April 17, 2025
Trump opens a Huge Marine Protected Zone to Commerical Fishing
The New York Times | Rebecca Dzombak and Lisa Friedman
“Mr. Trump issued an executive order opening up the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument, which lies some 750 miles west of Hawaii. President George W. Bush established the monument in 2009 and President Barack Obama expanded it in 2014 to its current area of nearly 500,000 square miles.”
March 31, 2025
Deep-Sea Mining Threatens Sea Life In A Way No One Is Thinking About
Honolulu Civil Beat | Alexus Cazares-Nuesser
“As an oceanographer studying marine life in an area of the Pacific rich in these nodules, I believe that before countries and companies rush to mine, we need to understand the risks. Is humanity willing to risk collapsing parts of an ecosystem we barely understand for resources that are important for our future?”
March 15, 2025
Will Trump try to eliminate Chuckwalla, Sattitla national monuments or not?
Palm Springs Desert Sun | Janet Wilson
“Members of Congress, tribal leaders and other elected officials and dozens of groups across California are anxiously trying to determine if news reports that President Donald Trump plans to rescind the creation of Chuckwalla National Monument and Sattitla Highlands National Monument are true. Many also pleaded with him not to do it, or vowed to battle hard if he does.”
March 13, 2025
Florida governor vetoes NOAA plan for marine sanctuary
E&E NewsPM | Daniel Cusick
“In a March 3 letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the Republican governor said the federal management plan and its implementing regulations “repeal long standing references to the State of Florida’s sovereign right to manage marine life and sovereign submerged lands within the state’s jurisdictional waters” and would “prevent the expedited restoration of coral reefs using artificial habitats.”
February 4, 2025
NOAA seeks advisory council applicants for Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary
Mustang News | Natalia Young
“The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is inviting college students and community members from San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties to apply for positions on an advisory council that will guide and protect the newly-designated Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. The application deadline is March 7.”
November 5, 2024
Opinion: We must dive deep to save the Blake Plateau
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Queen Quet Marquetta L. Goodwine, Kamau Sadiki, Jim Delgado
“In the Gullah/Geechee Nation, the proverb “De wata bring we and de wata gwine tek we bak” is often heard. Wading back into the water to face the Motherland from which many of the ancestors of native Gullah/Geechees came would require a trip across the Blake Plateau.”
November 4, 2024
Next President Will Shape The Future of America’s Largest Marine Monument
Honolulu Civil Beat | Nathan Eagle
“Papahanaumokuakea protects 7,000 species, including fish, seaweed and birds found nowhere else. New species are discovered regularly as divers descend to new depths in new places.”
October 21, 2024
A New Marine Sanctuary Will Protect Homelands and Ocean Waters of Chumash Peoples
Native News Online | Kaili Berg
“Before his passing in 2021, Collins reflected on the significance of the sanctuary’s creation, stating: ‘Grandmother Ocean has been providing life to the Chumash Peoples for over ten thousand years; now is the time for all communities to work together and assist her in rebuilding her Vibrant Thrivability for all future generations.’”
October 19, 2024
The U.S. gets a new national marine sanctuary, the first led by a tribe
NPR | Lauren Sommer
“‘WALKER: As long as I’m breathing, we’re going to be fighting to protect our Earth. You know, that’s just who most indigenous people are. So I’m always hopeful, always optimistic.’”
June 24, 2024
June Sightings in the Marine National Monument
New England Aquarium | Orla O’Brien
“The aerial survey team at the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium has been flying surveys to the remote Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument since 2017. To fly these surveys, we travel 150 nautical miles southeast of Cape Cod.”
June 6, 2024
Biden-Harris Administration Publishes Final Management Plan for Mariana Trench Marine National Monument
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
“NOAA Fisheries, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands released the final management plan and environmental assessment for the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument. The monument was established to protect and conserve unique and pristine habitats, historic objects, and features of high scientific interest.”
June 3, 2024
NSTC: National Aquatic Environmental DNA Strategy
White House | Office of Science and Technology Policy
“The National Aquatic eDNA Strategy is a call to action to clarify sectors where federal involvement in aquatic eDNA research can accelerate research and development for biological monitoring, improve information content, encourage partnerships, and help foster job creation in a growing industry of related goods and services.”
May 7, 2024
It’s time for a change: Centering community voices for ocean decision-making
Saipan Tribune | Sheila Babauta, Ayana Melvin, Mehak Arora
“We’re working to steward our shared waters and increase access to them, but we need to see more systemic change to address the systemic problems of colonialism and racism. We have been left out of ocean and environmental policy decisions that directly impact our lives. We want a seat at the table, with equal decision-making power.”
