Healthy Oceans News

Search this section • RSS Feed

Bush Receives Final Report from U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy	9/20/2004
The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, a panel appointed by President Bush, today issued its final report stating that the oceans are in peril and overfishing is a primary factor contributing to the collapse of entire ocean ecosystems.
Administration Must Act Now to Save Our Oceans	9/20/2004
Today, the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy (USCOP) delivered its final report and recommendations for a coordinated and comprehensive national ocean policy to President Bush. Mandated by Congress in the Oceans Act of 2000, and appointed by the President himself, the Commission's take home message is undeniable - our oceans are in deep trouble. The Bush administration now has 90 days to respond and make policy recommendations to Congress.
Bush Receives Final Report from U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy (copy)	9/20/2004
The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, a panel appointed by President Bush, today issued its final report stating that the oceans are in peril and overfishing is a primary factor contributing to the collapse of entire ocean ecosystems.
Senate Moves To Open America’s Shores To Drilling	7/31/2006
The Senate voted 71 to 25 today to pass S. 3711, the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act. This bill will bring the 25 year old bipartisan moratorium that has prevented expansion of drilling off America’s coasts one step closer to an end.
Federal Commission Finalizes Ocean Policy Report - Our Blue Planet Needs Immediate Action	7/22/2004
In their report finalized today, the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy (USCOP) confirms the grim truth - our oceans are in trouble. The message is crystal clear: we must make the changes now that are so desperately needed to restore, protect, and conserve our fragile oceans.
Oregon House Protects Oregon Coast with Offshore Drilling Moratorium	6/4/2007
The Oregon House voted today in favor of a three-year moratorium on oil and gas drilling off the Oregon coast. The state Senate has already voted in favor of the measure, so it goes now to the Governor’s desk.
House Guts Offshore Drilling Protections	6/29/2006
The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly voted to allow oil and gas drilling off America’s coasts.
Latest Attack on Florida’s Coast Rebuffed by Congress	6/26/2007
Today, the House of Representatives rejected pro-drilling amendments to the FY08 Interior-Environment Spending Bill. These amendments would have lifted the current moratorium against new offshore drilling leases in Florida waters.
Governor Signs Moratorium on Offshore Drilling	6/22/2007
Governor Kulongoski today signed into law a bill banning offshore oil and gas exploration on the Oregon Coast.
Statement of Anna Aurilio, Environment America’s Washington DC Director, on Proposals to Open our Coasts to Offshore Drilling	6/18/2008
Environment America is firmly opposed to proposals by President Bush, Senator McCain and Congressman Peterson to continue decades of failed energy policy by opening our protected coasts to offshore drilling.
Senate Upholds 26 Year Offshore Drilling Moratorium; Rejects Warner Amendment to Drill Off Virginia Coast	6/14/2007
Statement of U.S. PIRG Oceans Advocate Mike Gravitz
U.S. Senate May Vote to Lift Florida Drilling Protections	6/14/2007
Less than one year after Florida Senators passed a compromise bill opening 8.3 million acres of Florida’s eastern gulf waters to oil drilling, Senator Byron Dorgan (ND) has filed an amendment to the Senate Energy Bill, that would renege on that deal and allow oil and gas drilling 45 miles from Florida’s coast.
New Rules on Environmental Reviews and Fishing Could Help Gulf of Mexico and Fish Rebound	6/05/2008
Federal data show that in 2007 nearly three out of ten Gulf of Mexico fish species for which there is adequate information were overfished or were caught faster than they can reproduce, a condition known as overfishing.
California Senate Committee Passes Legislation to Protect the Ocean	3/26/2007
The Senate Environmental Quality Committee voted 4-2 to pass legislation to phase out the use of dangerous toxic chemicals in plastic packaging and establish programs to recycle derelict fishing gear.
Acclaim for California Ocean Protection Council On Their Plan To Reduce Ocean Pollution	2/9/2007
