NOPC in the News

Following the General Assembly’s March 2020 decision to postpone the fourth (and possibly final) session of the United Nations Intergovernmental Conference on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) due to the pandemic, Conference President Rena Lee today announced an intersessional work program “to maintain the momentum of the process” […]

The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture today announced the availability of ~$530 million in assistance for the U.S. seafood industry and fisherman affected by retaliatory tariffs imposed by foreign governments.  The relief signup window is Sept. 14 – Dec. 14, and funding will be provided through the Seafood Trade Relief Program and funded by USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation. The program

The Coast Guard today announced its decision to recertify the Cook Inlet Regional Citizen’s Advisory Council through Aug. 31, 2021.  The Advisory Council monitors the activities of terminal facilities and crude oil tankers pursuant to the Oil Pollution Act of 1990.

As part of an effort to “provide greater transparency and certainty” for the public and stakeholders, the U.S. Interior Department’s Fish and Wildlife Service today announced that it is seeking comments by Thursday, Oct. 8 on its proposal to amend Endangered Species Act regulations to establish a process for excluding areas of critical habitat. USFWS said that it

Exercising authority under Section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, President Trump today issued a Presidential Memorandum removing the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning area subject to congressional moratorium through 2022, the South Atlantic Planning Area (South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida), and the Straits of Florida Planning Area from oil and natural gas leasing

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a public meeting on Monday, Sept. 21.  The meeting will focus on the development of recommendations regarding the Executive Order on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth.

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that the Council Coordination Committee will hold a virtual public meeting on Sept. 23-24.  The Committee will address topics including CEQ’s final National Environmental Policy Act rule and aquaculture and the Executive Order on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth. The Committee consists of all Regional Fishery Management Council chairs,

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it is seeking nominations by Monday, Oct. 5 from individuals interested in serving as new members of regional review groups tasked with providing advice on a range of marine mammal science and management issues specific to the Atlantic (including the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Coast, and U.S. territories in the

The Coast Guard today announced that the Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting on Thursday, Sept. 24.  The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss a Lifesaving/Man Overboard Voluntary Best Practice Guide. The Committee advises the Homeland Security Secretary on matters related to national commercial fishing safety.

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it is seeking comments by Friday, Oct. 30 on a proposed rule providing guidance for safely deterring marine mammals, including prohibitions on certain deterrent methods that NMFS has deemed would have a significant adverse effect on them. NMFS notes the Marine Mammal Protection Act provides protection from liability under the