Recent News & Updates

*NEW* Climate Services Advisory Committee

November 21, 2024

Calling all resilience practitioners and climate science, data and information users! NOAA is seeking nominations for its first-ever Climate Services Advisory Committee (CSAC). The CSAC will advise NOAA on the accessibility and effectiveness of NOAA's climate services – data, information, science, tools and decision support – in preparing our nation for the impacts of climate change.

The CSAC will be made up of up to 20 non-federal members, including representatives from underserved and highly impacted communities, community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, philanthropy, state and local governments, Indigenous communities, and groups from sectors such as public health, affordable housing, workforce and economic development, food security, small business and education.

Nominations are due by December 20. Please help us get the word out! https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/11/20/2024-27064/climate-services-advisory-committee 

Biden-Harris Administration, NOAA make $95 million available for fish passage as part of Investing in America agenda

October 30, 2024

NOAA Fisheries announced two funding opportunities totaling $95 million through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to support new fish passage projects, with one focused on tribes. Projects will help protect and restore migrating fish and their habitats, and support communities and economies that depend on these resources.

Every year, millions of fish attempt to migrate to their spawning and rearing habitats to reproduce. They are often blocked from completing their journey by human-made barriers, such as dams and culverts. When fish cannot reach their habitat, they cannot reproduce and maintain or grow their populations. Fish passage projects reopen these pathways and are important for the protection and restoration of migrating fish and their habitats. 

The two funding opportunities announced today are:

NOAA’s Office of Habitat Conservation has run four funding opportunities under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. To date, the program has funded 214 awards totaling $985 million through these competitions.

The application deadline for the Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal Funding Opportunity is February 10, 2025 and the deadline for applications for the Restoring Tribal Priority Fish Passage Funding Opportunity is February 27, 2025. 

Additional information is available on the NOAA Fisheries website

National Spatial Reference System Seeking Public Input 

October 9, 2024

The National Spatial Reference System is a consistent coordinate system that defines latitude, longitude, height and other critical geospatial values throughout the United States. It ensures positional coordinates are compatible with those determined by others, so that when creating maps; marking off property boundaries; and planning, designing, and building roads, bridges, and other structures, everything matches up. The National Geodetic Survey is working to modernize the system and is looking for public input and testing as products are rolled out to the beta site. Learn more in the Federal Register Notice: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/10/09/2024-23347/updated-implementation-timeline-for-the-modernized-national-spatial-reference-system-nsrs

 

Our nation’s coordinate system, the National Spatial Reference System, is being modernized to take advantage of the latest space-based geospatial technology. Learn more in the Federal Register Notice: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/10/09/2024-23347/updated-implementation-timeline-for-the-modernized-national-spatial-reference-system-nsrs

Biden-Harris Administration invests more than $23 million to remove marine debris

 

September 5, 2024

Today NOAA’s Marine Debris Program announced more than $23 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for 13 new projects to remove large marine debris and install debris interception technologies, which included two tribal projects. These projects will target the largest and most damaging debris to provide tangible benefits to coastal and marine habitats, communities, and economies across the nation.

 

  • Ocean Conservancy (National, $5,218,000) will administer a national competitive grant program for the removal of large marine debris, including derelict fishing gear. The project will also provide funding to Tribal organizations to remove debris in southwest Alaska, remove marine debris in Florida’s Lower Keys, work with California fishers on solutions to ghost gear challenges, create tools to better understand the issue of derelict fishing gear, and identify solutions to prevent future gear loss.
  • Washington State Department of Natural Resources (Washington, $1,029,285), in collaboration with the Squaxin Island Tribe, will remove abandoned and derelict vessels from the South Puget Sound on tidelands owned by the Squaxin Island Tribe to address pollution in a critically important cultural, recreation, and subsistence location. The project will also hold six vessel turn-in events throughout Western Washington to intercept vessels before they become derelict or abandoned.

Biden-Harris Administration, NOAA to Provide $600,000 for Citizen Science

August 5, 2024

The Department of Commerce and NOAA announced a $600,000 funding opportunity for members of the public to conduct science that helps fisheries and fishing communities prepare for climate change. We’re seeking proposals for citizen science projects, marking a unique collaboration with members of the general public who will actively participate in the scientific process, alongside researchers, to address real-world questions.

