Ocean Zone News Blog

Massachusetts might have released a draft of its “Ocean Plan”, but it has been highlighted that this initiative is not enough for the development of tidal power.

On May 28, 2008, Governor Deval Patrick signed the Massachusetts Oceans Act of 2008, which directed the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to develop a comprehensive management plan to serve as the basis for the protection and sustainable use of ocean and coastal waters. The Oceans Act of 2008 requires the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs to develop a comprehensive ocean management plan. Final promulgation of the plan is to be done by December 31, 2009.

July 27, 2009

On July 28 and 29, the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force will meet in Santa Monica to set guidelines for the third and final round of stakeholder negotiations to create a marine protected area network that will extend from Point Conception to the border with Mexico.

The marine protected area plans produced during the first two rounds failed to meet science guidelines, so stakeholders will go back to the drawing board in August to come up with proposals that will serve the people and wildlife of southern California.

Jonathan Wootliff
Jakarta Post

Indonesia is home to one of the least fished, least populated, healthiest marine environments on the planet.

With my GreenWatch Column all too often highlighting the many serious conservation challenges facing this nation, the islands of Raja Ampat provide the location for a truly good news story.

Situated off the northwest tip of Bird’s Head Peninsula on the island of Papua, Raja Ampat is an archipelago comprising more than 1,500 small atolls surrounding the four main islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo.

Before Eric Conklin and fellow divers plunged into Kane’ohe Bay a few years ago to clear a reef of invasive algae, it had become nearly engulfed by the pesky seaweed.

The gorilla ogo covered roughly 60 percent to 70 percent of the reef along an 820-foot stretch off Coconut Island, displacing native marine organisms and smothering corals. The fast-growing seaweed had been a problem there for years.

Today, that section of the reef is ogo free.

Written by Kurt Madar, The Triplicate July 24, 2009 03:14 pm
Petitions pushed to oppose more fish restrictions

Representatives from the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative fielded questions from fishermen and local officials Wednesday night about new protection areas on the North Coast as petitions were being signed outside to suspend the process.

In a packed Crescent City Cultural Center, MLPA Initiative and California Fish and Game representatives manned seven information stations and circulated through the room in an effort to educate people about the Marine Protected Area Creation process.