August 1, 2023 — Agreements signed in the 1980s limited two Oregon tribes’ right to fish, hunt and gather food on their ancestral lands. Federal legislation may soon reinstate those rights on traditional lands.
New Jersey residents challenge Orsted offshore wind farm’s $1 billion subsidy
July 31, 2023 — New Jersey residents have sued Danish renewable energy developer Orsted and the state over a tax break the company received to build a major offshore wind farm in the Atlantic, claiming the estimated $1 billion subsidy violates the state constitution.
New Jersey groups Defend Brigantine Beach and Protect our Coast NJ filed their lawsuit on Thursday in state court in Trenton. They claimed the law authorizing the tax break, signed earlier this month by Governor Phil Murphy, violates a provision of the state constitution that generally prohibits legislation that specifically favors a single, private entity.
The groups asked the court to invalidate the law, which they said created the tax break “for the singular purpose of protecting Orsted from commercial risk it voluntarily assumed” when it submitted bids to develop the project, known as Ocean Wind.
Orsted said on Friday it does not comment on pending litigation. The New Jersey attorney general’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
MAINE: Maine fishermen gather in opposition to the push for offshore wind development
July 31, 2023 — Dozens of Mainers met up on Bailey Island to support fisheries and to show opposition to offshore wind development as legislation signed into law this week moves the project forward.
LD 1895 “An Act Regarding the Procurement of Energy from Offshore Wind Resources,” signed by Gov. Janet Mills, works to lay out a plan to develop the offshore wind project responsibly, add strong standards for workers, both on and off the water, as well as avoid disruption of important fishing grounds.
Texas one of several states included in critical sea turtle habitat proposal
July 31, 2023 — A new proposal aims to protect threatened and endangered sea turtles by preserving their habitat along critical areas of the U.S. coastline.
NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the plan mid-July, proposing 8,870 acres of coastline in California, Florida, Hawaii, North Carolina and Texas be conserved for green sea turtles basking, nesting, incubation, hatching and traveling to sea. The proposition also included the territories of American Samoa, Guam and U.S. Virgin Islands; and the commonwealths of the Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico.
MASSACHUSETTS: Bullard shares his life of public service with readers in “Hometown”
July 31, 2023 — With deep roots embedded in the Whaling City, former mayor of New Bedford and descendant of its founding family, John Bullard, shares tales of his hometown in a new memoir. His story “Hometown” highlights his journey as a federal leader and New Bedford’s plight to survive and thrive.
Who is John Bullard?
Bullard served as mayor of New Bedford from 1986 to 1992 during which he brought the city into compliance with the Clean Water Act by building a secondary wastewater treatment plant at Fort Rodman and paving the way for offshore wind to be located at the former Standard-Times Field.
He led the charge to save New Bedford’s suffering historic whaling district, alongside members of WHALE, who established the National Whaling Historic Park, the rescue of the Zeiterion Theatre, and the establishment of the Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum.
Black sea bass habitat shifting north as Atlantic heats up
July 31, 2023 — Black sea bass are common in mid-Atlantic waters. But as the climate warms, they’re increasingly found farther north.
“Fishermen see this change on the water before the management and science community can really adapt to that and react to that,” says David Bethoney of the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation.
MAINE: Maine legislature passes bill to develop offshore wind energy industry in the Gulf of Maine
July 30, 2023 — On July 26, 2023, the Maine Legislature passed amended bill “An Act Regarding the Procurement of Energy from Offshore Wind Resources” (LD 1895), which aims to develop offshore wind in the Gulf of Maine while maintaining good-paying jobs for Maine workers. The bill has been sent to Governor Janet Mills.
LD 1895 is sponsored by Senator Mark Lawrence, who stated, “Record-setting temperatures, dangerous and unpredictable storms and rising ocean levels and temperatures demonstrate the urgency of developing offshore wind and meeting our state’s goals for renewable energy. I’m grateful to my fellow legislators for supporting this bill. LD 1895 represents a detailed path to smart offshore wind development that will benefit our environment, Maine workers and coastal communities.”
Alaska pollock sector welcomes MSC eco-label push from McDonald’s China
July 30, 2023 — McDonald’s China recently announced that it will now include the blue Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) eco-label on its Filet-o-Fish sandwiches, Double Fish burgers, and Kids Fish Fillet burgers, served in more than 5,000 restaurants nationwide.
The initiative, according to Gu Lei, chief impact officer of McDonald’s China, “will continue to help protect the vitality of the ocean.” Gu described McDonald’s China as “actively building a sustainable supply chain to reduce damage to the environment through its seafood procurement.”
Florida’s coral reefs are dying. Here’s why you should care
July 30, 2023 — Right now, the Great Florida Reef is experiencing catastrophic conditions following a marine heat wave that has engulfed the ecosystem for months.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the marine heat waved moved into the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea around February and March and is predicted to persist with extreme ocean temperatures through at least October.
The duration and intensity of these abnormally warm waters is a significant concern for the health of the coral.
Dr. Cory Krediet, an associate professor of marine science specializing in corals at Eckerd College, spoke to News 6 while helping rescue efforts in the Florida Keys.
“We’re looking to use microbes to try to increase resilience of corals to future stress. But right now, here at Mote Marine Lab, restoration efforts are happening. They’re bringing corals back from the reef into the land-based nurseries, to try and keep them out of the reef environment until some conditions hopefully may subside back to normal,” Krediet said.
MASSACHUSETTS: Greater New Bedford Waterfronts Awarded $830,000 in Grants
July 30, 2023 — The City of New Bedford and the surrounding towns of Dartmouth and Mattapoisett have been awarded $830,000 in state Seaport grants for waterfront development projects.
In a release on Thursday, State Senator Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford) announced the Seaport Economic Council voted to approve $3 million in grants for 10 projects, four located in the Greater New Bedford area.
Established in 2015, the Seaport Economic Council consists of 18 members that award grants to municipal waterfronts to bolster maritime economies.
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