Blog Posts

Survey: Draft Mid-Atlantic Ocean Action Plan

10/5/2016

With the recent closure of the comment period for the Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Action Plan, Monmouth Polling Institute is conducting a survey of stakeholders on how they fell about the Draft Plan. If you have five minutes you can take this survey below.

https://monmouthpolling.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6mc64lwa9aGGYWF

The Society talks Ocean Policy in D.C.

10/4/2016

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Ocean advocates meet with Federal agencies,
discuss National Ocean Policy, regional ocean planning, and beyond

The Healthy Oceans Coalition (HOC), which the American Littoral Society acts as lead for, recently visited Washington, D.C. to meet with leaders at the National Ocean Council (NOC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) about the importance of our National Ocean Policy (NOP) and ocean planning. The HOC team consisted of the Society's Ocean Policy Program Director, Sarah Winter Whelan and Jenna Valente, the Healthy Oceans Coalition Coordinator; Jennifer Felt, Ocean Campaign Director for the Conservation Law Foundation, Lindsay Hirt, a marine biologist from the Northeast, Sarah Lavenhar, Co-Director of the Mangrove Action Project, Sheryl Gilmore Director of the Acadia Institute of Oceanography, and Danielle Duncan, Policy Advisor for the Colorado Ocean Coalition.

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Ocean Plans: Maine to Virginia

9/15/2016

Welcome to the new, blue economy of the 21st century. An unprecedented collaboration of federal and state agencies and Native American tribes have developed regional ocean plans. Based on new ocean data and extensive stakeholder input, the intent of the plans is to keep national security strong, the economy growing, and protect vital ocean habitat.

Help Make the Ocean Plan Better

8/3/2016

We have a plan for the Mid-Atlantic Ocean, but need your help to make it better. Please sign our petition, which calls for changes to the Plan that will ensure it protects the ocean and coast.

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Body has been working since 2013 to develop an Ocean Action Plan that will help federal agencies, state governments and tribal nations work together toward ensuring our ocean and coasts are healthy for future generations.

At the American Littoral Society, we have been working along side this group, tracking their progress and advocating that the Plan focus on sustainable use of the ocean and include conservation measures to identify and protect ecologically special places.

The Ocean Needs Your Voice

7/25/2016

Learn more about the Action Plan being developed for the Mid-Atlantic Ocean at a Healthy Ocean workshop and Q&A session on Wednesday, Aug. 10 in Belmar, NJ.

The American Littoral Society and Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) invite you to join us at the Beach Haus Brewery, 801 Main Street, Belmar, NJ for a free information session on the draft Mid-Atlantic Ocean Action Plan. The event will run from 7-8:30 p.m. Light refreshments and sign-in starts at 6:30 p.m. Seating is limited and reservations are required.

Release of Mid-Atlantic Ocean Plan is Call to Action

7/5/2016

July 5, 2016

Sandy Hook, NJ -- The American Littoral Society applauds the release of a draft plan for use of the ocean in the Mid-Atlantic Region. However, release of this document is just the start of an effort to ensure that the final product contains strong protections for the region's ocean and coast.

Release of the draft Mid-Atlantic Ocean Action Plan launches a process that will include a period of public review and comment. A final version of the plan, which incorporates input from people in the region, is expected to be formally adopted this fall by the National Ocean Council.

"The Mid-Atlantic ocean faces increasing demands on its resources, space and ecology," said Tim Dillingham, Executive Director for the American Littoral Society. "We need a strategy that will protect marine life, as well as the traditional uses and clean water economies on which our coastal communities depend. This Ocean Action Plan can be a tool to reach those goals, and we will be reviewing it and the commitments of implementing agencies, to make sure it is a blueprint that reflects the public's goals for ocean protection."

The 60-day public comment period is open through September 6, 2016. Other opportunities for public input include a series of open houses at each of the state in the Mid-Atlantic region.

"Today's release of the Ocean Action Plan is a statement that our region's decision-makers want to do right by our ocean and coastal ecosystems," said Sarah Winter Whelan, Ocean Policy Program Director for the Littoral Society. "Now it is our turn. The Draft Plan needs us, the public, to weigh in and make sure it protects our ocean and coasts."

In addition to the public meetings, there will be a free public webinar at which people can learn more about the draft plan. That event is scheduled for Mon. July 11 at 11 a.m. Click here to register for the webinar.

Tell Congress to Protect the Mid-Atlantic

6/23/2016

Without a strong ocean plan, this could be your view.

