NOAA News Releases

Nation�s Ocean Observing System Completes Year-Long Data Standardization

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:37:13 -0500

As of this month, mariners, coastal managers, and many other users seeking timely and tailored ocean and Great Lakes conditions are now able to access standardized data sets across all U.S. regions. This marks the completion of a milestone in a national effort to link federal and non-federal sources of ocean and coastal observations and forecasts, to include water level, salinity, temperature and wind and wave data.

NOAA Proposes Rule to Deny Port Entry to Illegal Fishing Vessels

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:20:37 -0500

NOAA is seeking public comment on a proposed rule that would allow the NOAA assistant administrator for fisheries to deny a vessel entry into a U.S. port or access to port services if that vessel has been listed for engaging in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by one of the world�s international fishery management organizations.

Dec. 26, 2009 Marks Five Years Since Sumatra Indonesia Tsunami Killed 230,000

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:07:23 -0500

In December 2004, lack of an effective international warning system contributed to unprecedented loss of life when a tsunami devastated countless communities around the Indian Ocean and stunned the rest of the world. Through NOAA, the United States accelerated preparation for a potential tsunami along the U.S. coastline and efforts to build partnerships for an international warning program.

NOAA Announces Proposed Northeast Groundfish Management Measures

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:47:35 -0500

NOAA today announced details of proposed measures developed by the New England Fishery Management Council intended to end overfishing and continue the rebuilding of Northeast groundfish.

Highway Barriers Stifle Sound, Sight, and Soot

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:15:02 -0500

Highway barriers erected along roadways to block the sound and sight of traffic for the adjoining neighborhoods may also be reducing the amount of pollutants, such as soot from diesel exhaust, reaching area residents.

Winter, Nighttime Tornadoes Pose Greatest Risk, National Weather Service Warns

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:10:02 -0500

Shrouded in darkness, nighttime tornadoes can be deadly, especially during the winter season when people are not accustomed to such severe weather. Given the dangers, forecasters with NOAA�s National Weather Service are increasing efforts to alert people of a potential threat in their area before they go to sleep.

NOAA Assesses Post-Tsunami Marine Debris in American Samoa

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:01:21 -0500

A NOAA team has begun a survey of marine debris generated by the devastating September 29 tsunami in American Samoa. The team is carefully measuring the amount and impact of debris such as roofing and domestic goods in coral reef habitat near villages severely affected by the tsunami.

Tom Karl, Director of NOAA's National Climatic Data Center Answers Questions About Climate Science

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:13:40 -0500

On Friday, Dec. 11, Tom Karl was the guest for a live webchat with Washington Post readers about the science of climate change.

National Saltwater Angler Registry Opens on New Year�s Day

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:52:11 -0500

Saltwater recreational fishermen have long expressed concerns about the data used to estimate the effects of recreational fishing on ocean resources and the nation�s economy. The National Saltwater Angler Registry, which launches on Friday, will help address that concern by providing a comprehensive list of the nation�s saltwater anglers that will be used to improve surveys of fishermen.

Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Recovering

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:40:47 -0500

A recent scientific update on Gulf of Mexico red snapper shows that fishermen may be able to catch more fish next year. This news shows that when fishermen follow management measures based on science, they lead to rebuilding of fish populations and increased opportunities to fish.

Scientists Discover and Image Explosive Deep-Ocean Volcano

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:03:34 -0500

Scientists funded by NOAA and the National Science Foundation recorded the deepest erupting volcano yet discovered, describing high-definition video of the undersea eruption as �spectacular.� Eruption of the West Mata volcano, discovered in May, occurred nearly 4,000 feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, in an area bounded by Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.

NOAA Amendment Removes Swordfishing Restrictions After Study Finds Most Sea Turtle Interactions Non-lethal

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:11:06 -0500

NOAA�s Fisheries Service today removed restrictions on the number of gear deployments by the Hawaii swordfish fleet after four years of study found sea turtle protections are working and most interactions between the fleet and loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles are non-lethal.

NOAA Reminds You to Give the Gift of Safety This Holiday Season

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:29:37 -0500

When searching for that special gift this holiday season, consider giving a potentially life-saving NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio. These radios sound an alarm when NOAA�s National Weather Service issues a warning for severe weather, such as a tornado or flash flood, and can relay civil emergency messages.

NOAA Approves Western and Central Pacific Bigeye Tuna Catch Limit

Wed, 9 Dec 2009 13:16:16 -0500

NOAA has established a catch limit for bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) in the U.S. pelagic longline fisheries in the western and central Pacific Ocean for each of the calendar years 2009, 2010, and 2011, having determined that the species� Pacific Ocean population is subject to overfishing.

Dr. Lubchenco Responds to Questions About Stolen Climate Emails

Mon, 7 Dec 2009 18:19:02 -0500

Last week on Dec. 2 NOAA Administrator, Jane Lubchenco, testified before the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming in a hearing called "State of Climate Science." Many of the questions were related to the climate emails stolen and released from East Anglia University.

Glider Completes Historic Ocean Crossing: New Technology Advances Climate Understanding

Mon, 7 Dec 2009 12:21:48 -0500

The first-ever 7,300-mile Atlantic Ocean crossing by an unmanned underwater glider is opening up a new world of ocean technology. A ceremony on Dec. 9 in Baiona, Spain, will celebrate the partnership effort among the U.S. interagency Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) through Rutgers University, NOAA, Puertos Del Estado (Spanish Port Authority), the National Oceanographic Partnership Program, and other European partners.

North American 2008 Cooling Attributed to Natural Causes

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 12:33:34 -0500

Cooler North American temperatures in 2008 resulted from a strong natural effect, and the overall warming trend that has been observed since 1970 is likely to resume, according to university and NOAA scientists.

NOAA Announces Temporary Fishing Rule to Protect South Atlantic Red Snapper

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 15:01:03 -0500

NOAA�s Fisheries Service has announced an interim rule that will prohibit commercial and recreational fishing for red snapper in federal waters off North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and the Atlantic coast of Florida.

NOAA Encourages Use of Catch Shares to End Overfishing, Rebuild Fisheries and Fishing Communities

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:42:00 -0500

NOAA released today for public comment a draft national policy encouraging the use of catch shares, a fishery management tool that aims to end overfishing and rebuild and sustain fishing jobs and fishing communities. In doing so, NOAA recognized that catch shares are not a panacea or one-size-fits-all solution, but are a proven way to promote sustainable fishing when designed properly at the fishing community level.

NOAA Deactivates GOES-10 after 12 Years of Tracking Storms

Wed, 2 Dec 2009 15:35:27 -0500

NOAA officially deactivated its Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-10 today after 12 years of service. GOES-10 tracked some of the most memorable tropical cyclones in history, including Hurricane Mitch, which devastated parts of Central America in 1998; and Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged the Gulf Coast in 2005.

NOAA Proposes Critical Habitat for Cook Inlet Beluga Whales

Tue, 1 Dec 2009 11:27:18 -0500

NOAA�s Fisheries Service is seeking public comment on a proposal that identifies more than a third of Cook Inlet in Alaska as critical habitat for the remaining approximately 300 endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales.

NOAA Installs System to Improve Safety and Efficiency of Ships along the Cherry Point Reach in Washington State

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:59:51 -0500

Ship captains and pleasure boaters can now get free real-time information on water and weather conditions for Cherry Point, Wash., from a newly installed NOAA ocean observing system that makes piloting a ship safer and more efficient.

NOAA: 2009 Global Temperatures Well Above Average; Slightly Above-Average for U.S.

Tue, 8 Dec 2009 10:56:27 -0500

Global surface temperatures for 2009 will be well above the long-term average, while the annual temperature for the contiguous United States will likely be above the long-term average, according to a preliminary analysis by NOAA�s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. The analysis is based on global records, which began in 1880 and U.S. records beginning in 1895. The NCDC analysis is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides.

NOAA: Combined Global Surface Temperature Was Sixth Warmest for October

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:12:39 -0500

The combined global land and ocean surface temperature was the sixth warmest October on record, according to NOAA�s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. Based on records going back to 1880, the monthly National Climatic Data Center analysis is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides.

When it Comes to CO2, What Goes Up Isn�t Always Coming Down

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:54:57 -0500

The ocean and the land are natural sponges, or sinks, that absorb carbon dioxide, or CO2, from the atmosphere. But a group of international scientists, including two from NOAA, have found that the emissions are outpacing the ability of the sinks to soak up the excess CO2.

Significant Ozone Hole Remains Over Antarctica

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:50:32 -0500

The Antarctic ozone hole, which fluctuates throughout the late winter and spring in the southern hemisphere, reached its 2009 peak circumference in late September, according to measurements by NOAA researchers. Slightly smaller than the North American continent, the ozone hole covered 9.2 million square miles, according to NOAA satellite observations. This ranks as the 10th largest since satellite measurements began in 1979.

NOAA Releases Expanded World Ocean Database

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:00:29 -0500

NOAA today released the World Ocean Database 2009, the largest, most comprehensive collection of scientific information about the oceans with records dating as far back as 1800. This product is part of the climate services provided by NOAA.

Washington State Toxic Algae Threatens Razor Clam Harvesting and Coastal Economy

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:48:32 -0500

A year-long shutdown in recreational razor clam digging, a major tourist attraction and local tradition in Washington state, could potentially result in as much as $22 million in lost revenue to coastal counties, according to a new report by NOAA and the University of Washington. Reduced lodging, transportation, and dining sales would also translate to a direct loss in labor income of $13.3 million to residents of affected areas, including a small commercial fishery.

New Study Uncovers Key Role of Bacteria in the Formation of �Red Tide� Algal Blooms

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:10:03 -0500

According to a new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, NOAA and NOAA-funded university scientists are closer to understanding why �red tides,� called harmful algal blooms form. These toxic harmful algal blooms threaten marine ecosystems, human health, and cost local and regional economies millions of dollars annually through fishery closures, recreation and tourism losses.

Statement by Dr. Lubchenco on the Federal Columbia River Power System Biological Opinion

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:04:23 -0500

Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, provided the following statement following a federal court hearing on the on the Federal Columbia River Power System Biological Opinion.

NOAA Deploys New �Smart Buoy� off Annapolis

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:28:14 -0500

NOAA deployed the seventh in a series of smart buoys to monitor weather conditions and water quality in the Chesapeake Bay today. The buoy, located at the mouth of Severn River near Annapolis, Md., will be used by commercial and recreational boaters to navigate safely and provide data for educators and scientists to monitor the Bay's changing conditions.

NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco and Senior NOAA Climate Scientists Contribute to COP-15 Conference

Mon, 7 Dec 2009 18:58:32 -0500

Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator, will be in Copenhagen as part of the U.S. Delegation from Dec. 13-16. As a member of the president�s science team and head of NOAA, Lubchenco is one of the senior administration officials attending the conference, including President Barack Obama and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke.

