New England’s Marine National Monument Turns Six
As we celebrate the sixth anniversary of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, we are calling for more of our ocean to be permanently protected
As we celebrate the sixth anniversary of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, we are calling for more of our ocean to be permanently protected
As New Englander’s, we are lucky to have our very own marine National Monument in our backyards. But it shouldn’t be the last. Here are 5 reasons why we must continue to protect special places in our ocean.
Dr. Ayana Johnson shares her views and hopes for the future of the ocean conservation movement.
“Offshore wind is a critical piece of New England’s shift from polluting fossil fuels to clean energy,” said Priscilla Brooks, Director of Ocean Conservation at CLF. “Today’s news is an exciting step forward for the Vineyard Wind project and we look forward to reviewing the environmental impact statement. We will continue to work with Vineyard Wind and federal officials to make sure that this project moves forward quickly and in a way that avoids harm to endangered North Atlantic right whales as well as other ocean wildlife and habitats.”
Protected areas like the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts are critical in the fight to give these waters and species a chance to recover. We know that setting aside parts of the ocean leads to healthy marine life, which fuels an abundance and diversity of life in adjacent waters. That, in turn, supports our ocean economy, including commercial and recreational fishing and whale watching in the long run. Everyone wins.
“With the ocean getting hotter and more acidic and wildlife facing extinction, the ocean must be a top issue this election season,” said Priscilla Brooks, Director of Ocean Conservation at CLF. “It’s time for bold action to confront the crisis facing our oceans.”
As the saying goes, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. President Trump revoked the National Ocean Policy last summer, but here in New England, ocean planning – the idea that we can be smarter and more coordinated about how we collectively use and manage our ocean – lives on.
As offshore wind projects move forward off of New England’s coast, it’s important to bring this clean energy online while maintaining a healthy ocean. Part of that balance is ensuring that offshore wind development does not harm our iconic – and severely endangered – North Atlantic right whales. CLF and our partners reached landmark agreement with offshore wind developer Vineyard Wind to make sure that this exciting source of clean energy doesn’t come at the expense of our treasured right whale.
The day after the election, CLF President Brad Campbell joined Staff Attorney Emily Green and special guest Jamie Hoyte – former Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs and currently Senior Advisor with Tremont Strategies Group – to talk through what the election results mean for New Englanders.
“After years of requests from scientists, recreational fishermen, and the public, this amendment recognizes the critical role this species plays in our ocean ecosystem. These rules will make a long-lasting difference for herring, its predators, and the businesses and communities that depend upon a healthy fishery and a healthy ocean.”