NOAA to make $1.5 million available to tribes for regional ocean partnerships

August 1, 2024

Today NOAA announced the availability of approximately $1.5 million for federally recognized tribes. This funding is provided with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The focus is on encouraging increased tribal participation with regional ocean partnerships. Funding will support tribal actions related to regional ocean and coastal priorities and will further the coordinated management of ocean resources and data. Funding applications are due at 8:59 p.m. Pacific Time, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 31, 2024. 

NOAA to establish advisory council for the proposed Lake Erie National Marine Sanctuary

July 10, 2024
 

NOAA will begin recruiting members for a new sanctuary advisory council for the proposed Lake Erie National Marine Sanctuary. Council members will advise NOAA throughout the designation process and serve as a liaison between NOAA and the communities surrounding the Erie County Pennsylvania area.

 
image.png
Area proposed for Lake Erie National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: NOAA
 

The sanctuary advisory council for the proposed sanctuary will be composed of 15 voting seats and 15 alternate seats, as well as non-voting seats for federal and state government agencies, federally recognized Indigenous Nations and Tribes and youth. The membership of the council will represent a broad cross-section of the surrounding communities and diverse points of view. 

 

See the recruitment announcement here. 

NOAA Fisheries announces the availability of a new 5-year review for threatened Northern California steelhead, threatened Upper Willamette River
(UWR) steelhead, and threatened UWR Chinook salmon

July 9, 2024

NOAA Fisheries has completed a 5-year review under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for threatened Northern California (NC) steelhead, Upper Willamette River (UWR) steelhead, and UWR Chinook salmon. 

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/document/2024-5-year-review-summary-evaluation-northern-california-steelhead

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/document/2024-5-year-review-summary-evaluation-upper-willamette-river-steelhead-upper

No listing status changes are recommended for the species at this time. While states, tribes, landowners, and other partners are making significant efforts to recover and protect salmon and steelhead in northern California and western Oregon, ongoing threats from poor habitat conditions, inaccessible habitat, and increasing threats from disease, predation, drought conditions, and climate change threaten the survival and recovery of these species. Action is necessary to prevent further population declines. Among the most critical recovery actions are to 1) fund and implement actions that result in measurable water conservation benefits to NC steelhead (e.g., increase water forbearance, manage groundwater pumping) and 2) implement effective passage programs and revision of reservoir operations that will promote access to historical spawning and rearing areas for UWR steelhead & UWR Chinook salmon. This review highlights key ongoing and emerging threats, as well as the most critical recovery actions to undertake in the next 5 years to protect and recover this species.

You can read more about the 5-year review here. NOAA Fisheries expects to complete additional 5-year reviews on the remaining West Coast salmon and steelhead species currently listed under the ESA in the coming months. 

Holding Polluters Accountable: Learn About NOAA's Pollution Assessment and Restoration in Your State

June 21, 2024

The NOAA Pollution Assessment and Restoration in Your State ArcGIS Story Map(link is external) offsite link, an easy-to-use tool that breaks down the progress of pollution settlements in each state and territory, has been recently updated. This Story Map showcases NOAA’s Damage Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration Program (DARRP), which is an interdisciplinary program that holds polluters accountable for oil spills, hazardous waste (Superfund) sites, and ship groundings through pollution settlements. Since its inception in 2021, an additional $200M has been recovered from pollution settlements for restoration, bringing the total $10.7 billion to date. 

This user-friendly tool enables users to see pollution incidents in their state, how those incidents are being assessed for damages, the funds that have been recovered from responsible parties to date, and the restoration that is being implemented with those funds. Additionally, the case map allows you to pinpoint specific pollution event locations where NOAA’s DARRP is actively involved, with further details available on dedicated case pages.

This story map was designed to inform the public about DARRP's efforts in your state. NOAA works with federal, state and tribal co-trustees, acting on behalf of the public to conserve and restore coastal and marine natural resources that were injured as a result of oil spills, hazardous releases and ship groundings. We invite you to explore the work DARRP does throughout the United States.

