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NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research today announced the availability of the agency’s R&D Vision Areas for 2020-2026, which it says will “provide a common understanding among NOAA’s leadership, workforce, partners, and constituents on the value and direction of NOAA R&D activities.” NOAA R&D priorities over the next seven years will focus on the following vision areas: Reducing […]

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today announced that it is seeking comments by Monday, July 27 on a draft Vineyard Wind Offshore Wind Energy Project Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement analyzing reasonably foreseeable effects from an expanded cumulative activities scenario for offshore wind development, new fishing data, a new transit line alternative, and changes to the Construction and Operations

Following up on last November’s Presidential Memorandum on Ocean Mapping of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone and the Shoreline and Nearshore of Alaska, the White House today announced the release of a document outlining opportunities and actions to increase the efficiency of the permitting and authorization processes for ocean research, mapping, and characterization activities across regions.  Additionally, the White

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today announced the release of its FY 2021-2022 Studies Development Plan, which outlines the agency’s research priorities and describes proposed studies for the covered period.  Nine of the Plan’s proposed studies will be presented at the upcoming National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s 13th meeting of the BOEM Standing Committee on Offshore

Capitol Hill Ocean Week took place virtually today, with a focus on biodiversity.  In a series of prerecorded videos, Members of Congress commented on the following: Need for action to protect 30% of lands and 30% of the ocean by 2030 (Sen. Tom Udall [D-NM], Rep. Debra Haaland [D-NM]), with Udall also endorsing a 50%

President Trump today issued a Presidential Memorandum on “Safeguarding U.S. National Interests in the Arctic and Antarctic Regions.”  Citing the need for a “ready, capable, and available fleet” of polar icebreakers that are ready for deployment by FY 2029, the Memorandum directs the development and execution of a polar security icebreaking fleet acquisition program. Specific actions include

President Trump today issued a Presidential Proclamation removing the prohibition on commercial fishing within the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, finding that “appropriately managed commercial fishing would not put the objects of scientific and historical interest that the monument protects at risk” and that a prohibition on commercial fishing is not now necessary for the

NOAA today announced the release of new prototype data on the U.S. ocean economy, calling the statistics “the most comprehensive and accurate produced to date” that validate previous  ocean economy estimates and concluding that the marine economy generated $373 billion in GDP in 2018 and outpaced overall GDP growth between 2017 and 2018 (5.8% marine-related GDP growth vs. 5.4%

Calling on Americans to “reflect the value and importance of oceans not only to our security, environment, and economy but also as a source of recreation and enjoyment,” President Trump today proclaimed June 2020 as National Ocean Month. The proclamation, which cites the importance of the oceans and coasts to national security, international trade, maritime commerce, global

The Northeast Regional Ocean Council’s Ocean Planning Committee today held a webinar to provide 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. Participants provided updates on Connecticut’s Long Island Sound Blue Plan, Massachusetts’ Ocean Management Plan, and Rhode Island’s Ocean and Bay Special Area Management Plans. Presenters will describe