On Thursday February 8, 2007 the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) voted unanimously to adopt a resolution that will reduce the amount of plastic pollution that is floating in the ocean and washing up on California beaches.
Statement of Mike Gravitz, Environment America’s Oceans Advocate, on the California Marine Sanctuaries Markup in the House Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Ocean	2/13/2008
Environment America and our partner, Environment California, applaud Rep. Bordallo, Chairwoman of the Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans Subcommittee for bringing up HR 1187, the Gulf of Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Boundary Modification and Protection Act, in subcommittee today. It was reported out by unanimous consent.
House Moves to Open America’s Shores to Drilling	12/8/2006
Statement of U.S. PIRG Oceans Advocate Mike Gravitz
Congress Approves Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Act (HR. 5946)	12/7/2006
Statement of U.S. PIRG Oceans Advocate Mike Gravitz
White House Responds to Oceans Commission -Ocean Conservationists Cautiously Optimistic	12/7/2004
President Bush responded to the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy's (USCOP) report today by signing an executive order to establish a cabinet-level Committee on Ocean Policy. U.S. PIRG commends the White House for recognizing that our oceans are in crisis.
A Temporary Reprieve From More Drilling Off America’s Shores	12/5/2006
Statement of Oceans Advocate Mike Gravitz
Court Gives ExxonMobil Early Christmas Gift	12/22/2006
ExxonMobil received an early Christmas present Friday when a federal appeals court reduced a $5 billion fine for punitive damages relating to the company’s role in the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill.
New Report Declares San Diego Oceans Are Threatened:	10/3/2007
A new report released by Environment California paints a troubling picture: The Pacific is threatened by the persistence of over-fishing, leaving marine ecosystems in danger of decline.
Environment America Supports H.R. 1187 to Expand Coastal Protections	10/23/2007
Environment America announces its support for H.R. 1187, a bill to expand the Gulf of Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries northward to areas off the coast of Sonoma and Mendocino Counties in California.
Senate Commerce Committee Votes To Expand California Marine Sanctuaries	05/15/2008
Statement of Mike Gravitz, Environment America’s Oceans Advocate
Senate Votes to Protect America’s Beaches, Oceans and Open Spaces	05/13/2008
Statement of Mike Gravitz, Environment America Oceans Advocate
The California Natural Resources Committee in the Assembly passed 7 bills to protect the coast of California.	04/08/2008
The California Natural Resources Committee in the Assembly passed seven bills to protect the coast of California. These bills are in response to the oil spilled from a South Korea-bound container ship when it struck a tower supporting the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in dense fog in November 2007.
New Federal Rules Will Help Pacific Ocean Fisheries Rebound	04/08/2008
Federal data show that at least nine percent of Pacific Coast fish stocks for which there is adequate information were overfished in 2007. However, for fully 70 percent of the fish stocks (129 out of 182) along the Pacific Coast, the government doesn’t have adequate information to know whether these stocks are healthy or not, according to a report released by Environment California today.
MAINE CHEFS, FISHERMEN, AND CONSERVATION GROUPS JOIN TO CELEBRATE LOCAL SEAFOOD AND PROTECT MAINE’S FISHING HERITAGE	04/07/2008
Environment Maine will host “SOS: Save Our Seafood” on Monday, April 7th to celebrate local seafood and support Maine’s fishing heritage.
Statement of Mike Gravitz, Environment America’s Oceans Advocate, on House Passage of HR 1187 to Expand California Marine Sanctuaries	03/31/2008
Environment America and our partner, Environment California, applaud the efforts of many, led by California Representative Lynn Woolsey, Natural Resources Committee Chair Nick Rahall, and Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans Subcommittee Chair Madeline Bordallo, for securing passage of H.R. 1187 which will double the size of the Gulf of Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries off the coast of California.

Healthy Oceans News

For more information on oceans issues, contact:

Michael Gravitz

John Rumpler