The organizations representing recreational fishing and boating in the United States this week urged the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to pause its proposed North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule, citing numerous significant flaws with the proposal. The proposed rule would broaden the current 10-knot (11.5 mph) speed restriction to include vessels 35 feet and larger (down from 65 ...
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NMMA participates in Congressional briefing on fisheries
NMMA this week participated in a Hill briefing hosted by OCEANA, which focused on NOAA’s proposed rule to address ship strikes to endangered North Atlantic right whales and educated over 50 congressional staffers on the need for major revisions to NOAA’s proposal in order to achieve the shared goal of protecting the North Atlantic right whale population. As America’s original ...
Read More »NOAA and NFWF award $7.7 million in grants
NOAA and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) this week announced $7.7 million in new grants using funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support ongoing natural infrastructure projects in seven states. These grants will support the design and implementation of projects to enhance the resilience of coastal communities and improve habitat for fish and wildlife in Hawai‘i, Maine, ...
Read More »U.S. joins Clean Seas Campaign
The United States of America has officially joined the Clean Seas Campaign, demonstrating their commitment to ending plastic pollution. In doing so, they acknowledge the need to curb the flow of marine litter and plastic pollution entering lakes, rivers, and the ocean and, in effect, are providing greater engagement to the biggest campaign devoted to "turning the tide" against plastic ...
Read More »NOAA releases final rule on Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released this week the final management plan, final environmental assessment, and a final rule for Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The new management plan includes proposed strategies and action plans for conservation and management of the sanctuary’s resources over the coming decade. The regulatory changes, which include minor changes to the regulations, reflect input from ...
Read More »NOAA designates Lake Michigan’s Shipwreck Coast a National Marine Sanctuary
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries recently announced the designation of the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary. The area on Lake Michigan in Wisconsin has been under consideration for national marine sanctuary status since 2014. The sanctuary will make up 962-square-miles in Lake Michigan on the Wisconsin side and will protect 36 shipwrecks. The ...
Read More »Insurance catastrophe teams respond to Hurricane Sally devastation
While Hurricane Sally’s slow pace may have delivered four months of rain in four hours, the GEICO | BoatUS Marine Insurance Catastrophe Team is finding that the Category 2 hurricane’s sudden shift to the east just prior to the storm’s September 16 landfall caught many boaters unprepared. “Boats that were homeported in Orange Beach, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida, took the brunt ...
Read More »NOAA urges hurricane preparedness
Atmospheric and oceanic conditions are primed to fuel storm development in the Atlantic, leading to what could be an “extremely active” season, according to forecasters with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season has been off to a rapid pace with a record-setting nine named storms so far and has the ...
Read More »Florida Keys marine sanctuary seeking advisory council
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seeking applicants for four seats on the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council. The deadline to apply is Friday, July 17, 2020. The council ensures public participation in sanctuary management and provides advice to the sanctuary superintendent. Candidates are selected based on their expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which ...
Read More »NOAA recruiting candidates for advisory council
NOAA is seeking applicants to fill the 15 seats of the new Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council. The Sanctuary Advisory Council will provide advice to NOAA that supports the management plan. Members will serve as liaisons to a broad coalition of community organizations to facilitate communication and engagement. Council meetings will be open to the public and ...
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