United States Pushes for Strong Measures to Protect Bluefin Tuna

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 09:40:57 -0500

Dr. Jane Lubchenco, under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator issued the following statement urging the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) to heed the scientific advice and adopt measures that will end overfishing in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean and put bluefin tuna on the path to recovery. The ICCAT is scheduled to meet this week in Brazil.

NOAA Commissions New Fisheries Survey Ship and Dedicates New Fisheries Service Building in Pascagoula, Miss.

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 13:21:28 -0500

Senior NOAA officials today commissioned NOAA Ship Pisces, the nation�s most advanced fisheries research vessel, and dedicated a new fisheries laboratory in Pascagoula, Miss.

NOAA Scientists Fly to the Ends of the Earth to Measure Greenhouse Gases

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 10:20:09 -0500

NOAA scientists took off Saturday on the second phase of a mission that, when complete, will provide a detailed view of how carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are distributed globally. Monitoring the increasing levels of greenhouse gases and black carbon aerosols in the atmosphere is crucial to understanding human-caused climate change.

NOAA Awards $2.4 Million to Refine Management Strategies for the Northern Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:35:52 -0400

Scientists researching the causes and impacts of the dead zone in the northern Gulf of Mexico have been awarded more than $2.4 million for the first year of an anticipated $12 million multi-year NOAA research investment.

NOAA and Smithsonian Project to Improve Chesapeake and Delaware Bays� Nearshore Habitat Management

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:34:49 -0400

NOAA has awarded the Smithsonian Institution�s Environmental Research Center and several partner organizations $946,000 for the first year of an anticipated five-year, $5 million collaborative project to study the degradation of nearshore coastal habitats in the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays.

NOAA, The Nature Conservancy Address Coral Reef Threats

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:48:31 -0400

NOAA and The Nature Conservancy have entered into an agreement to protect the health of the nation�s valuable but increasingly vulnerable coral reef ecosystems in the Caribbean, Florida, Hawaii and the Pacific Islands.

NOAA and Partners Announce South Atlantic Alliance

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:15:42 -0400

Representatives from NOAA and the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, announced the formation of a partnership to better manage and protect ocean and coastal resources, ensure regional economic sustainability, and respond to disasters such as hurricanes.

NOAA Issues Statement on ICCAT Annual Meeting

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:49:06 -0500

NOAA issued a statement about the outcome of the annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). The ICCAT meeting concluded last night in Brazil.

NOAA and FDA to Combine Resources on Seafood Inspection

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:59:33 -0400

NOAA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration unveiled an interagency agreement today to strengthen seafood inspection and improve seafood safety and quality.

NOAA: U.S. Posts Third Coolest-Highest Precipitation for October on Record

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:03:08 -0500

The October 2009 average temperature for the contiguous United States was the third coolest on record for that month according to NOAA�s State of the Climate report issued today. Based on data going back to 1895, the monthly National Climatic Data Center analysis is part of the suite of climate services provided by NOAA.

Changing Arctic Affecting Air, Ocean, and Everything in Between

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:26:41 -0400

Despite the fact that summer 2009 had more sea ice than in 2007 or 2008, scientists are seeing drastic changes in the region from just five years ago and at rates faster than anticipated. The findings were presented today in the annual update of the Arctic Report Card, a collaborative effort of 71 national and international scientists.

Dr. Susan Solomon Wins Prestigious Award

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 10:25:10 -0500

A Senior Scientist at NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory, Dr. Solomon accepted the 2009 Volvo environment prize for her pioneering scientific contributions and subsequent impacts on environmental policies.

NOAA Seeks Comments on Proposed Authorization for Navy Sonar Operations off the Coast of the Mariana Islands

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:04:39 -0400

NOAA�s Fisheries Service is seeking comments now through November 19 on its proposed rule to authorize impacts to marine mammals during Navy training exercises around the Mariana Islands. The NOAA proposal includes protective measures designed to minimize effects on marine mammals.

Indiana School Welcomes Home NOAA �Teacher at Sea� from Arctic Voyage

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:37:16 -0400

Today, students from Carmel Middle School in Carmel, Ind., welcomed home Christine Hedge, a seventh-grade science teacher who spent six weeks in the Arctic Ocean on board the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Healy as part of a multi-year, multi-agency effort to collect seafloor mapping and oceanographic data along the North American Extended Continental Shelf.

New NOAA System Improves Safety and Efficiency of Ships on the Lower Mississippi River and Port of New Orleans

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:03:29 -0400

Ship captains and pleasure boaters can now get free real-time information on water and weather conditions for the lower Mississippi River from a new NOAA ocean observing system that makes piloting a ship safer and more efficient.

NOAA: El Ni�o to Help Steer U.S. Winter Weather

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 15:11:09 -0500

El Ni�o in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean is expected to be a dominant climate factor that will influence the December through February winter weather in the United States, according to the 2009 Winter Outlook released today by NOAA�s Climate Prediction Center. Such seasonal outlooks are part of NOAA�s suite of climate services.

NOAA Will Not List Two Spotted Seal Populations as Endangered or Threatened

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:44:35 -0400

NOAA�s Fisheries Service today announced that two of three populations totaling more than 200,000 spotted seals in and near Alaska are not currently in danger of extinction or likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future. The announcement follows an 18-month status review.

Statement from Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, Announcing Support for Listing Atlantic Bluefin Tuna on International Trade Endangered Species List

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:17:52 -0400

The United States today announced that it will seek the strongest possible management for the conservation of Atlantic bluefin tuna, a fish which is in serious trouble.

NOAA Scientists Study Historic �Dust Bowl� and Plains Droughts for Triggers

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:22:27 -0400

After analyzing historical records and climate model data for two major U.S. droughts in the 1930s and 1950s, NOAA scientists found two very different causes, shedding new light on our understanding of what triggers drought.

NOAA: September Temperature Above-Average for the U.S.

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 11:46:47 -0400

The average September temperature of 66.4 degrees F was 1.0 degree F above the 20th Century average. Precipitation across the contiguous United States in September averaged 2.48 inches, exactly the 1901-2000 average.

NOAA Announces $9 Million in Ocean Education Grants to National Aquariums

Mon, 5 Oct 2009 13:13:21 -0400

NOAA today announced 11 grants totaling more than $9 million that will create new education projects in aquariums across the nation. The projects will educate visitors about the ocean and encourage better stewardship of the marine environment.

NOAA Reports Health of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Fri, 2 Oct 2009 11:45:51 -0400

A new NOAA report on the health of California�s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary indicates that the overall condition of the sanctuary�s marine life and habitat ranges from good (highest rating) to fair (moderate rating), but identifies several threats to sanctuary resources, such as growing coastal populations, agricultural and urban runoff, vessel traffic and marine debris.

2009 Winter Outlook

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:30:00 -0400

El Ni�o to Help Steer U.S. Winter Weather

NOAA: Global Surface Temperature Was Second Warmest for September

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:39:24 -0400

The combined global land and ocean surface temperature was the second warmest September on record, according to NOAA�s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.

NOAA Gives Great White Sharks More Protection in Gulf of the Farallones Sanctuary

Fri, 2 Oct 2009 10:49:46 -0400

New regulations to protect the great white shark are now in effect in NOAA�s Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, a marine protected area just west of San Francisco.�

NOAA�s Fisheries Service Issues Recovery Plan for Mid-Columbia Steelhead

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:52:14 -0400

NOAA�s Fisheries Service today released its recovery plan for Middle Columbia River steelhead, a fish that was first given protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1999.

New Research to Improve Management of Toxic Red Tides in the Gulf of Maine

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:30:03 -0400

NOAA has awarded $457,000 in competitive grant funding to support three projects to better track and manage outbreaks of toxic red tide algae that threaten public health and New England�s shellfish industry.

NOAA Awards Funds to Improve Toxic Algal Bloom Predictions in the Western Gulf of Mexico

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:13:04 -0400

NOAA is awarding $178,358 for the first year of a project to improve predictions of toxic algal blooms in the western Gulf of Mexico as part of an evolving national ecological forecasting capability. NOAA anticipates a nearly $1 million investment in this large-scale regional project over the next four years. The project is funded by the interagency Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms, or ECOHAB, program.

NOAA to Close Recreational Fishery for Black Sea Bass for Six Months Due to Overharvest

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:58:11 -0400

NOAA announced today the temporary closure of the black sea bass recreational fishery in federal waters north of Cape Hatteras, N.C., for 180 days in response to recent landings data that showed recreational fishermen may catch more than double their annual quota by the end of the year. The closure will commence Monday, October 5, 2009.

Unusual Arctic Warmth, Tropical Wetness Likely Cause for Methane Increase

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:55:58 -0400

Unusually high temperatures in the Arctic and heavy rains in the tropics likely drove a global increase in atmospheric methane in 2007 and 2008 after a decade of near-zero growth, according to a new study. Methane is the second most abundant greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, albeit a distant second.

NOAA Announces $13.1 Million Contract to Vigor Marine to Repair Survey Ship

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:59:14 -0400

NOAA has awarded a $13.1 million contract to Vigor Marine, LLC, in Portland, Ore., to perform major repairs and upgrades to the NOAA hydrographic survey vessel Rainier.

NOAA Awards Contract for Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:13:38 -0400

NOAA announced a $4.4 million award to Complete Building Corporation from Charleston, S.C. for construction of NOAA�s Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center in Mobile, Ala. The facility will be the regional home to the agency�s Office of Response and Restoration � the NOAA organization charged with responding to oil spills, hazardous material releases, and marine debris.

World�s Largest Marine Protected Areas Sign Partnership Agreement

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:00:53 -0400

Today two of the world�s largest marine protected areas announced a historic alliance to enhance the management and protection of almost 300,000 square miles of marine habitat in the Pacific Ocean.

NOAA Scientists Catch Rare Giant Squid

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:55:42 -0400

Scientists from NOAA�s Fisheries Service have captured a giant squid while conducting research off the Louisiana coast in the Gulf of Mexico. This is only the second known giant squid obtained from the Gulf of Mexico � the first was collected in 1954 off the Mississippi Delta where it was found floating dead at the surface.

NOAA and Partners Complete Restoration Project in Hempstead Harbor

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:03:35 -0400

Today, NOAA and its partners celebrated the successful completion of a multi-year project to compensate the public for hazardous waste released into Hempstead Harbor, N.Y. The project restored salt marsh and coastal shoreline, and created important habitats for spawning, nursing and foraging fish and other wildlife.

NOAA Announces an Experimental Harmful Algal Bloom Forecast Bulletin for Lake Erie

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:54:17 -0400

Predicting harmful algal blooms, or HABs, in the Great Lakes is now a reality as NOAA announces an experimental HAB forecast system in Lake Erie.

New Project to Forecast Toxic Algal Blooms on Pacific Northwest Beaches

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:19:02 -0400

NOAA and the National Science Foundation have awarded $824,225 in competitive funds for the first year of an anticipated four-year $2.8 million project to develop early warning forecast models for toxic harmful algal blooms, or HABs, on Pacific Northwest beaches.