For more information, contact nicole.matthesen@noaa.gov(link sends e-mail) or tom.brosnan@noaa.gov

Be NOAA & NASA's Virtual Guest for the Launch of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite U (GOES-U)

June 17, 2024

Be our virtual guest for the launch of GOES-U, the fourth and final satellite in NOAA’s GOES-R Series, the Western Hemisphere’s most advanced weather-observing and environmental-monitoring system. GOES-U will enhance the nation’s ability to monitor and forecast weather, ocean, and environmental dynamics in real-time. NASA and SpaceX are targeting a two-hour launch window opening at 5:16 p.m. EDT Tuesday, June 25. The mission will launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites is a collaborative NOAA and NASA program providing continuous imagery and data on atmospheric conditions and solar activity. NASA builds and launches the GOES and NOAA operates them. As a virtual guest, you'll receive curated mission resources, schedule updates, interactive opportunities, and a commemorative stamp for your virtual guest passport, all delivered straight to your inbox. All resources, participation, and registration are FREE!

To register, click on the button below or go to https://VGP-GOESU.eventbrite.com offsite link.


Low Gulf of Maine Red Tide Predicted for 2024

May 30, 2024


Researchers with NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) are expecting another low red tide for the Gulf of Maine this spring and summer, continuing the pattern of smaller blooms observed in the region over the last few years. The Gulf of Maine forecast deployed by NCCOS is based on data collected about Alexandrium’s dormant stage, when it exists as seed-like cysts in ocean sediments before growing into the swimming cells in the spring that can produce red tide. Once the bloom begins, NOAA will provide coastal stakeholders with weekly updates of modeled bloom extent, trajectory, and intensity throughout the spring and summer, and guidance to states monitoring harmful algae and shellfish toxicity along the coast. This marks the seventeenth year that NOAA and its partners have issued the seasonal forecast, which enables proactive responses to protect coastal economies, making the region more resilient to red tide outbreaks.

To learn more, visit the forecast webpage.


NOAA Fisheries Issues the Final Rule Implementing Federal Management of Salmon Fishing in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area

April 29, 2024

AKsalmon

Amendment 16 addresses court rulings requiring Federal management of salmon fishing in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Act

NOAA Fisheries announces it is implementing Federal management of commercial and recreational salmon fishing in the Cook Inlet Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The final rule offsite link, filed in the Federal Register today, is in response to federal court rulings requiring Federal management of salmon fishing in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area in accordance with the Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and publication of a final rule for the management of the Cook Inlet EEZ Area by May 1, 2024. 

You can read more offsite link about this amendment.


Biden-Harris Administration announces $123 million for coastal habitat restoration through Investing in America agenda

04/22/24

Today, Assistant to the President for Science & Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Arati Prabhakar and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Deputy NOAA Administrator Jainey K. Bavishi visited Scarborough, Maine, to announce the recommendation of $123 million in funding across state and territorial coastal management programs and national estuarine research reserves. The funding will support habitat restoration and conservation, as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. 

President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act together are investing more than $50 billion in climate resilience and adaptation. Today’s announcement, funded by the historic legislation, will allow NOAA to build on the important work done by states and territories over the last 50 years to conserve and manage our nation’s coastal areas and conduct long-term research to better understand the function of our estuaries.

“The Commerce Department and entire Biden-Harris Administration are committed to ensuring coastal communities across the country have the resources they need to combat climate change,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Through this investment, made possible thanks to President Biden’s commitment to investing in America, we will be able to protect critical resources for coastal habitat restoration, create new jobs and boost resilience to extreme weather events across our coastal communities.” 

“America’s coastal communities are on the frontlines of climate change — and we can tap into the power of nature to reduce the impacts of sea level rise, storms and erosion,” said Prabhakar. “Through President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, we are taking historic action to meet the climate crisis and build a more resilient future for all.” 

These recommended funds will support: 

  • $59.8 million for state and territory coastal zone management programs for 22 projects.
  • $15 million for national estuarine research reserves for eight projects.
  • Within this $75 million investment, $36 million will be designated for projects being carried out in partnership with or directly by tribes and Native Hawaiians, including reacquisitions and restoration of ecological and culturally significant ancestral lands. 
  • This funding will also leverage $48 million in non-competitive funding to the 34 state and territorial coastal management programs and 30 national estuarine research reserves for essential planning, policy development and implementation, collaborative engagement, and implementation of adaptation strategies to help increase the resilience of coastal communities and their economies.

