VLSFO Oil Spill Remnants Haunt Mauritius Mangroves Three Years Later
obtained a unique chemical ‘fingerprint’ of the spilled oil, which enabled them to confirm its presence in the mangrove sediments.The study also compared the behavior of the Wakashio's VLSFO with traditional marine heavy fuel oils using models developed from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s oil spill scenario tool, WebGNOME-ADIOS.“Our modelling suggested more of the Wakashio’s fuel would evaporate, naturally disperse or sink compared to traditional fuels, but assessing the impact on organisms remains challenging,” Dr Scarlett said.The research
BOEM Initiates Cetacean Acoustic Monitoring Program
, data processing and analysis conducted by authorized third parties. Contributions will also cover the costs of archiving data at a public passive acoustic data repository hosted by the National Centers for Environmental Information. BOEM has an interagency agreement with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center to conduct PAM in the Atlantic Ocean off southern New England. In addition, BOEM recently signed a contract with the Regional Wildlife Science Collaborative to conduct other POWERON monitoring along the eastern seaboard.
US Creates New Marine Sanctuary Along California Coast
for a decade.The newly formed sanctuary is part of U.S. President Joe Biden's goal to protect 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030.The sanctuary excludes areas where transmission cables and other infrastructure to support planned offshore wind facilities could be installed, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said in a statement. The agency, a division of the Department of Commerce, said it will consider expanding the sanctuary after the cables have been laid.The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary comprised of 4,543 square miles of coastal waters along 116 miles between
New Sanctuary Designated Along California Coast
cultural resources including kelp forests, rocky reefs, sandy beaches, underwater mountains and more than 200 NOAA-documented shipwrecks.The sanctuary excludes areas where transmission cables and other infrastructure to support planned offshore wind facilities could be installed, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said in a statement. The agency, a division of the Department of Commerce, said it will consider expanding the sanctuary after the cables have been laid.The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary comprised of 4,543 square miles of coastal waters along 116 miles between
NOAA Reveals Names of its New Mapping Vessels
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has revealed the names of two new charting and mapping vessels it ordered from Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors in 2023.The names Surveyor and Navigator were chosen from a list of suggestions by NOAA staff, adhering to the agency’s naming policy that emphasizes vessels named for their missions.The name Surveyor holds significant historical weight. It not only pays homage to NOAA's mission but also honors two previous vessels that bore the same name. The first Surveyor, launched in 1917, was the first oil-burning steamer in the Coast and
NOAA and Esri Collaborate to Revolutionize Ocean Data Accessibility
In a move to enhance the accessibility and utility of ocean and coastal data, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and Esri, a global leader in location intelligence, have announced a new partnership to develop a pioneering open data platform. This initiative aims to make critical oceanic and coastal data more actionable and equitable for decision-makers and communities.The collaborative effort will combine NOAA’s extensive and high-quality oceanic data with Esri’s advanced geospatial technologies. The goal is to create a fully interoperable platform that transforms
HII Delivers REMUS 620 UUVs to NOAA
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced that its Mission Technologies division has built and delivered two REMUS 620 uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for enhanced high-resolution ocean floor mapping. The REMUS 620, introduced in November 2022, represents a major advancement in medium-class UUV technology, according to HII. It is designed to offer a comprehensive range of both above- and below-water capabilities, making it ideal for long-distance operations.“The rapid delivery of the REMUS 620 underscores HII’s
Saildrone Surveys Gulf of Maine to Identify Potential Deep-sea Coral Habitat
A previously unmapped section of the north-central Gulf of Maine has been surveyed to identify potential deep-sea coral habitats.Saildrone said it mapped 1,500 square nautical miles in the Jordan and Georges Basins in support of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) led mission.The Gulf of Maine is a productive and dynamic marine environment, with a diverse array of marine life, productive fisheries, unique underwater habitats, and a complex topography of deep basins, shallow banks, and steep slopes. However, there is extremely limited mapping data available, especially in deeper
Hottest Oceans in 400 Years Threaten Great Barrier Reef
erosion, are home to thousands of species of fish, and are an important source of tourism revenue in many countries.At least 54 countries and regions have experienced mass bleaching of their reefs since February 2023 as climate change warms the ocean's surface waters, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has said.The Great Barrier Reef is not currently on UNESCO's list of world heritage sites that are in danger, though the UN recommends it should be added.Australia has lobbied for years to keep the reef - which contributes A$6.4 billion ($4.2 billion) to the economy
December 2024