NOAA and Partners Gather at Hunt�s Mill Dam to Celebrate $3 Million Rhode Island River Restoration Projects

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:05:36 -0400

NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco joined today with federal, state and local officials and volunteers at Hunt�s Mills Dam on the Ten Mile River in East Providence, R.I., to celebrate a $3 million American Reinvestment and Recovery Act project, restoring a migratory fish passage that will eventually accommodate 400,000 herring and shad along both the Ten Mile and Pawcatuck rivers.

New Research Aims to Unravel How Nutrients Drive Toxic �Brown Tides� on the East Coast

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:39:36 -0400

NOAA has awarded Massachusetts-based Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution $120,000 as part of an anticipated three-year, nearly $500,000 project, to determine how nitrogen and phosphorus promote brown tides on the East Coast. Funds were awarded through the interagency Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms (ECOHAB) program.

Oceanographer to Lead NOAA Great Lakes Laboratory

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:33:54 -0400

A physical oceanographer who worked with satellites to generate climate, weather, and water products for operational and research use, will be the director of NOAA�s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Mich. Marie Colton, Ph.D., who has been acting director since January, takes the permanent position on October 11.

NOAA, Partners Launch Effort for Tour Operators to Protect Whales

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:32:58 -0400

NOAA has joined with private industry and conservation groups to launch Whale SENSE, a new voluntary program that encourages whale-watch tour operators from Maine to Virginia to practice responsible viewing. The program will also recognize businesses that discourage the harassment of whales in the wild and promote good stewardship.

Students Selected for NOAA Class of 2009 Graduate Sciences Program

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:19:41 -0400

Nine exceptional graduate students have been selected by NOAA to participate in the agency�s 2009 Graduate Science Program. The GSP students are pursuing graduate degrees in atmospheric, environmental, or oceanic sciences or remote sensing technology � scientific fields that are integral to NOAA�s mission.

Obama Administration Officials Release Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force Interim Report

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:22:48 -0400

Obama Administration officials today released the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force Interim Report for a 30-day public review and comment period. The Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force, led by White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley, consists of 24 senior-level officials from Administration agencies, departments, and offices. The report provides proposals for a comprehensive national approach to uphold our stewardship responsibilities and ensure accountability for our actions.

NOAA Administrator Comments on Release of Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force Interim Report to the President

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:19:01 -0400

�Today is a historic day. For the first time, we as a nation say loudly and clearly that healthy oceans matter."

NOAA Locates U.S. Navy Ship Sunk in World War II Battle

Wed, 9 Sep 2009 17:51:49 -0400

A NOAA-led research mission has located and identified the final resting place of the YP-389, a U.S. Navy patrol boat sunk approximately 20 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras, NC, by a German submarine during World War II.

Climate Effects of Atmospheric Haze a Little Less... Hazy

Wed, 9 Sep 2009 14:28:03 -0400

Scientists have used a new approach to sharpen the understanding of one of the most uncertain of mankind�s influences on climate�the effects of atmospheric �haze,� the tiny airborne particles from pollution, biomass burning, and other sources.

Guide Offers Smart Growth Help for Coastal and Waterfront Planners & Developers

Wed, 9 Sep 2009 10:07:57 -0400

NOAA, along with the Environmental Protection Agency, the International City/County Management Association and Rhode Island Sea Grant, has released a guide to bring smart growth to coastal and waterfront communities.

NOAA-USDA Research Finds Fish-Killing Toxin Holds Promising Cancer Applications

Tue, 8 Sep 2009 16:09:11 -0400

A powerful fish-killing toxin could have cancer-killing properties as well, according to collaborative research led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture�s microbiologist Paul V. Zimba and NOAA chemist Peter Moeller.

NOAA: Warmest Global Sea-Surface Temperatures for August and Summer

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:35:22 -0400

The world�s ocean surface temperature was the warmest for any August on record, and the warmest on record averaged for any June-August (Northern Hemisphere summer/Southern Hemisphere winter) season according to NOAA�s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. The preliminary analysis is based on records dating back to 1880.

NOAA Strengthens 2008 Columbia River Salmon Protection Strategy

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:22:40 -0400

Backed by sound science, strong stakeholder support and extensive outreach, the federal government today filed with a United States district court a strengthened plan to implement NOAA�s 2008 biological opinion governing operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System.

NOAA�s Powerful New Supercomputers Boost U.S. Weather Forecasts

Tue, 8 Sep 2009 12:24:21 -0400

NOAA has completed implementation of the final phase of a nine year, $180 million contract by installing the newest generation of IBM supercomputers for weather and climate prediction.

NOAA�s Fisheries Service Cracks Down on Charter Boat Companies Operating Illegally

Fri, 4 Sep 2009 10:00:50 -0400

Charter boat companies feeling the sting of unfair competition have looked to NOAA�s Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement for help.

NOAA: Summer Temperature Below Average for U.S.

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:11:17 -0400

The average June-August 2009 summer temperature for the contiguous United States was below average � the 34th coolest on record, according to a preliminary analysis by NOAA�s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.�August was also below the long-term average. The analysis is based on records dating back to 1895.�

Improving Engagement with the Recreational Fishing Community

Wed, 2 Sep 2009 10:33:17 -0400

Saltwater recreational fishing is among the most popular outdoor sports in America with anglers representing one of NOAA's largest organized constituencies. Not only are anglers stewards of our ocean, they contribute greatly to the economic vitality of our coastal communities. For these reasons, I believe it is in NOAA's best interests to adopt polices and practices that will protect ocean ecosystems and ensure one of America's most treasured pastimes endures for future generations.

Students Selected for 2009 NOAA Scholarships Honoring Dr. Nancy Foster

Wed, 2 Sep 2009 09:49:16 -0400

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has selected seven outstanding graduate students from around the nation to embark on a new and exciting phase of their academic career as participants in NOAA�s Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship program.

NOAA Report Explains Sea Level Anomaly this Summer along the U.S. Atlantic Coast

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:56:47 -0400

Persistent winds and a weakened current in the Mid-Atlantic contributed to higher than normal sea levels along the Eastern Seaboard in June and July, according to a new NOAA technical report.

NOAA, Japan Establish Navigation Satellite Ground Station in Guam

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:05:17 -0400

Officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) unveiled a new ground station in Guam that will track spacecraft from JAXA�s upcoming Quasi-Zenith Satellite System.

NOAA Scientists Map Fish Habitat and Movements at Gray�s Reef Marine Sanctuary

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:18:15 -0400

Two related research expeditions by NOAA scientists to track the habitat preferences and movements of fish at Gray�s Reef National Marine Sanctuary may help managers protect overfished species such as red snapper and grouper. Research from the two expeditions appears in the current online edition of the peer-reviewed Bulletin of Marine Sciences.

NOAA Announces New Tilefish Catch Share Program in Northeast

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:17:40 -0400

The first catch-share program for the tilefish fishery was approved by NOAA�s Fisheries Service today, after its adoption was recommended by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

NOAA, Coast Guard Hunt for Alaska Methane, Carbon Dioxide Sources

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:30:02 -0400

Recent observations have suggested that the air above Alaska may already hold the first signs of a regional increase in greenhouse gas emissions that could contribute to climate change around the globe. To learn more about the region's emissions, NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory in Boulder, Colo., has teamed up with the U.S. Coast Guard at Kodiak Island. The two partners are flying NOAA air-sampling devices aboard a Coast Guard C-130 aircraft conducting flights over the state through November.

Joint Federal and State Investigation Stops Illegal Fishing in Channel Islands Sanctuary

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:35:45 -0400

The owners and operators of the commercial fishing vessel Risa Lynn will pay a $10,000 civil penalty as a settlement for illegally fishing in a marine protected area off the Santa Barbara coastline in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

NOAA to Pursue National Policy for Sustainable Marine Aquaculture

Thu, 3 Sep 2009 13:37:08 -0400

NOAA today announced its intent to develop a comprehensive national policy for sustainable marine aquaculture in the coming months, providing a framework for addressing aquaculture activity in federal waters. Marine aquaculture is the cultivation of marine organisms, such as finfish and shellfish, that are consumed by Americans on a daily basis.

NOAA Report Finds Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Among the Healthiest Coral Reefs in Gulf of Mexico

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:09:21 -0400

Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary is among the healthiest coral reef ecosystems in the tropical Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, according to a new NOAA report.

NOAA and Oregon State University Map Oregon�s Seafloor

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:56:08 -0400

Surveyors and scientists from NOAA�s Office of Coast Survey and Oregon State University over the next two years will create the most detailed maps ever generated of the seafloor along Oregon�s coast. Using the latest technologies, they will measure water depth, search for navigational hazards, and record the natural features of coastal seabeds and fragile aquatic life. The images will help researchers and coastal managers protect coastal communities and marine habitat.

NOAA Announces New Catch Share Program in Gulf of Mexico

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:35:11 -0400

NOAA�s Fisheries Service will implement catch shares in the Gulf of Mexico commercial grouper and tilefish fisheries beginning January 1, 2010, in an effort to reduce overcapacity and improve profitability and working conditions for commercial fishermen of these species.

NOAA Study Shows Nitrous Oxide Now Top Ozone-Depleting Emission

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:48:39 -0400

Nitrous oxide has now become the largest ozone-depleting substance emitted through human activities, and is expected to remain the largest throughout the 21st century, NOAA scientists say in a new study.

�Hydropalooza� Provides Deeper Understanding of Alaska�s Kachemak Bay

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:57:17 -0400

NOAA ships and scientists have returned to Alaska�s Kachemak Bay to kick off year two of Hydropalooza � a NOAA-led project to develop the most detailed seafloor and coastline maps ever generated of the area.

Study: Better Observations, Analyses Detecting Short-Lived Tropical Systems

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:26:22 -0400

A NOAA-led team of scientists has found that the apparent increase in the number of tropical storms and hurricanes since the late 19th and early 20th centuries is likely attributable to improvements in observational tools and analysis techniques that better detect short-lived storms.

NOAA: July Temperature Below-Average for the U.S.

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:21:31 -0400

The July 2009 temperature for the contiguous United States was below the long-term average, based on records going back to 1895, according to a preliminary analysis by NOAA�s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.

Joint Federal and State Investigation Stops Illegal Fishing in Channel Islands Sanctuary

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:55:19 -0400

NOAA and Partners to Survey Ships Sunk off North Carolina in World War II

Wed, 5 Aug 2009 12:07:00 -0400

NOAA will lead a three-week research expedition in August to study World War II shipwrecks sunk in 1942 off the coast of North Carolina during the Battle of the Atlantic.

Fisheries Service Proposes New Rules to Safeguard Puget Sound�s Killer Whales

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:03:15 -0400

NOAA�s Fisheries Service is proposing new rules on vessel traffic aimed at further protecting Southern Resident killer whales in Washington�s Puget Sound. These large marine mammals, the subject of intense curiosity from kayakers to tourists crowding the decks of commercial whale-watching vessels, were added to the Endangered Species list in late 2005.

