A typical day at the Seacoast Science Center in Rye, New Hampshire, finds it packed with ocean enthusiasts: children and adults touch native starfish, learn from interactive exhibits about ocean habitats, and explore tidal pools along the protected New Hampshire coastline. The Center doesn’t just aim to teach visitors about the Gulf of Maine, it…
Dec 28
2016
2016
Dec 28
2016
2016
Our Changing Ocean
Climate Impacts in Motion In September, leaders from around the world gathered in Washington, D.C., for the third annual Our Ocean Conference, hosted by Secretary of State John Kerry. Together, they committed to 136 new initiatives aimed at conserving and protecting fragile ocean areas worldwide. In between commitments from the countries of Sri Lanka and…
Dec 12
2016
2016
Nation’s First Offshore Wind Farm Begins Producing Clean, Renewable Power
“This is the beginning of a new clean energy chapter for New England and proof that new jobs and new industries will flourish in a future free from reliance on fossil fuels,” said CLF President Bradley Campbell. “Deepwater Wind deserves particular credit for seeing that good environmental stewardship of the environment is also good business, engaging all key voices in the development process to minimize impacts to endangered North Atlantic right whales and other ocean resources while achieving on-time, on-budget construction.”
Dec 7
2016
2016
Historic Approval of Northeast Ocean Plan a Testament to Our Region’s Strength
In a historic moment, the White House announced today the official approval of the landmark Northeast Ocean Plan. This approval by the National Ocean Council sets the Northeast Ocean Plan in motion and into the implementation stage – cementing New England’s legacy as a national leader for protecting and managing our oceans. The plan is…
Dec 7
2016
2016
First-of-its-Kind Northeast Ocean Plan Officially Approved by Obama Administration
“This is a game changer for the management of our ocean in New England,” said CLF’s Vice President and Director of Ocean Conservation Priscilla Brooks. “Based on the most comprehensive scientific database ever compiled for New England’s ocean and intensive stakeholder input, the Northeast Ocean Plan will effectively enable the region to capitalize on all the ocean has to offer by way of food, clean renewable energy, transportation, recreation, and jobs, while ensuring that the ocean we all depend upon is healthy and thriving. CLF applauds this historic achievement as a critical step toward ensuring an effectively managed, healthy ocean and coastal communities for generations to come.”
Oct 25
2016
2016
The Future of Offshore Wind in New England is Bright
On a beautiful, brisk, and windy fall day last week, director of ocean conservation Dr. Priscilla Brooks embarked upon a cruise out to the Block Island wind farm for a close-up view of our nation’s first offshore wind farm. The 13-mile ride was bumpy, but well worth it, Brooks said. Standing some 560 feet high,…
Oct 18
2016
2016
Northeast Ocean Plan emerges as development tool
“For any project that comes up now, the ocean plan will guide the consideration of that project and in very specific ways,” said Priscilla Brooks, vice president and director of ocean conservation at the Conservation Law Foundation, who participated in stakeholder meetings. “It will guide [the project] in terms of agencies using this new Northeast…
Oct 14
2016
2016
Federal Agency Weakens Protections for Vulnerable Fish Populations
“Before 2006, the New England Fishery Management Council took advantage of legal loopholes that produced disaster for our region’s fish and fishermen, decimating species like Atlantic cod and yellowtail flounder and creating long-term barriers to success for those who make a living in our waters,” said CLF senior counsel Peter Shelley. “It took a concerted effort from CLF and hundreds of community partners to right the ship and provide opportunities for important fish species to repopulate, but today’s decision unravels a decade of progress. By allowing room for more subjectivity and more flexibility within its regulations, NOAA Fisheries has weakened management tools that have been used successfully to restore over thirty fisheries once in severe decline.”
Sep 22
2016
2016
Faces of Ocean Planning: Cape Cod’s Self-Reliance
The nonprofit’s renewable energy goals are likely to be bolstered by the implementation of the Northeast Regional Ocean Plan. For more than 35 years, Self-Reliance (formerly Cape and Islands Self-Reliance) has worked to educate Cape Cod residents, businesses, and neighborhoods on the economic benefits of renewable energy. Through the implementation of unique “energy action plans,”…
Aug 12
2016
2016
The Comment Period is Over . . . So, What’s Next for the Northeast Ocean Plan?
On Monday, July 25, the public comment period closed for the draft Northeast Ocean Plan. The summer saw an expansive public outreach effort by the plan creators, the Northeast Regional Planning Body (RPB), with public meetings held in each coastal New England state. It’s a safe assumption that many are wondering, “What’s next for the…