As National Ocean Month ended last week, I’m reflecting on the past month. Things may seem bleak, with the Trump administration pushing an agenda that disregards the health of the ocean we were celebrating, but I found hope in my colleagues and comrades. These incredible people and their work holding Trump accountable for his determinantal actions are what I celebrated this month.
As the Trump administration continues its attack on our nation’s public lands and waters, it has never been more pressing to highlight the importance of a healthy ocean ecosystem. That is why CLF is heading to Washington, DC next week to participate in Capitol Hill Ocean Week.
A slew of bills under debate in Congress would endanger our marine life and ocean ecosystems by decimating key conservation protections offered by existing laws. Coupled with harmful actions from the Executive Branch, our ocean faces threats from some in Washington who are more concerned with lining the pockets of a few oil and gas industry executives than with the health of our ocean and coastal communities.
The ocean contributes $352 billion annually to the U.S. economy, and supports 3.1 million jobs nationwide – and it’s continuing to grow. Commercial shipping traffic is increasing at an unprecedented rate. Offshore wind energy is booming off the coasts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and small new aquaculture businesses are cropping up left and right.… Continue reading Celebrating One Year of Regionwide Ocean Planning in New England
We are at risk of losing something very special: President Trump wants to reverse the hard-earned protections for two of New England’s natural jewels – the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. Your voice is urgently needed, and will make a big difference. For just a… Continue reading Take Action to Defend New England’s National Monuments!
This week, ocean advocates convened at the Blue Vision Summit in Washington, D.C., to rally support in defense of our blue movement and to discuss solutions to some of the ocean’s toughest challenges. This three-day meeting brought together some 500 participants from across the country, first to meet with members of Congress and, second, to… Continue reading Blue Vision Summit: A Time to Come Together to Advocate for Our Oceans
When President Trump released his proposed budget to Congress, we already knew to expect severe cuts across almost every program. But, the proposal went beyond even our worst fears, especially when it comes to programs that protect our air and water, and support the most vulnerable communities among us. While the President’s proposal is just… Continue reading Administration’s Proposed NOAA Cuts Won’t Cut it for New England’s Coasts