Secretary of Commerce Announces $40 Million in Recovery Act Projects to Support Efficient Marine Navigation and Create Jobs

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:07:44 -0400

Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced in Norfolk, Va. today $40 million for critical hydrographic survey and chart projects across the United States that strengthen the economy, create jobs, and support safe and efficient marine commerce and trade. Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Commerce Department�s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will allocate $32 million to utilize hydrographic surveying contractors to collect data in critical coastal areas which are used to map the seafloor and update nautical charts.�

NOAA: Warmest Global Ocean Surface Temperatures on Record for July

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:11:18 -0400

The planet�s ocean surface temperature was the warmest on record for July, breaking the previous high mark established in 1998 according to an analysis by NOAA�s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. The combined average global land and ocean surface temperature for July 2009 ranked fifth-warmest since world-wide records began in 1880.

NOAA Awards Nine NOAA Fisheries/Sea Grant Fellowships

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:26:19 -0400

The 2009 class of nine NOAA's Fisheries Service/Sea Grant fellowships is the largest in the history of the program. Among the multi-year doctoral fellows, seven are studying population dynamics and two are studying marine resource economics.

NOAA Proposes Measures to Rebuild Blacknose and Other Shark Populations

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:08:41 -0400

NOAA�s Fisheries Serviceis proposing several measures to end overfishing and rebuild blacknose sharks and other shark populations. Nine public hearings will be held on the proposal, from New England to the Gulf of Mexico, in August and September.

NOAA Awards Emergency Funding to Aid New England Red Tide Response

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:11:55 -0400

NOAA is taking steps to respond to the New England red tide in the Gulf of Maine which has caused a near-complete shutdown of shellfish harvesting in Maine. Today the agency awarded $121,000 to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in partnership with the University of Maine to conduct research cruises to monitor the toxins. The information obtained will help managers determine how long the severe red tide conditions may last, if there are regions where the bloom is receding, and whether the bloom will expand to new areas.

NOAA Asks Mariners to Safeguard Pacific Data Buoys

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:17:33 -0400

NOAA�s National Weather Service is asking the marine community to help safeguard its offshore buoys � which provide meteorologists with critical data for weather and tsunami forecasts � following a series of incidents where buoys were damaged or cut from their moorings.

NOAA: Coral Bleaching Likely in Caribbean

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:37:56 -0400

Scientists from NOAA�s Coral Reef Watch Program say conditions are favorable for significant coral bleaching and infectious coral disease outbreaks in the Caribbean, especially in the Lesser Antilles. The forecast is based on the July NOAA Coral Reef Watch outlook, which expects continued high water temperatures through October 2009.

NOAA Joins Other U.S. Agencies and Canada to Survey the Arctic Continental Shelf

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:14:28 -0400

NOAA will join a multi-agency joint expedition that will bring together icebreakers from the U.S. and Canada to collect and share data useful to both countries in defining the full extent of the Arctic continental shelf.

NOAA Lowers Hurricane Season Outlook, Cautions Public Not to Let Down Guard

Thu, 6 Aug 2009 11:46:41 -0400

According to its August Atlantic hurricane season outlook, NOAA now expects a near- to below-normal Atlantic hurricane season, as the calming effects of El Ni�o continue to develop. But scientists say the season�s quiet start does not guarantee quiet times ahead. The season, which began June 1, is entering its historical peak period of August through October, when most storms form.

NOAA Report: Saltwater Angling a Sign of Coastal Vitality

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 08:04:08 -0400

Saltwater recreational fishing continued to provide important economic benefits to America�s coastal communities in 2008, bringing fishermen to the shore to reel in fish, book spots on charter and party boats, buy bait and tackle, stay in local inns and eat at local restaurants, according to a report issued this week by NOAA�s Fisheries Service.

NOAA Selects Newport, Ore., as New Home of Marine Operations Center-Pacific

Tue, 4 Aug 2009 13:35:08 -0400

NOAA has selected the Port of Newport, Ore., to be the new home of the agency�s Marine Operations Center-Pacific beginning in 2011 pending the signing of a 20-year lease.

Dutch Harbor-Unalaska, Alaska and New Bedford, Mass., Remain Top Fishing Ports

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:36:57 -0400

Commercial fishermen unloaded 612.7 million pounds of fish and shellfish at the port of Dutch Harbor-Unalaska, Alaska, in 2008, mostly pollock, making it the country�s top port for the amount of fish landed for the 20th consecutive year, NOAA�s Fisheries Service announced today.

NOAA to Study Ocean Currents near Former Munitions Disposal Sites in Hawaii

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:58:32 -0400

NOAA will place ocean current monitoring sensors at two former military munitions disposal sites off Oahu this week as part of an ongoing effort to assess the potential impact of sea-disposed military munitions in Hawaii.

Smaller Than Expected, But Severe, Dead Zone in Gulf of Mexico

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:37:12 -0400

NOAA-supported scientists found the size of this year�s Gulf of Mexico dead zone to be smaller than forecasted, measuring 3,000 square miles. However the dead zone, which is usually limited to water just above the sea floor, was severe where it did occur, extending closer to the water surface than in most years.

NOAA Issues Request for Proposals for New Fisheries Survey Vessel

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:41:08 -0400

NOAA has issued a Request for Proposals for construction of NOAA�s newest fisheries survey vessel, the fifth in its state-of-the-art Oscar Dyson vessels class designed for 40-day mission science deployments.

Extreme Weather Information Tip-sheet Available for Florida East Coast Residents

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:50:59 -0400

Emergency management and severe weather contact information for Florida�s Atlantic coast is now available in an easily read tip-sheet. Part of the popular NOAA Extreme Weather Information Sheet series, this one-page document contains critical phone numbers and Web site information residents can use during potentially life-threatening weather emergencies.

Scientists Report First Remote, Underwater Detection of Harmful Algae, Toxins

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:19:00 -0400

Scientists at NOAA�s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) have successfully conducted the first remote detection of a harmful algal species and its toxin below the ocean�s surface. The achievement was recently reported in the June issue of Oceanography.

New Commander to Direct NOAA�s Aircraft Operations

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:56:31 -0400

NOAA Corps Capt. William B. Kearse assumed command of the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center in Tampa, Fla. The center, located on MacDill Air Force Base, is home to most of NOAA�s 14 research aircraft, including the NOAA WP-3D Orion �hurricane hunter� aircraft and Gulfstream-IV hurricane surveillance jet.

NOAA and Partners Restore More Than 2,000 Acres of Wetlands in Texas

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:29:35 -0400

More than 2,500 acres of coastal wetlands have been restored and enhanced in Port Arthur, Texas, as a result of a cooperative agreement between NOAA and its federal and state natural resource trustee partners.

NOAA: U.S. Temperature and Precipitation Near-Average for June

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:33:25 -0400

The June 2009 temperature and precipitation for the contiguous United States were near the long-term average, based on records going back to 1895, according to an analysis by NOAA�s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.

NOAA and University of California Sign Ground Lease for New Fisheries Science Center

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 11:08:12 -0400

NOAA and the University of California have signed a 55 year ground lease clearing the way for construction next year of a new federal laboratory and office center at the University of California, San Diego�s Scripps Institution of Oceanography campus in La Jolla.�

NOAA Reports Bay�s Crab Population Rebounds but Juvenile Numbers Remain Low

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 10:18:47 -0400

While the overall crab population in the Chesapeake Bay rebounded significantly last year, the number of juvenile crabs remained well below the historical average, according to a report published by the NOAA-chaired Fisheries Steering Committee.

NOAA Imposes Fine and Penalty for False Reporting in Alaska Fishery

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 15:36:58 -0400

A hired master, vessel owners and permit holders of the Alaskan fishing vessel Trident have agreed to pay more than $18,000 in penalties and $241,000 worth of sanctions for falsely reporting areas fished by the vessel on five trips during 2006 and 2007.

Secretary of Commerce Names 30 to Fishery Management Councils

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:02:50 -0400

The Commerce Department today announced the appointment of 30 new and returning members to the eight regional fishery management councils � important partners with NOAA�s Fisheries Service in determining how ocean fisheries are managed.

Susan Solomon Awarded Volvo Environmental Prize

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:55:03 -0400

The 2009 Volvo Environmental Prize Foundation has named NOAA Senior Scientist Susan Solomon as the recipient of its 2009 environmental prize.

Beyond CO2: Study Reveals Growing Importance of HFCs in Climate Warming

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:45:26 -0400

Some of the substances that are helping to avert the destruction of the ozone layer could increasingly contribute to climate warming, according to scientists from NOAA�s Earth System Research Laboratory and their colleagues in a new study published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

NOAA and Partners to Conduct Survey of Civil War Ironclad USS Monitor

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:17:28 -0400

NOAA and partnering organizations are deploying scuba divers and state-of-the-art technology this week to study the current condition of the USS Monitor, a Civil War shipwreck protected by a NOAA national marine sanctuary.

NOAA Selects New Cooperative Institute to Study Climate and North Atlantic Ecosystems

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:10:31 -0400

NOAA�s Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and National Marine Fisheries Service, have selected a consortium of five universities for the new Cooperative Institute for North Atlantic Research (CINAR). The institutions will join NOAA to conduct ocean and climate research to better understand the correlation between climate change and variability, fishing practices and fish populations, and to develop an integrated capability to research emerging issues from an ecosystem perspective.

NOAA Forecast Predicts Large "Dead Zone" for Gulf of Mexico this Summer

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:58:13 -0400

A team of NOAA-supported scientists from the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, Louisiana State University, and the University of Michigan is forecasting that the �dead zone� off the coast of Louisiana and Texas in the Gulf of Mexico this summer could be one of the largest on record. The dead zone is an area in the Gulf of Mexico where seasonal oxygen levels drop too low to support most life in bottom and near-bottom waters.

NOAA�s National Weather Service says �When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors�

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:09:20 -0400

Our love of outdoor activities and the frequency of thunderstorms make summer the most likely time to be injured or killed by lightning, according to statistics compiled by NOAA�s National Weather Service. In order to reduce lightning injuries and fatalities, the National Weather Service is promoting Lightning Safety Awareness Week the last week of June.

Captain Michael S. Devany Takes Command of NOAA�s Atlantic Fleet of Scientific Research Ships

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:52:46 -0400

NOAA Captain Michael S. Devany has taken command of the day-to-day operations of the nine research and survey ships in NOAA�s Atlantic fleet controlled from the agency�s Atlantic Marine Operations Center in Norfolk, Va.

NOAA Report Finds Threats to California�s Cordell Bank Marine Sanctuary

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:56:00 -0400

A new NOAA report on the health of Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary indicates that the overall condition of the sanctuary�s marine life and habitats is fair to good, but identifies several emerging threats to sanctuary resources.

New NOAA Satellite Reaches Orbit

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:21:50 -0400

NOAA and NASA officials announced a new Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES), launched tonight, successfully reached orbit, joining three other GOES spacecraft that help NOAA forecasters track life-threatening weather and solar storms.

Grand Teton Recognized as First StormReady National Park

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:42:28 -0400

Add severe weather to the list of natural wonders Grand Teton National Park rangers are prepared to handle. On Thursday, June 18, NOAA�s National Weather Service will recognize Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming as the first StormReady� national park in the United States.

