NOAA FISHERIES SERVICE RELEASES NECROPSY REPORTCause of 2005 Marine Mammal Strandings Unclear March 30, 2006  The NOAA Fisheries Service released necropsy results taken from stranded marine mammals off the coast of North Carolina in January 2005. Despite extensive testing, no single cause of the stranding and death of the marine mammals has been identified. […]
Safety Recommendation M-06-5 through -9 The National Transportation Safety Board makes the following safety recommendations to the U.S. Coast Guard: Revise regulations to require that passenger capacity for domestic passenger vessels be calculated based on a statistically representative average passenger weight standard that is periodically updated. (M-06-5) Identify a method for determining the maximum safe […]
Notice of Integrated Registration Program NOAA Fisheries Service is increasing the number of fisheries for which the Marine Mammal Authorization Program (MMAP) registration is integrated with existing state and Federal fishery licensing and permitting programs. MMAP registration will be integrated for state fisheries permitted through the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, […]
NATIONAL ICE CENTER CONFIRMS NEW ANTARCTIC ICEBERG March 24, 2006  An iceberg about the size of Martha’s Vineyard broke off from the Fimbul Ice Shelf, a large glacial ice sheet, located along the northwestern section of Queen Maud Land, in the eastern Weddell Sea near Antarctica. The National Ice Center, using visible satellite imagery […]
More Ships to Leave Ghost Fleet Two more ships are leaving the James River, headed for disposal facilities in Virginia and Maryland, in what has become a regular occurrence since the Bush Administration took over management of the nation’s ship disposal program five years ago, the U.S. Maritime Administration announced. The Howard W. Gilmore is […]
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s 2006 Guy Bradley Award Special Agent Jack Baker, a criminal investigator with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement in Washington, North Carolina, and Maj. Bruce Buckson, who serves as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) coordinator for manatee law enforcement, have received the National […]
American Scientific Societies weigh in on Endangered Species Debate This spring, it is anticipated that the U.S. Senate will consider changes to the Endangered Species Act (E.S.A.). Many of the proposed changes involve scientific issues and how science, research, and scientists advance the conservation of endangered plants and animals. Six scientific organizations developed and today […]
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DEDICATES NEW HURRICANE-RESISTANT WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE IN KEY WEST NOAA’s National Weather Service dedicated a new, hurricane-resistant weather forecast office in Key West, Fla., today. The new facility is designed to withstand wind speeds and storm surge levels associated with a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane. “Florida took a terrible beating from four […]
VADM Lautenbacher testifies before House Resources Fisheries and Wildlife Subcommittee At a March 21st hearing in Gretna, LA, the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, U.S. Navy (Ret.) testified before the House Resources Fisheries and Wildlife Subcommittee (Chair Wayne Gilchrest, R-MD). The Vice Admiral spoke of NOAA’s role in the […]
Excitement Heats Up for 2006 Big Rock! March 20, 2006 – When billfish competitors begin to register for the 48th Annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, they’ll take their first step toward winning part of a cash purse that’s exceeded $1 million each of the past eight years. Quite a change from the original Big […]
