conduct training and hunting activities from July 1-October 31 in 2025 and 2027, and in each of

The Coast Guard today announced its amendment of regulations effective immediately to update the name of the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America.”  The action was taken pursuant to President Trump’s Jan. 20, 2025 Executive Order on Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness, including the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

President Trump today signed a joint resolution introduced by U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) and passed by the U.S. Senate (54-42) and House of Representatives (221-202) that nullifies the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s Sept. 3, 2024 rule on the “Protection of Marine Archaeological Resources.”  Following signature by President Trump, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management officially announced that the 2024 rule has no force

Implementing Sec. 6(b) of President Trump’s Executive Order on “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation,” the Office of Management and Budget today revoked OMB Circular A-4 (issued November 9, 2023), including all accompanying appendices, guidelines, and documents, and reinstated OMB Circular A-4 (issued September 17, 2003).  The revoked OMB Circular had included guidance to federal agencies on “Accounting for the Benefits and

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council will hold hybrid in-person/virtual Advisory Panel and Committee meetings in Hawaii, American Samoa, and Guam on Sept. 3-7.  Offshore energy updates for the Western Pacific, Hawaii, and Guam are included on the agenda for meetings of the Fishing Industry Advisory Committee,