Federal Agencies Protect More Gulf of Maine Atlantic Salmon to Recover Imperiled Stocks

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:37:09 -0400

NOAA's Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today extended Endangered Species Act protection to more Atlantic salmon by adding fish in the Penobscot, Kennebec, and Androscoggin rivers and their tributaries to the endangered Gulf of Maine population first listed in 2000.

NOAA Scientists, Students to Study Gulf Coast Meteorology

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:31:35 -0400

This month as beachgoers and coastal residents enjoy gentle sea breezes, a group of NOAA scientists and students from Jackson State University will take a deeper look at what happens when the wind blows.

NOAA�s National Weather Service Declares BYU-Idaho StormReady

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:56:41 -0400

Brigham Young University (BYU)-Idaho, located in Rexburg, has earned NOAA�s National Weather Service StormReady� designation that shows the university is better equipped�to prepare and warn its students and faculty of severe weather.

NOAA�s Gray�s Reef National Marine Sanctuary to Host Youth Educational Summit

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:33:50 -0400

NOAA�s Gray�s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, headquartered in Savannah, Ga., will host 40 students from across the nation this month during the National Association of Black Scuba Divers� (NABS) Youth Educational Summit. The program�s goal is to develop young leaders through marine science.

NOAA�s Fisheries Service Seeks Public Comments on New Ways to Govern U.S. Swordfish, Bluefin Tuna Fishing

Mon, 8 Jun 2009 12:39:29 -0400

NOAA�s Fisheries Service is holding a series of public meetings this summer seeking comments on potential changes in the way commercial and recreational fishermen fish the U.S. quotas for swordfish and bluefin tuna in the Atlantic.

NOAA Takes Delivery of Pisces, New Fisheries Survey Vessel

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 16:59:56 +0000

NOAA today took delivery of Pisces, the third of four new fisheries survey vessels and a significant achievement in the agency�s efforts to modernize its fleet of fisheries, oceanographic, and hydrographic survey ships.

New Report Provides Authoritative Assessment of National, Regional Impacts of Global Climate Change

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:43:44 -0400

Climate change is already having visible impacts in the United States, and the choices we make now will determine the severity of its impacts in the future, according to a new and authoritative federal study assessing the current and anticipated domestic impacts of climate change.

NOAA, Army Corps of Engineers to Build Alaska Satellite Operations Facility

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 12:28:57 +0000

NOAA, working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has selected Alcan Builders Inc. of Fairbanks, Alaska, to construct a new NOAA satellite operations facility in Fairbanks. The 20,000-square foot facility will replace the existing Command and Data Acquisition Station building, which opened in 1961.

User Group Support for Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Continues to Increase

Thu, 4 Jun 2009 14:40:11 +0000

Stakeholder support for management strategies and regulations of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary grew dramatically among key user groups over a 10-year period, according to a study conducted by researchers from NOAA, the University of Miami�s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, and Thomas J. Murray and Associates. The increase in support is particularly significant among commercial fishermen, the majority of whom were against the creation of the sanctuary.

NOAA and National Park Service Urge Beach-Goers to Break the Grip of the Rip

Thu, 4 Jun 2009 14:25:15 +0000

With summer vacation on the horizon, NOAA and the National Park Service are alerting beach-goers to the threat of rip currents and how to prevent drowning from their strong and potentially fatal grip.

NOAA Unmanned Aircraft Helping Scientists Learn About Alaskan Ice Seals

Tue, 2 Jun 2009 18:40:27 +0000

NOAA's Fisheries Service scientists and their partners have launched an unmanned aircraft to mount the vehicle�s first search for ice seals at the southern edge of the Bering Sea pack ice during the Arctic spring, in an effort to learn more about these remotely located species.

NOAA Awards Grant to World Wildlife Fund To Support Innovative Ideas to Reduce Bycatch

Tue, 2 Jun 2009 16:58:09 +0000

NOAA�s Fisheries Service has awarded a $364,000 grant to the World Wildlife Fund in support of the 2009 Smart Gear Competition, which awards prizes for innovative gear designs that reduce fisheries bycatch.

NOAA Fisheries Issues Recovery Plan for Washington�s Lake Ozette Sockeye Salmon

Fri, 29 May 2009 18:30:56 +0000

NOAA's Fisheries Service has released its recovery plan for sockeye salmon in Washington's Lake Ozette and its surrounding watershed aimed at making these federally protected fish naturally self-sustaining, with enough fish to spawn in the wild and return year after year so they are likely to persist for the next century and beyond.

NOAA and Partners Seek Comment on Plan to Restore Lower Duwamish River

Fri, 29 May 2009 16:39:23 +0000

NOAA is seeking public comment on a draft restoration plan for the Lower Duwamish River, located in Washington state, on behalf of the river�s natural resource trustees.

NOAA Announces New Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites

Thu, 28 May 2009 16:26:17 +0000

NOAA scientists have teamed up with experts from the University of Maryland and North Carolina State University to form the Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites. The new institute will use satellite observations to detect, monitor and forecast climate change, and its impact on the environment, including ecosystems.

NOAA Biological Opinion Finds California Water Projects Jeopardize Listed Species; Recommends Alternatives

Thu, 4 Jun 2009 19:05:00 +0000

NOAA released its final biological opinion today that finds the water pumping operations in California�s Central Valley by the federal Bureau of Reclamation jeopardize the continued existence of several threatened and endangered species under the jurisdiction of NOAA�s Fisheries Service.

Changes in Vessel Operations May Reduce Risk of Endangered Whale Shipstrikes

Tue, 26 May 2009 17:23:20 +0000

The rerouting of the commercial shipping lanes off Boston set for June 1 is expected to reduce the risk of shipstrikes to endangered right whales by 58 percent and to all baleen whales by 81 percent, according to more than 20 years of whale sightings catalogued by NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard.

NOAA Opens Public Comment on Potential Arctic Fishing Plan

Tue, 26 May 2009 16:58:12 +0000

NOAA�s Fisheries Service announced today that they will open public comment on a proposed framework to manage fishing in the Arctic waters of the United States in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas.

NOAA Seeks Public Comment on Proposal to Protect Threatened Green Sturgeon

Thu, 21 May 2009 18:03:39 +0000

NOAA�s Fisheries Service is seeking public comment on a proposed rule that generally prohibits acts that would kill or harm a distinct group of North American green sturgeon that spawn in the Sacramento River.

NOAA, National Association of Black Scuba Divers Explore Shared History

Thu, 21 May 2009 17:54:31 +0000

NOAA archaeologists will be in the Florida Keys this month training members of the National Association of Black Scuba Divers in underwater archaeology as part of a new education initiative to explore the maritime heritage of African-Americans and engage the community in marine resource conservation.

New NOAA Report Offers In-depth Look at Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine Life, Ecosystems

Thu, 21 May 2009 17:38:16 +0000

A new NOAA report on the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), protected by the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, provides the sharpest picture yet of the region�s marine life and ecosystems.

NOAA Predicts Near to Below Normal Central Pacific Hurricane Season

Thu, 21 May 2009 14:36:32 +0000

NOAA�s Central Pacific Hurricane Center today announced that projected climate conditions point to a near to below normal hurricane season in the Central Pacific Basin this year.

NOAA Selects Contractor to Develop GOES-R Ground System

Thu, 28 May 2009 16:27:49 +0000

The Commerce Department�s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced today that Harris Corporation � Government Communications Systems Division of Melbourne, Fla. has been selected to develop the GOES-R ground system, which will capture, process and distribute information from NOAA�s next generation geostationary satellite series to users around the world.

NOAA�s National Weather Service Declares Boston StormReady

Thu, 21 May 2009 14:19:15 +0000

The City of Boston today received NOAA�s National Weather Service StormReady� recognition, indicating New England�s largest city is better prepared for the nor�easters and other severe storms that periodically batter the region.

NOAA Expedition Hears Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales off Greenland

Wed, 20 May 2009 18:49:12 +0000

A team of scientists funded by NOAA�s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research recorded the distinctive calls of endangered North Atlantic right whales in an area where it was believed that the historic resident population was hunted to extinction in the early 20th century. Besides providing a better understanding of the whales, the discovery has implications for future shipping in the region.

New Web Site, PSAs Promote Boating Safety and Weather Awareness

Wed, 20 May 2009 14:04:43 +0000

NOAA's National Weather Service and the National Safe Boating Council launched a new Web site to help boaters stay safe this spring and summer.

Students Selected for 2009 NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Scholarships

Mon, 18 May 2009 14:02:51 +0000

NOAA today selected 122 college students to receive scholarships as part of the Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Program. The scholarships are geared to encourage undergraduates to pursue study in NOAA fields, such as atmospheric and oceanic science, research, and technology.

NOAA Researchers: Blue Whales Re-establishing Former Migration Patterns

Mon, 11 May 2009 17:21:54 +0000

Scientists have documented the first known migration of blue whales from the coast of California to areas off British Columbia and the Gulf of Alaska since the end of commercial whaling in 1965.

Washington State Fish Broker Fined, Sentenced to Jail in False Seafood Labeling Scheme

Mon, 11 May 2009 16:22:07 +0000

A Washington state man has been fined $160,000 and sentenced to 30 days in jail for intentionally mislabeling 136,000 pounds of turbot from China as much higher priced U.S.�halibut�one of the strongest sentences ever imposed for this type of violation, according to enforcement officials from NOAA�s Office of Law Enforcement in Seattle.

NOAA: April Temperatures Slightly Cooler Than Average for U.S.

Fri, 8 May 2009 20:02:02 +0000

The April 2009 temperature for the contiguous United States was below the long-term average, based on records going back to 1895, according to an analysis by NOAA�s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, NC.

NOAA: Mild Solar Storm Season Predicted

Fri, 8 May 2009 18:18:14 +0000

Although its peak is still four years away, a new active period of Earth-threatening solar storms will be the weakest since 1928, predicts an international panel of experts led by NOAA�s Space Weather Prediction Center and funded by NASA. Despite the prediction, Earth is still vulnerable to a severe solar storm.

New NOAA System Improves Safety and Efficiency of Ships in Lake Charles

Thu, 7 May 2009 18:14:23 +0000

Mariners can now get free real-time information on water and weather conditions for the Port of Lake Charles, La., from a new NOAA ocean observing system at the port.

World�s Large Marine Ecosystems Heating Up, Altering Fisheries Catches

Wed, 20 May 2009 14:09:05 +0000

A new United Nations report, with key contributions from NOAA, found that 61 of the world�s 64 large marine ecosystems � large coastal ocean waters adjacent to continents � show a significant increase in sea surface temperatures in the last 25 years, contributing to decreasing fisheries catches in some areas and increasing catches in others.

NOAA, USFWS Study Finds Potential Disease Threats to Washington Sea Otters

Tue, 5 May 2009 16:29:59 +0000

Many of Washington State�s sea otters are exposed to the same pathogens responsible for causing disease in marine mammal populations in other parts of the country, according to a study published by researchers from NOAA�s Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and their partners.