These recommended projects aim to increase community resilience to climate change and extreme weather events through habitat restoration and planning, engineering, and design and ecosystem conservation. 

Visit NOAA’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act websites to learn about current and future funding opportunities.


Hiring event in Fort Lauderdale for NOAA research ship jobs

April 18, 2024

NOAAfleet
NOAA professional mariner, Allan Quintana, recovers equipment deployed from NOAA Ship Nancy Foster. (Art Howard/Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration)

NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations will hold a hiring event on April 30 from 9am-4pm ET in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to recruit professional mariners to work aboard NOAA’s ocean research ships. The event will take place at Maritime Professional Training offsite link,1915 South Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316. Recruiters from NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations offsite link will be in attendance.

NOAA operates a fleet offsite link of 15 hydrographic survey, oceanographic research and fisheries survey vessels. NOAA ships operate in the U.S. and around the world. The ships are run by a combination of NOAA commissioned officers and civilian professional mariners. 

NOAA’s civilian professional mariners are federal employees and include engineers and unlicensed members of the engine, steward and deck departments. In addition, survey and electronic technicians operate and/or maintain the ship's mission, communications and navigation equipment.

NOAA staff will be at the hiring event to answer questions and expedite the hiring process for qualified individuals. Qualified applicants could be issued a tentative job offer on the spot. In particular, NOAA is hiring licensed engineers, oilers, able seamen and cooks. Applicants must be U.S. citizens. Please bring a photo I.D. (driver’s license, passport, etc.) to the event. Applicants are also encouraged to bring, if available:

  • Merchant Mariners Credential

  • Maritime training certificates

  • Transportation Worker Identification Card

  • Military service record

More details can be found at: omao.noaa.gov/marinerjobevents offsite link


*NEW* 2024 Marine Endangered Species Art Contest

April 12, 2024

artcontest

Teachers: Celebrate Endangered Species Day (May 17) by having your classroom or individual students participate in the 2024 Marine Endangered Species Art Contest offsite link!

Endangered and threatened species need our help. Students’ artwork will showcase their knowledge and commitment to protecting these animals. While we are located in New England and the mid-Atlantic United States, we invite participants from anywhere in the world to submit entries!

Artwork should highlight one or more m offsite linkarine offsite link endangered or threatened species from the New England/Mid-Atlantic region offsite link of the United States. Text highlighting why you chose this species and what people can do to protect them may also be included. Potential themes may vary by age. Some ideas include animals in their natural habitat, sharing the shore and sea, threats to the species, or how we can help them recover. In addition to the individual entries, we are also adding a collaborative category this year. Collaborative artworks include those created by two or more individuals.

Get the details on entry requirements, entry submissions, prizes, and more on our web page offsite link. Questions? Contact nmfs.gar.es-art-contest@noaa.gov


Grant Awards for FY24 Ocean Odyssey Marine Debris Awards for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility

April 4, 2024
 
Today, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation will announce $84,136 to 12 awards for the Ocean Odyssey Fiscal Year 2024 Marine Debris Awards for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility offsite link (DEIJA). These projects will support initiatives that investigate and prevent the adverse impacts of marine debris in communities that are underserved, underrepresented, or overburdened.
  • Alaska - Akiak Native Community (Alaska, $7,500) will remove debris resulting from extreme riverbank erosion that has occurred in Akiak, Alaska over the past decade. The Akiak Native Community will lead work to remove debris along the riverbank and thereby prevent debris from flowing down the Kuskokwim River to the Kuskokwim Bay and Bering Sea. Native Village of Afognak (Alaska, $6,116) will coordinate and carry out a marine debris cleanup at Catcher Beach on Afognak Island. Alaska Native youth and interns will clean up the beach and existing trails in Afognak Village, which are important areas for the tribal community.
  • California - San Diego Audubon Society (California, $5,657) will engage more than 100 residents of San Diego’s underserved South Bay communities to remove 450 pounds of marine debris from the wetland habitat in San Diego Bay. Event attendees will remove debris on a kayak trip, receive bilingual education about local ecosystems, and meet with local professionals working in environmental fields.
  • Hawai'i and American Samoa - Kewalo Marine Laboratory at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (Hawaiʻi and American Samoa, $7,500) aims to study coral ingestion of microplastics in American Samoa. By gathering data and hosting experiential learning workshops, this initiative will enhance ocean literacy while addressing the urgent need for information about the impact of microplastics on corals, preserving invaluable cultural, economic, and ecological resources provided by corals.
  • Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina - Gullah/Geechee Legacy (Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina, $7,500) will expand the Gullah/Geechee Coastal Removal Engaging Artists Through Environmental Action (CREATE) project beyond South Carolina and into the Sea Islands of the Gullah/Geechee Nation in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. Native Gullah/Geechee leaders and citizens will plan and lead community outreach and engagement sessions and Native Gullah/Geechee artisans will assist with intergenerational artwork activities at outreach and education events.
  • Massachusetts - Mystic River Watershed Association (Massachusetts, $5,860) will enhance the experiential learning components of an existing K–8 curriculum on trash in the Mystic River watershed and the connection to marine debris and plastics. Through the addition of field trips and local trash removal events, approximately 100 afterschool students in three underserved communities will engage in place-based explorations of the impacts of trash on stormwater, rivers, and the ocean.
  • Michigan - Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (Michigan, $7,500) will conduct research, detection, monitoring, collection, and analysis of marine debris on Lake Huron shorelines with various student groups and educators in northeast Michigan. Engaging underserved youth in rural communities is a priority for this project as it will help educate, protect, and preserve the Lake Huron shorelines for the future.
  • New York - Research Foundation of CUNY - Queens College (New York, $7,470) will train four students to assess the amount of microplastics in water and marine debris on the shoreline in northeast Queens, New York. In addition, this project will recruit volunteers from the community to assist in shoreline clean up events. The resulting project data will be shared to increase STEM engagement and promote environmental stewardship. Resilience Education Training and Innovation (RETI) Center LLP (New York, $7,000) will educate residents to take action in the local urban watershed to create a more livable coastline for an environmental justice community. The project will support student stipends for local youth to count and document the marine debris collected from a new interception device at the RETI Center Field Station.
  • Texas - Sea Turtle, Inc. (Texas, $7,040) will conduct community-based events serving the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. The year-long, multi-pronged approach includes providing alternatives to single-use plastics, cleaning local jetties and beaches, and conducting shoreline marine debris monitoring through the NOAA Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project.
  • Virginia - Elizabeth River Project (Virginia, $7,493) will mentor, train, and engage youth from ages 10-25 to remove marine debris and litter in the underserved communities of Berkley and Campostella in Norfolk, Virginia. They will work with partners to mentor these youth to develop leadership and stewardship skills and will involve them in the organization of local marine debris cleanups.
  • Republic of Palau - Sonsorol State Government (Republic of Palau, $7,500) will educate Sonsorol youth about the harmful effects of ocean dumping and options for waste management. The youth will develop leadership and organizational skills by implementing beach cleanups on each of the four State of Sonosorol islands and will present project outcomes at a town hall to inform citizens of project achievements.

NOAA Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Announcement: Regional Ocean Partnership Award Funding to Tribal Nations

April 1, 2024

NOAA will invest $754,953 in tribal project awards through regional ocean partnership funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Three Tribal Nations—the Makah Indian Tribe, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians, and the Penobscot Indian Nation  —will receive funds to support tribal participation in or engagement with regional ocean partnerships, as well as to support tribal actions related to regional ocean and coastal priorities. The list of awards can be found here.


OLIA Open Position: NOAA Tribal Liaison based in Alaska

March 18, 2024
 

This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Deputy Under Secretary for Operations (DUSO) with one vacancy in Anchorage, AK.

All US Citizens or Nationals: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/781561200
As a Program Advisor, you will perform the following duties:
  • Serves as the Senior Tribal Liaison, advisor and primary point of contact for agency tribal affairs liaisons and senior leadership on issues relevant to tribes, indigenous groups, and tribal serving organizations. Develops and implements strategies for short and long-term planning to increase the efficiency of tribal programs and policies.
  • Responsible for building and maintain relationships with tribes, indigenous groups, and tribal serving organizations. Advises and collaborates with leadership on strategies to strengthen relationships with tribes, indigenous groups, and tribal serving organizations in the region.
  • Advises and provides consultations and coordination with Tribal officials on federal policies and programs and its effects on the tribal matters. Leads meetings with tribal officials in the development of federal policies that have tribal implications. Researches and develops opportunities and provides training resources on tribal consultation and engagement.