April 24, 2024
How climate change is harming the coastal culture of the Gullah Geechee: NBC News
NBC News | Brie Jackson
“Climate change and warming ocean temperatures are threatening the preservation of the Gullah Geechee coastal communities in the United States. NBC News’ Brie Jackson reports on how flooding, storm surges and losing wildlife could erase the distinct way of life for these descendants of slaves.”
April 17, 2024
Marking One Year of Progress since Release of First-Ever Ocean Climate Action Plan
White House | Office of Science and Technology Policy
“When President Biden and Vice President Harris took office, they pledged to restore America’s climate leadership at home and abroad – and every day since, the Biden-Harris Administration has led and delivered on the most ambitious climate agenda in history. Last year, the White House released the first-ever Ocean Climate Action Plan (OCAP), a groundbreaking roadmap to harness the power and capacity of the ocean to address the climate crisis.”
October 31, 2024
Protect and connect with the ‘Treasure of the Atlantic’
Saporta Report | Jessica Howell- Edwards
“The Blake Plateau, which lies 80-200 miles offshore the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida, was recently found to house the Earth’s largest-known deep-sea coral habitat. While we’re still discovering more about the plateau’s role in our larger global ecosystem, we do know the full extent of the essential functions it performs for our local ocean and livelihoods.”
October 19, 2024
Chumash people in California to co-steward marine sanctuary in historic partnership
Associated Press | Jaimie Ding
“‘We not only protected our homeland but we protected our spiritual connection to our ancestors and our future generations for everybody,’ said Walker. ‘This is something that will live long beyond my lifetime.’”
October 19, 2024
US approves first-ever tribal marine sanctuary: ‘Our community’s hard work has come to fruition’
The Guardian | Lucy Sherriff
“‘We had huge, overwhelming support for this area to be protected, and we brought communities together,’ says Violet Sage Walker, chairwoman of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC)…”
June 10, 2024
FOMT expresses gratitude for publication of MTMNM management plan
Saipan Tribune | Sheila Babauta
“The Friends of the Mariana Trench, a dedicated group of advocates for the protection of one of the world’s most iconic natural wonders, extends its heartfelt thanks to the Biden-Harris administration, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, local CNMI government, and the Mariana Trench Monument Advisory Council for the successful publication of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument management plan.”
June 5, 2024
Biden-Harris Administration designates new national marine sanctuary in New York state
NOAA
“Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced that it is designating a 1,722-square-mile area in eastern Lake Ontario as America's 16th national marine sanctuary. Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary 一adjacent to New York’s Jefferson, Oswego, Cayuga and Wayne counties 一 will celebrate the region’s maritime cultural history and provide new opportunities for research, education, recreation and maritime heritage-related tourism in local coastal communities and the broader Great Lakes region.”
May 10, 2024
California’s Central Coast Could Gain First Indigenous-Named Marine Sanctuary in US
KQED | Benjamin Purper
“For years, the Northern Chumash have been working to create a new national marine sanctuary that would protect these waters from offshore oil drilling and other development. If the federal government approves the designation this summer, it would be the first marine sanctuary in the U.S. to be nominated by, and named after, an Indigenous tribe. It’s the culmination of decades of tribal conservation work — but it’s also the legacy of a father and daughter.”
April 30, 2024
U.S. Plan to Protect Oceans Has a Problem, Some Say: Too Much Fishing
The New York Times | Catrin Einhorn
“An effort to protect 30 percent of land and waters would count some commercial fishing zones as conserved areas.”
April 23, 2024
Chumash Heritage Marine Sanctuary: A Great Asset
The Santa Barbara Independent | Dan Haifley
“If designated, Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary would cover waters off San Luis Obispo and northern Santa Barbara County, and last year 110,000 comments were submitted to the federal government mostly in favor of the largest boundary option.”
April 4, 2025
U.S. military aims to turn island bird refuge into SpaceX rocket site
The Washington Post | Dino Grandoni and Aaron Gregg
“The U.S. military is seeking to turn a remote Pacific wildlife refuge into a landing site for SpaceX rockets, a move that could ultimately advance military capabilities but could also threaten a rare sanctuary for 1.5 million birds.”
March 27, 2025
Mining Company Seeks Trump Support to Shortcut Access to Seabed Metals
The New York Times | Eric Lipton
“The long-running battle over whether to allow Pacific Ocean seabed mining took an unexpected turn Thursday when a company disclosed it had been confidentially negotiating a plan with the Trump administration to circumvent a United Nations treaty and obtain authorization from the United States to start mining in international waters.”
March 14, 2025
As NOAA braces for more cuts, scientists say public safety is at risk
PBS News | Adam Kemp
“Meteorologists and climate scientists are raising alarms about major cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, saying they will harm the country’s ability to forecast and respond to major weather events and put lives at risk.”
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