NOAA Report: Four Fish Stocks Declared Fully Rebuilt

Tue, 19 May 2009 15:29:05 +0000

NOAA�s Fisheries Service reported to Congress today that four stocks � Atlantic bluefish, Gulf of Mexico king mackerel and two stocks of monkfish in the Atlantic � have been rebuilt to allow for continued sustainable fishing. This is the largest number of stocks to be declared rebuilt in a single year since the fisheries service declared the first stock successfully rebuilt in 2001.

NOAA FY 2010 Budget

Mon, 11 May 2009 21:42:58 +0000

The NOAA FY 2010 Budget "blue book" Web site, which offers detailed highlights of the agency's $4.5 billion budget request and helpful one-page fact sheets, is now available online from NOAA's Budget Office.

NOAA: Fifth Warmest April for Globe

Mon, 18 May 2009 14:20:02 +0000

The combined average global land and ocean surface temperatures for April 2009 ranked fifth warmest since worldwide records began in 1880, according to NOAA�s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.

New NOAA Online Handbook Helps Teachers and Community Groups Create an Oral History of the Fishing Culture

Mon, 4 May 2009 16:07:13 +0000

A new handbook published online today by NOAA�s Fisheries Service gives teachers, community groups, and the public a detailed roadmap of how to design and conduct oral history projects that celebrate the people, history and culture of our nation�s coastal and Great Lakes fishing communities.

Network of Research Buoys in Indian Ocean to Improve Monsoon Prediction

Mon, 4 May 2009 15:28:39 +0000

A new array of moored buoys in the Indian Ocean will provide critical climate and ocean data to help scientists predict the dramatic variations between seasonal monsoon rains and droughts.

NOAA, U.S. Coast Guard: New Ocean Current Data to Improve Search and Rescue Activities

Mon, 4 May 2009 15:27:25 +0000

A new set of ocean observing data that enhances the ability to track probable paths of victims and drifting survivor craft should improve search and rescue efforts along the U.S. coast. The data comes from the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS�), part of a joint effort among NOAA, the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Department of Homeland Security.

Four Hurricane Names Retired From List of Storms

Fri, 1 May 2009 20:12:22 +0000

Three hurricane names in the Atlantic and one in the eastern North Pacific were retired from the official name rotation by the World Meteorological Organization�s hurricane committee because of the deaths and damage they caused in 2008.

Monitor National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council to Hold Public Meeting in North Carolina

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:43:25 +0000

The Monitor National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council will hold a public meeting May 19, 2009, at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras, N.C. The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. with a public comment period at 11:30 a.m. NOAA�s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries manages the sanctuary.

NOAA, NASA Select Contractor to Build GOES-R Series Satellite

Thu, 7 May 2009 17:36:22 +0000

NOAA and NASA officials announced Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. has been selected to build two satellites for NOAA�s next generation geostationary satellite series, GOES-R. The new series, poised to begin launching in 2015, will double the clarity of today�s satellite imagery and provide more than 20 times the information.

NOAA�s "EstuaryLive" Webcast Takes Students on Virtual Field Trip

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:19:33 +0000

Students of all ages will have an opportunity on May 1 and May 15 to take a virtual field trip in the marshes and bays of four estuaries as part of NOAA�s "EstuaryLive" webcast.

NOAA Hurricane Team Embarks on Atlantic Coast Awareness Tour

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:18:17 +0000

NOAA hurricane experts will visit five East Coast cities aboard a NOAA hurricane hunter aircraft to raise awareness about storm threats and the danger of being caught without a personal hurricane plan. The five-day tour begins May 4.

NOAA�s Fisheries Service Proposes Federal Protection for Three Georgia Basin Rockfish Species

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:43:24 +0000

NOAA�s Fisheries Service today proposed to list three populations of rockfish in Puget Sound and the Strait of Georgia for protection under the Endangered Species Act. A final decision on the three will be made a year from now.

National System for Marine Protected Areas Launched by U.S. Departments of Commerce and Interior

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:56:41 +0000

In an effort to conserve critical natural and cultural marine resources, the U.S. Departments of Interior and Commerce are partnering with federal, state and territorial agencies to form a National System of Marine Protected Areas (MPA).

Greenhouse Gases Continue to Climb Despite Economic Slump

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:22:01 +0000

Two of the most important climate change gases increased last year, according to a preliminary analysis for NOAA�s annual greenhouse gas index, which tracks data from 60 sites around the world.

Commerce Secretary Gary Locke Extends 2008 Disaster Declaration Due to Poor Salmon Returns

Fri, 1 May 2009 12:05:58 +0000

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said today he was extending the 2008 West Coast salmon disaster declaration for California and Oregon in response to expected poor salmon returns to the Sacramento River, which have led to management reducing commercial salmon fishing off southern Oregon and California to near zero. Locke also announced that he would release $53.1 million in disaster funds to aid fishing communities.

Environmental Educator Selected to Sail Aboard NOAA Ship

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:07:50 +0000

NOAA has selected California educator Taylor Parker to join scientists aboard the 224-foot research vessel, NOAA Ship Oscar Elton Sette, as part of its Teacher at Sea program to bridge science and education.

NOAA: March 2009 Tenth Warmest on Record for Global Temperatures

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:30:45 +0000

The combined global land and ocean surface average temperature for March 2009 was the 10th warmest since records began in 1880, according to an analysis by NOAA�s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.

NOAA Announces Emergency Rule to Protect �Threatened� Sea Turtles

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:55:56 +0000

NOAA�s Fisheries Service today announced an emergency rule to protect threatened sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico.

Salazar and Locke Restore Scientific Consultations under the Endangered Species Act to Protect Species and their Habitats

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:56:21 +0000

Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that the two departments are revoking an eleventh-hour Bush administration rule that undermined Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections. Their decision requires federal agencies to once again consult with federal wildlife experts at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration � the two agencies that administer the ESA � before taking any action that may affect threatened or endangered species.

NOAA Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Celebrates Opening of New Learning Center

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:01:39 +0000

NOAA officials joined two U.S. senators, state, and local community leaders today at the grand opening of the Sanctuary Learning Center for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

NOAA Brings Great Lakes to Google Earth

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:20:26 +0000

NOAA is helping Americans peer beneath the surfaces of the five Great Lakes by providing Google Earth with data that now includes detailed three-dimensional mapping of Lakes Huron, Ontario, Erie, Superior and Michigan.

Department of Commerce Upholds NY State Objection to Broadwater LNG Project

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:28:34 +0000

The Department of Commerce today issued a decision upholding New York State�s objection to the proposed construction and operation of a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and subsea pipeline that would be located in the New York waters of Long Island Sound.

NOAA: March Temperature Near Average for the U.S.

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:55:47 +0000

The March 2009 temperature for the contiguous United States was near the long-term average, based on records going back to 1895, according to an analysis by NOAA�s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. Heavy precipitation last month also pushed the Red River, along the Minnesota-North Dakota border, to record levels, triggering major floods.

Groundbreaking Restoration Brings Innovative Approach to Chesapeake Bay

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:26:52 +0000

NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco visited Jug Bay this Earth Day to celebrate its groundbreaking restoration. After a decade-long effort, nearly 80 percent of the vital habitat has been restored. Lubchenco applauded the public and private partnerships and research initiatives at Jug Bay that are helping scientists better understand climate change.

NOAA�s Fisheries Service Office for Law Enforcement Starts Re-accreditation Process

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:30:08 +0000

NOAA�s Fisheries Service Office for Law Enforcement will begin a formal review on April 26 to retain its accreditation with the International Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

Greenhouse Gases Continue to Climb Despite Economic Slump

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:34:45 +0000

Two of the most important climate change gases increased last year, according to a preliminary analysis for NOAA�s annual greenhouse gas index, which tracks data from 60 sites around the world.

NOAA Administrator Renews America�s Commitment to Science

Thu, 9 Apr 2009 19:12:54 +0000

Vice President Joe Biden today presided over a ceremonial swearing-in ceremony of Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator, in recognition of the agency�s role in providing sound and open science as the foundation for environmental and economic strength.

Red River Will Crest Again in Fargo-Moorhead in Late April

Tue, 7 Apr 2009 15:05:30 +0000

Warming temperatures in the Red River of the North basin will begin melting ice and snowpack, setting the stage for a dangerous second crest in Fargo, N.D., and Moorhead, Minn., later this month, according to forecasters with NOAA�s National Weather Service.

NOAA Dedicates New Chesapeake Bay Research Vessel

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:17:04 +0000

NOAA today christened a new state-of-the-art research vessel, R/V Bay Hydro II, which will collect oceanographic data in the Chesapeake Bay region � data critical to safe navigation and environmental protection in the nation�s largest estuary. The dedication took place in Baltimore�s Inner Harbor, featuring a ceremonial breaking of a champagne bottle over the bow and a cannon salute from the USS Constellation.

National Tornado Experiment to Begin in May

Mon, 6 Apr 2009 17:29:49 +0000

collaborative nationwide project exploring the origins, structure and evolution of tornadoes will occur from May 10 through June 13 in the central United States. The project, Verification of Rotation in Tornadoes EXperiment2 (VORTEX2 or V2), is the largest and most ambitious attempt to study tornadoes in history and will involve more than 50 scientists and 40 research vehicles, including 10 mobile radars.

NOAA Reports Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument Reef Ecosystems in Good Condition

Thu, 2 Apr 2009 21:36:27 +0000

Marine life and habitats at Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument are in good overall condition, but face emerging threats, according to a new NOAA report on the monument�s health.

Ice-Free Arctic Summers Likely Sooner Than Expected

Thu, 2 Apr 2009 17:35:10 +0000

Summers in the Arctic may be ice-free in as few as 30 years, not at the end of the century as previously expected. The updated forecast is the result of a new analysis of computer models coupled with the most recent summer ice measurements.

Jane Lubchenco Confirmed as NOAA Administrator

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 15:17:33 +0000

Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., was confirmed by the U.S. Senate this evening as the under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere. In this capacity, she will serve as the ninth administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the nation�s top science agency for climate, oceans, and the atmosphere. Dr. Lubchenco is the first woman and the first marine ecologist to lead NOAA.

NOAA Announces Revised Regulations for California National Marine Sanctuaries

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:44:30 +0000

New regulations for NOAA's four national marine sanctuaries in California are now in effect, providing greater protection for the sanctuaries' valuable marine resources and habitats.

NOAA Ship Nancy Foster Returns to Puerto Rico to Conduct Coral and Fish Habitat Research

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:45:59 +0000

The NOAA Ship Nancy Foster is returning to Puerto Rico this week to continue a multi-year effort to study coral reef ecosystems and fish habitat in the commonwealth�s near-shore waters.

NOAA Commits $16 Million to Assist the Northeast Fishing Industry to Ease Transition to New Management of Groundfish

Wed, 8 Apr 2009 14:16:41 +0000

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced today it will allocate $16 million of its current fiscal year 2009 budget to assist the Northeast fishing industry with the transition to management of the fishery by sectors and catch shares. On Monday, NOAA announced the interim rules to reduce overfishing and rebuild Northeast Groundfish stocks.