Planet NOAA Podcast Episode 2: To the stars and beyond

March 7, 2024

Blast off from Planet NOAA and see beyond the stars with our resident space experts. Join Dr. Michael C. Morgan in the Leadership Corner to chat about how NOAA’s presence in space positions global weather, water, climate and ocean observations.

NOAA Podcast
Image Credit: NOAA/NASA

2024 Efficient Permitting Roadmap

March 7, 2024

A guide to the regulatory process for sediment management on the North-Central California Coast.
 

Too many habitat restoration projects remain in the planning phase across the North-Central California Coast, while there's an urgent need to take action to address climate change impacts and biodiversity loss. To accelerate the pace of environmentally beneficial restoration work across the region, we are striving to provide information that is easy to access and helps users navigate the regulatory process.

We synthesized guidance, tips, and best practices from over 17 federal, state, and local agencies to create a ‘how to’ guide and clearinghouse of information for navigating a well-coordinated, comprehensive, and efficient permitting and environmental review process for coastal sediment management actions (e.g. beach habitat restoration). The user-friendly format provides project planners with more accessible information and the ability to reduce time spent navigating regulatory requirements.

The roadmap contains:

  • An overview of the regulatory process
  • A guide to determining which agencies to consult
  • Specific requirements of federal, state, and local agencies and their key issues, concerns, and recommendations
  • Best practices for each agency’s process by project phase
  • A step by step checklist to navigating the regulatory process efficiently
  • Tips and guidance to consider for resolving common potential challenges
The Efficient Permitting Roadmap provides guidance, tips, and best practices to navigate the regulatory process.

Geography: From Año Nuevo to Gualala including all estuarine and coastal waters in Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo Counties excluding the San Francisco Bay.

Roadmap

NOAA proposes national marine sanctuary in Papahānaumokuākea

March 1, 2024
 
Following input from state and federal agencies, local communities and the public, NOAA released for public comment its draft proposal to designate marine portions of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument as a national marine sanctuary. The proposed Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary would supplement and complement existing authorities, including the area’s designation as a marine national monument.
 
Sanctuary designation would provide clarity and comprehensive protections for Papahānaumokuākea’s ecosystems, wildlife and cultural and maritime heritage resources. NOAA and the State of Hawaii would co-manage the proposed sanctuary, complementing the existing management structure for the monument. The monument is currently jointly administered by four Co-Trustees — the Department of Commerce, the Department of the Interior, the State of Hawaii and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
 
 A detailed description of the proposed sanctuary, as well as additional information about opportunities to provide public comment, can be found on the website for the proposed Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary. The public can submit comments until May 7, 2024, through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. The docket number is NOAA-NOS-2021-0114 and comments will be accepted in both English and ʻōlelo Hawai‘i (Hawaiian language). 
 

In addition, NOAA will host in-person and virtual public comment meetings during which members of the public can offer oral comments. Detailed information on the dates, times and locations for public meetings is available at: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/papahanaumokuakea/.


Assistant Tribal Position Opening  

February 28, 2024
 

NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region is hiring an Assistant Tribal Coordinator (term position). The vacancy will open for applications on USA Jobs February 28 and will be open for 7 days. Due to this short window, we’re spreading the word now to give interested applicants more time to prepare their applications.  Please see below for more information and spread the word! Additional information can be found on the NOAA Fisheries LinkedIn page  offsite linkand the Fisheries IRA website. Questions can be directed to Ruth.Howell@noaa.gov.

Series and Band Level: ZP-401 Fishery Resource Management Specialist. Band 3

Term Position (up to four years)

Title: Assistant Tribal Coordinator for NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region

Duty Stations: Seattle, WA. Portland, OR. Long Beach, CA. Sacramento, CA. Santa Rosa, CA.