The Mid-Atlantic Ocean is home to diverse and stunning marine ecosystems. Fish, marine mammals, and sea turtles all thrive in Mid-Atlantic waters, and our coastal communities depend on a healthy ocean for a robust economy.

But the health of the Mid-Atlantic Ocean is threatened by new unchecked development. Increases in dredging offshore sand and potential exploration for oil and gas can affect marine wildlife and the fishing, boating, and tourist industries that rely on a healthy ocean.

Now more than ever, it's crucial for us to protect the Mid-Atlantic Ocean. The Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Body will soon release a draft Ocean Action Plan, and we'll have 45 days to make public comment. The American Littoral Society is bringing your voices straight to Congress. In a few weeks, we will take your signatures in person to your Congress members to show your support for strong ocean conservation.

Speak up: Tell Congress to protect the Mid-Atlantic Coast and Ocean by signing the petition.

Let Congress know during National Oceans Month that you support healthy oceans!

6/8/2016

Everyone deserves healthy oceans. Everyone deserves to vacation at a beach without trash. Everyone deserves to take their kids fishing without concern for mercury or toxins. And we deserve to have robust coastal communities and ocean and coastal economies.

Luckily, we have the National Ocean Policy, which represents a huge step forward for anyone who treasures our ocean, coasts and Great Lakes. Full implementation of the National Ocean Policy will help move our country towards management that protects, maintains, and restores ocean and coastal ecosystems while providing all the things that we need and enjoy from our ocean and coasts.

To ensure that we fulfill the full potential of the National Ocean Policy, Congress must ensure restrictions are not placed on implementation. Importantly, the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions are poised to finalize the first ever regional ocean plans that will guide how our federal, state and Tribal governments work together with stakeholders to use data and coordinating actions to identify the ecologically special places and spur sustainable uses in the ocean.

Now more than ever we need our elected leaders to support full implementation of the National Ocean Policy.

During June, National Oceans Month, please join us and send Congress a message to support full implementation of the National Ocean Policy.

To sign the petition, please click here.

Draft Northeast Ocean Plan Released!

5/25/2016

This morning the release of the nation's first ever regional ocean plan was announced for the Northeast region of the United States. This is a historic day and the Mid-Atlantic's own draft ocean action plan is only a month behind.
"The Northeast Ocean Plan, developed pursuant to the National Ocean Policy, was prepared collaboratively by the Regional Planning Body to build upon and improve existing Federal, State, and Tribal decision-making and planning processes in the Northeast Region."
The plan will be released via webinar today at noon eastern time. You can still register for it HERE

New England Boating: Ocean Development Process Requires Public Input

5/24/2016

This is a great article by Rip Cunningham of Salt Water Sportsman Magazine about why ocean planning is important to the coastal regions and our fishing communities. Read it in full HERE.

"When the Coastal & Marine Spatial Planning effort was introduced, a lot of folks in the recreational and commercial fishing industries saw is as a cleverly disguised plan by the environmental community to create no-fishing zones. The reality is that the effort was and is about doing the best job possible of coordinating all the previously independent ocean development regulations. It will also give the public a voice in the development process. Direct fishing-related regulations, such as closed areas, will remain within the purview of the New England Fisheries Management Council, which sits on the NERPB [Northeast Regional Planning Body] to represent fishing interests.

I have never been an advocate of building bureaucracy for bureaucracy’s sake. However, I do believe that when public trust resources are at risk, there needs to be government oversight in the management process. The NERPB’s draft Northeast Ocean Plan may not be perfect yet, but if each of us takes the time to read it and comment on it, we will continue to move it in the direction of perfection."

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News & Events

Survey: Draft Mid-Atlantic Ocean Action Plan

The Society talks Ocean Policy in D.C.

Ocean advocates meet with Federal agencies,
discuss National Ocean Policy, regional ocean planning, and beyond

Ocean Plans: Maine to Virginia

Help Make the Ocean Plan Better

The Ocean Needs Your Voice

Release of Mid-Atlantic Ocean Plan is Call to Action

Tell Congress to Protect the Mid-Atlantic

Without a strong ocean plan, this could be your view.

Let Congress know during National Oceans Month that you support healthy oceans!

Draft Northeast Ocean Plan Released!

New England Boating: Ocean Development Process Requires Public Input

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Ocean advocates meet with Federal agencies,discuss National Ocean Policy, regional ocean planning, and beyond

Without a strong ocean plan, this could be your view.

Archives

Categories

Ocean advocates meet with Federal agencies,
discuss National Ocean Policy, regional ocean planning, and beyond