NOAA Report Shows Rich Diversity Across U.S. Fishing Communities

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:13:17 +0000

A new report by NOAA�s Fisheries Service detailing the diverse demographics of 222 American saltwater fishing communities will help the agency design management strategies that will lead to more sustainable fisheries.

NOAA Submits Proposed Recovery Plan to Congress

Tue, 7 Apr 2009 15:06:13 +0000

NOAA has submitted to Congress its proposed Recovery plan to create jobs, strengthen the economy, and restore our environment. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , NOAA was provided $830 million.

NOAA Forecasters: Red River Will Crest Again in Fargo-Moorhead in Late April

Fri, 3 Apr 2009 17:47:26 +0000

NOAA Announces Interim Rules to Reduce Overfishing and Rebuild Northeast Groundfish Stocks While Balancing Economic and Conservation Concerns

Mon, 6 Apr 2009 17:31:38 +0000

NOAA today announced interim fishing measures that protect the Northeast groundfish stocks most in trouble, while still allowing the fishing industry to target some healthy stocks as the fishery rebuilds. The new rules, which take effect May 1, balance economic and conservation concerns, and are an important step toward ending overfishing by 2010 as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

NOAA Report Calls Flame Retardants Concern to U.S. Coastal Ecosystems

Thu, 2 Apr 2009 18:59:34 +0000

NOAA scientists, in a first-of-its-kind report issued today, state that Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs), chemicals commonly used in commercial goods as flame retardants since the 1970s, are found in all United States coastal waters and the Great Lakes, with elevated levels near urban and industrial centers.�

NOAA to Test Tsunami Warning Communications in Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:29:28 +0000

Federal and state officials in the coastal areas of northern California will conduct a test of the tsunami warning communications system between 10:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25.�

Alaska Tsunami Warning System Test Scheduled

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:10:57 +0000

NOAA and its emergency management partners will be conducting a statewide test of the tsunami warning communications system on Wednesday, March 25 at 9:45 a.m.

NOAA Recognizes Jefferson County as TsunamiReady��

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:34:20 +0000

Jefferson County, Wash., has earned the NOAA National Weather Service TsunamiReady� designation, better equipping emergency managers to prepare and warn its citizens about tsunamis.

NOAA Seeks Proposals That Will Restore Coastal Habitat, Create Jobs, Stimulate Economy

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:56:09 +0000

NOAA has begun accepting proposals for coastal habitat restoration projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The effort will foster healthy and resilient American communities while generating and protecting jobs for the thousands of people whose task it will be to restore valuable coastal and marine habitat.

NOAA - Emergency Managers to Test Atlantic/Gulf Tsunami Warning and Response

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:11:20 +0000

Residents and visitors along the Atlantic coasts of the United States and Canada, the Gulf of Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands should not be alarmed when they hear tsunami test messages broadcast over their televisions and radios on Thursday, April 2, 2009.

NOAA�s Monitor National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Seeks Participants for Youth Working Group

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:42:23 +0000

NOAA's Monitor National Marine Sanctuary is seeking people between 14 and 17 years of age to provide input to its advisory council and superintendent on ocean conservation issues and how this next generation views ocean issues.

NOAA Recognizes Yakutat, Alaska, as TsunamiReady and StormReady

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:41:07 +0000

Yakutat, Alaska, has earned the NOAA National Weather Service TsunamiReady and StormReady designations, better equipping the town to handle severe weather and tsunamis.

New Guide Aims to Improve Public Climate Literacy

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:45:31 +0000

A guide is now available to help individuals of all ages understand how climate influences them -- and how they influence climate. A product of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program, it was compiled by an interagency group led by NOAA.

NOAA Launches Online Game that Encourages Students to Learn About Estuaries

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:05:29 +0000

NOAA's National Ocean Service launched a new educational online game �WaterLife: Where Rivers Meet the Sea� today at the annual meeting of the National Science Teachers Association in New Orleans, La.

Hurricane Forecasters Bring Preparedness Message to Bahamas, Mexico and Caribbean

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:13:05 +0000

NOAA and the U.S. Air Force Reserve will host a series of public events the week of March 22 in five coastal communities in the Bahamas, Mexico and the Caribbean to urge residents to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season.�

NOAA: Ninth Warmest February for Globe

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:49:38 +0000

The combined global land and ocean surface average temperature for February 2009 was the ninth warmest since records began in 1880, according to an analysis by NOAA�s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.

NOAA�s Fisheries Service Proposes Listing Pacific Smelt as Threatened Species

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:34:30 +0000

NOAA�s Fisheries Service said today it is proposing to list Pacific smelt as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Final action on the proposal could come as soon as a year from now.

NOAA Study: Contaminant Levels Near Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet Similar to Other Parts of San Francisco Bay Area

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:33:22 +0000

NOAA scientists measuring contaminants in the vicinity of the National Defense Reserve Fleet in Suisun Bay, Calif., during a year-long environmental study found metals, PCBs and other compounds at levels comparable to those at other locations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Their findings are detailed in a new report.

NOAA Holds Public Hearings on Proposed Rule to Identify and Certify Nations Whose Vessels Fish Illegally

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:11:39 +0000

NOAA will hold the first of five public hearings on Mon., Mar.16, in Boston, to receive comments on a proposed rule to identify and certify nations with vessels engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing or bycatch of protected species, such as marine mammals and sea turtles.

�Don�t Feed Wild Dolphins� Says New Public Service Announcement

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:54:08 +0000

�Just stop feeding me!� says an animated dolphin in a new public service announcement released today that highlights the dangers of dolphins getting hooked on human handouts. The PSA was produced by a coalition of government agencies and private organizations.

Atmospheric �Sunshade� Could Reduce Solar Power Generation

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:29:25 +0000

The concept of delaying global warming by adding particles into the upper atmosphere to cool the climate could unintentionally reduce peak electricity generated by large solar power plants by as much as one-fifth, according to a new NOAA study. The findings appear in this week�s issue of Environmental Science and Technology.

Inspector General Finds NOAA Provides Best Available Science for New England Groundfish, but Recommends Improving Communication with Fishing Industry

Mon, 9 Mar 2009 16:25:19 +0000

NOAA�s Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole, Mass. advises fishery managers with the best available science to set catch limits in the groundfish fishery, according to a recently released report by the Department of Commerce Office of the Inspector General.

NOAA Report Uncovers Why Some People Don�t Heed Severe Weather Warnings

Mon, 9 Mar 2009 15:00:50 +0000

NOAA�s National Weather Service has issued a report that analyzes forecasting performance and public response during the second deadliest tornado outbreak in U.S. history. The report, Service Assessment of the Super Tuesday Tornado Outbreak of February 5-6, 2008, also addresses a key area of concern: why some people take cover while others ride out severe weather.

NOAA and Partners Recognize Newest Business to Join Dolphin SMART Program

Thu, 5 Mar 2009 22:10:38 +0000

NOAA's Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA Fisheries Service and their partners today accepted the fourth charter operator into a program created to help protect wild dolphins in the Keys. Sea Bear Aquatic Adventures officially joined the Dolphin SMART program after successfully meeting standards that promote responsible viewing of dolphins in the wild.

NOAA�s Monitor National Marine Sanctuary Seeks Applicants for Advisory Council Seat

Thu, 5 Mar 2009 14:29:54 +0000

NOAA�s Monitor National Marine Sanctuary is seeking to fill one seat on its advisory council, which ensures public participation in sanctuary management and provides advice to the sanctuary superintendent.

NOAA Encourages Bay Area Boaters to Watch Out for Whales

Tue, 3 Mar 2009 20:17:47 +0000

NOAA's Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary advises San Francisco Bay Area boaters to steer clear of whales, which migrate through the San Francisco Bay Area in large numbers during the spring. Gray whales are at a particularly high risk of collisions with vessels, as they often travel near shore and may even wander into the bay itself.

NOAA Stellwagen Bank Sanctuary Shipwreck Joffre Listed on National Register of Historic Places

Tue, 3 Mar 2009 17:14:52 +0000

The wreck of an early 20th century fishing vessel that represents technological changes in New England�s fishing industry has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The 105-foot long Joffre shipwreck rests within NOAA�s Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

South Carolina Becomes Fourth State to Earn NOAA StormReady� Designation

Tue, 3 Mar 2009 16:35:37 +0000

NOAA's National Weather Service today recognized South Carolina as the fourth state to be StormReady�. Over the past seven years, each of the state's 46 counties has completed this rigorous program to strengthen the state�s ability to protect life and property during severe weather.

NOAA Releases Draft Management Plan for Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary for Public Review and Comment

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:24:51 +0000

NOAA released the draft management plan for Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary for public review and comment today. The plan provides a framework for the sanctuary�s resource protection, education and outreach, and research programs.

Maritime Shipping Makes Hefty Contribution to Harmful Air Pollution

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:28:45 +0000

Globally, commercial ships emit almost half as much particulate matter pollutants into the air as the total amount released by the world�s cars, according to a new study led by NOAA and the University of Colorado at Boulder. Ship pollutants affect both global climate and the health of people living along coastlines.

NOAA Corps Commander John T. Caskey Takes Command of the NOAA Oceanographic Research Ship Hi`ialakai

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:34:07 +0000

Cmdr. John T. Caskey of the NOAA Commissioned Officers Corps took command today of the NOAA Ship Hi`ialakai, a ship dedicated to coral reef ecosystem research. He is the fourth to command the 224-ft. NOAA vessel, which was commissioned in 2004. The change of command ceremony was held on Ford Island, home port to three NOAA ships in Hawaii.

NOAA: Seventh Warmest January for Global Temperatures

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:40:27 +0000

The combined global land and ocean surface average temperature for January 2009 was the seventh warmest since records began in 1880, according to a preliminary analysis by NOAA�s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.

Lake Michigan Fish Populations Threatened by Decline of Tiny Creature

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:29:56 +0000

The quick decline of a tiny shrimp-like species, known scientifically as Diporeia, is related to the aggressive population growth of non-native quagga mussels in the Great Lakes, say NOAA scientists. As invasive mussel numbers increase, food sources for Diporeia and many aquatic species have steadily and unilaterally declined.

New Report Shows Loss of Coastal Wetlands in Eastern U.S.

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:04:24 +0000

While the nation as a whole gained freshwater wetlands from 1998 to 2004, a new report by NOAA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service documents a continuing loss of coastal wetlands in the eastern United States.

Antibiotic Resistance: A Rising Concern In Marine Ecosystems

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:04:24 +0000

A team of scientists, speaking today at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, called for new awareness of the potential for antibiotic-resistant illnesses from the marine environment, and pointed to the marine realm as a source for possible cures of those threats.

Crews Work to Free Another Right Whale From Entangling Ropes

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:00:17 +0000

NOAA and its partners cut entangling ropes on another endangered North Atlantic right whale off the southeast United States earlier today � this time off northern Georgia.