Ocean-based Climate Resilience Accelerators program Phase 1 Awardees

February 20, 2024

The Ocean-Based Climate Resilience Accelerators program is a $60 M undertaking to invest in a network of novel business accelerators that support ocean observation technologies and information services in order to find solutions to climate-driven challenges. This is a competitive funding opportunity in two phases. Phase 1 is awarding 16 proposed business accelerators up to $250,000 each, and those 16 awardees are invited to apply to the Phase 2 Request for Applications. At the end of Phase 2, up to five proposed accelerators will be selected for funding from the remaining $54M.


Climate resilience-focused start-ups and small businesses are critical in the development and commercialization of new technologies that will address our most pressing climate challenges. These small businesses drive technology development, business model innovation, and job creation in providing data and critical services to the blue economy. However, like small businesses in many other sectors, they struggle to access the capital, business development services, and entrepreneurial training necessary to scale their business and create the impact needed to address climate challenges. This program is designed to help businesses address these challenges while producing public-private partnerships that benefit US businesses, NOAA, and the Nation.

A full list of the awardees can be found here.
 

Visit NOAA’s Inflation Reduction Act website to learn about current and future funding opportunities.


Public Listening Sessions for the Future of Aquaculture at NOAA Fisheries

February 1, 2024

 
NOAA Office of Aquaculture is holding public listening sessions where growers, workers, researchers, coastal community members, and the general public can share their views on the future of aquaculture at NOAA Fisheries.
 

As part of the program review, the Office of Aquaculture will be holding public listening sessions where aquaculture growers, seafood industry workers, researchers, coastal community members, and the general public can share their views on the future of aquaculture at NOAA Fisheries. This includes what aspects of NOAA’s science and services are of most value to the public.

These listening sessions will happen across the country and will provide opportunities for national, regional, in-person, and virtual listening sessions.

Dates, times, and locations of the listening sessions are as follows:

  • South Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico (Virtual) -  February 15, 4:00p - 6:00p EST
  • National - Aquaculture America, San Antonio, TX (In-person only) - February 21, 1:30p-5:00p CST
  • Caribbean (Virtual) -  February 23, 1:00p - 3:00p EST 
  • West Coast (Virtual)  - March 1, 10:00a - 12:00p PST
  • Alaska (Virtual) - March 7, 3:00p - 5:00 EST (11:00a - 1:00p AKST)
  • National (Virtual) - March 8, 3:00p - 5:00 EST
  • National - National Shellfisheries Association, Charlotte, NC (In-person only) - March 20, 11:00a - 12:30p EST
 

Please click here to access the Listening Session Registration Links.


NOAA Fisheries Seeks Comment on Proposed Issuance of Incidental Take Statement and Funding to State of Alaska for Southeast Alaska Salmon Fisheries

January 24, 2024

NOAA Fisheries is seeking public comment on a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the issuance of an Incidental Take Statement for salmon fisheries in Southeast Alaska subject to the 2019 Pacific Salmon Treaty Agreement. The DEIS also addresses the funding to the State of Alaska to implement the 2019 PST Agreement. The public has 45 days to provide comments.

The Pacific Salmon Treaty provides a management framework for salmon fisheries in the United States and Canada, including salmon fisheries that occur in the ocean and inland waters and rivers flowing into these waters. Fisheries in federal and state waters off Southeast Alaska are managed consistent with the 2019 PST Agreement.

Compliance with the incidental take statement, if issued, would exempt participants in the Southeast Alaska salmon fisheries from the Endangered Species Act’s prohibition on take of threatened and endangered species.


#Gaia4All Indigenous Hackathon Winners Announced: Bridging Technology & Indigenous Knowledge for Global Early Warnings Systems

January 23, 2024
 
In a groundbreaking initiative aimed at enhancing global resilience to climate change impacts, the Gaia4All Indigenous Hackathon unfolded on October 28-29. The event, themed "Gaia4All: Indigenous Hackathon for Global Early Warning Systems," was organized by Space4Innovation and spearheaded by Indigenous leaders committed to contributing to the United Nations' goal of establishing effective early warning systems worldwide by 2027. The Indigenous hackathon addressed the critical need for timely alerts in the face of escalating climate change impacts, aiming to safeguard lives and livelihoods across the globe. Learn more about the winners and program here offsite link. The U.S. is a member of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), where we support a number of  collaborative activities and NOAA plays a leading role in these efforts. 
GEO