NOAA National Weather Service Fire Weather Experts Assisting in Australia

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 18:28:33 +0000

Several fire weather forecasters from NOAA's National Weather Service are on duty in Australia providing crucial weather information to forecasters in the Australian Bureau of Meteorology as they battle wildfires ravaging southeastern Australia.

NOAA: Fetal Exposure to Two Toxins Can Increase Epileptic Seizures and Their Severity

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:25:23 +0000

Exposure to two environmental poisons�DDT and domoic acid--during brain development can increase the number of epileptic seizures and their intensity in a laboratory model for human epilepsy, according to a report by NOAA scientists.

NOAA Offers New Online Media Library Featuring Ocean-Related Photos and Videos

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:45:39 +0000

NOAA�s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries has launched a new online multimedia library offering public access to thousands of high-resolution, ocean-related photos and videos taken by NOAA scientists, educators, divers and archaeologists.

No Evidence of Tampering in Last Year�s Sea Lion Deaths at Bonneville

Thu, 5 Feb 2009 21:44:59 +0000

An investigation by NOAA�s Fisheries Service into the deaths last May of six sea lions trapped on two floating cages below Bonneville Dam found no evidence of human intervention, either intentional or accidental, in the closing of the cage doors.

NOAA Says Prepare for Major Spring Flooding on Red River

Thu, 5 Feb 2009 16:08:33 +0000

NOAA is alerting residents in the Red River Valley, which separates North Dakota and Minnesota, of the potential for significant flooding in their communities this spring.

Explore NOAA during NOAA Heritage Week: Feb. 6-14 in Silver Spring, Md.

Wed, 4 Feb 2009 17:10:39 +0000

Explore NOAA during NOAA Heritage Week: Feb. 6-14 in Silver Spring, Md.

NOAA Simulation Model Helps Prepare Santa Barbara for Tsunamis and Coastal Floods

Wed, 4 Feb 2009 15:56:37 +0000

NOAA scientists have created a high-resolution digital elevation model, or DEM, of Santa Barbara, Calif., that simulates the effects of deadly tsunamis and coastal floods. The model enables scientists and emergency managers to develop life-saving plans to protect residents in Santa Barbara County and the nearby coastal communities of Ventura and Oxnard.

NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown Returns to Charleston After Four Months in Eastern Pacific

Mon, 2 Feb 2009 14:51:39 +0000

The NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown has returned to its homeport of Charleston, S.C., after spending four months in the eastern Pacific, most recently servicing an array of buoys which provide data for climate studies.

SARSAT Rescues 283 People in 2008

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:37:34 +0000

Last year, NOAA satellites helped rescue 283 people throughout the U.S. and its surrounding waters. NOAA satellites detect and locate distress signals from emergency beacons and relay the information to first responders on the ground.

Scientists Discover 'Hot Spot' for Toxic Harmful Algal Blooms Off Washington Coast

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:18:39 +0000

A new study funded by NOAA and the National Science Foundation reveals that a part of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, which separates Washington state from Canada�s British Columbia, is a potential 'hot spot' for toxic harmful algal blooms affecting the Washington and British Columbia coasts.

NOAA Unveils New Alert System for La Ni�a and El Ni�o

Thu, 5 Feb 2009 15:38:45 +0000

NOAA's Climate Prediction Center today issued the first La Ni�a advisory under its new El Ni�o Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Alert System. Forecasters expect La Ni�a to influence weather patterns across the United States during the remainder of the winter and into the early spring.

NOAA Team to Train Fishery Observers in Senegal

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:48:46 +0000

NOAA scientists will travel to the west African nation of Senegal this week to train government officials and university students to be marine resource observers on fishing boats. The observers will collect scientific information about the health of fish stocks and the amount of incidental bycatch of marine mammals and other protected species.

Federal Agencies and Industry Work Together to Restore New Jersey�s Passaic River

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 22:06:36 +0000

NOAA and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service have signed agreements with 23 companies to cooperatively assess the lower 17 miles of the Passaic River and develop and implement a restoration plan to restore damaged habitat.

NOAA Gives Navy Marine Mammal Protection Measures for Sonar Training off the Atlantic Coast and Gulf of Mexico

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:19:11 +0000

NOAA�s Fisheries Service has issued regulations and a letter of authorization to the U.S. Navy that includes measures to protect marine mammals while conducting Atlantic fleet active sonar training off the Atlantic coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. The regulations require the Navy to implement measures designed to protect and minimize effects to marine mammals.

NOAA Prepares to Launch New Polar-Orbiting Satellite for Climate & Weather

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:59:37 +0000

A new NOAA polar-orbiting environmental satellite, set to launch next month, will support NOAA�s weather and ocean forecasts, including long-range climate predictions for El Ni�o and La Ni�a and support U.S. search and rescue operations. The new spacecraft � NOAA-N Prime � is scheduled to lift off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Feb. 4, 2009 at 2:22 a.m. PST.

First Wintertime Observations Find Ozone Soaring near Natural Gas Field

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:25:46 +0000

During the past three winters, ozone�normally linked to hot-weather and urban pollution�has soared to health-threatening levels near a remote natural gas field in northwestern Wyoming. Now, scientists at NOAA�s Earth System Research Laboratory have solved the problem of how ozone can form in cold weather at levels threatening to human health.

Scientific Assessment Presents Best Practices for Characterizing, Communicating and Incorporating Scientific Uncertainty in Climate Decision Making

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:38:29 +0000

The U.S. Climate Change Science Program has issued its final assessment product presenting a summary of methods and strategies to characterize, analyze, and deal with uncertainty as it relates to climate change and its effects.

NOAA Releases Plans for Managing and Protecting Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:58:26 +0000

NOAA has released the final management plan, regulations, and final environmental impact statement for Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

Agencies Issue Revised Recovery Plan for the Northwest Atlantic Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:27:09 +0000

NOAA�s Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced today the availability of the final revised recovery plan for the Northwest Atlantic population of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). The species is listed globally as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

NOAA Reports Northern Fur Seal Pup Estimate Decline

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:20:53 +0000

Researchers at the National Marine Mammal Laboratory of NOAA�s Alaska Fisheries Science Center have marked another decline in northern fur seal pup births in the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea, where most of the world�s population of northern fur seals gather in the summer to rest and breed.

NOAA Issues Final Guidance on Annual Catch Limits to End Overfishing

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:22:24 +0000

NOAA's Fisheries Service today issued final guidance on annual catch limits designed to help restore federally managed marine fish stocks and end overfishing.

NOAA Proposes Guidelines for Fishery Disaster Determinations

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:36:15 +0000

NOAA�s Fisheries Service is seeking comment on a proposed rule that outlines guidelines and procedures for initiating or responding to requests for fishery disaster determinations.

NOAA Grants Endangered Species Status to Black Abalone

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:55:28 +0000

NOAA�s Fisheries Service today determined black abalone, an edible marine mollusk, should be listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The ruling takes effect on Feb. 13, and comes one year after the fisheries service proposed to list the species.

NOAA Proposes Interim Northeast Groundfish Rules

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:42:46 +0000

NOAA is proposing measures to govern Northeast groundfish fisheries beginning May 1, 2009, the start of the new fishing year. The measures strive to reduce overfishing, continue rebuilding of groundfish stocks, and provide more options for fishing businesses trying to mitigate the economic effects of the measures while the New England Fishery Management Council finalizes a major revision to the fishery management plan.

NOAA Declares Buffalo Bills as First StormReady� Supporter Team in NFL

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:02:36 +0000

NOAA is proud to announce the Buffalo Bills as the first National Football League team to become a StormReady� Supporter. With this designation the Bills are better prepared for severe weather and to make fans and spectators at Ralph Wilson Stadium aware of such events.

NOAA Will Work With Six Identified Nations to Address Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:11:42 +0000

NOAA today submitted the first ever report to Congress identifying nations � France, Italy, Libya, Panama, the People's Republic of China, and Tunisia � whose fishing vessels were engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in 2007 or 2008.

NOAA Establishes Eight Marine Protected Areas to Provide Safe Havens for Deep-Water Fish

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:01:45 +0000

NOAA has established eight separate marine protected areas encompassing a total of 529 square nautical miles in south Atlantic federal waters to shield deep-water fish species and their habitats from fishing.

Saltwater Recreational Fishermen Boon for Economy, Says NOAA

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 23:11:58 +0000

Recreational saltwater anglers pumped more than $31 billion into the U.S. economy in 2006, with Florida, Texas, California, Louisiana, and North Carolina receiving the largest share according to a new study issued by NOAA's Fisheries Service.

NOAA Twin Otter Aircraft to Support West Coast Ocean Research, Management

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:16:44 +0000

Senior federal officials today dedicated a specially equipped twin-engine NOAA aircraft that will support ocean research and management along the West Coast. The NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations is basing the plane and flight crew in Monterey, Calif., to meet the needs of NOAA programs and national marine sanctuaries.

NOAA Gives Navy Marine Mammal Protection Measures for Sonar Training off Hawaii

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:03:11 +0000

NOAA�s Fisheries Service has issued regulations and a letter of authorization to the U.S. Navy to impact marine mammals while conducting training exercises around the main Hawaiian Islands. The regulations require the Navy to implement measures designed to protect and minimize effects to marine mammals.

Coastal Land Preserved on 15th Anniversary of Major Oil Spill off Puerto Rico

Wed, 7 Jan 2009 21:41:19 +0000

On the 15th anniversary of a million-gallon oil spill that damaged the coastline of Puerto Rico, NOAA and partner organizations are celebrating the purchase of 152 acres to expand a coastal reserve near one of the areas hardest hit by the spill.

NOAA, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Award $2.2 Million for Coral Reef Conservation

Wed, 7 Jan 2009 15:41:08 +0000

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program announced today the funding of 15 grants totaling more than $2.2 million through the jointly managed Coral Reef Conservation Fund (Coral Fund). The grants will help prevent further negative impacts to coral reefs by educating local communities and improving management effectiveness.

New NOAA Great Lakes Laboratory Opens, New Acting Director Named

Wed, 7 Jan 2009 14:57:40 +0000

A larger facility to focus on Great Lakes issues opened today following a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) in Pittsfield Township, Mich.

NOAA and Partners Share Plan to Restore Delaware River from 2004 Oil Spill

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 16:35:44 +0000

NOAA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware are seeking public comment on a restoration plan to repair and improve shoreline and habitats of the Delaware River damaged by a vessel oil spill in 2004.

New Economic Report Finds Commercial and Recreational Fishing Generated More Than Two Million Jobs

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 15:19:19 +0000

U.S. commercial and recreational fishing generated more than $185 billion in sales and supported more than two million jobs in 2006, according to a new economic report released by NOAA's Fisheries Service.

NOAA Names First Woman to Direct National Geodetic Survey

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 16:58:08 +0000

Juliana P. Blackwell has been named the new director of NOAA�s Office of National Geodetic Survey where she will oversee NOAA's responsibilities for the nation's spatial reference system. She is the first woman to head the nation's oldest federal science agency which was established by President Thomas Jefferson in 1807 as the Survey of the Coast.