COPENHAGEN, Aug 10 (Reuters) - The Danish environmental protection agency (DEPA) said on Thursday it had reported Maersk Oil, the oil unit of A.P. Moller-Maersk, to the police for discharging chemicals into the North Sea in connection with oil production. "Maersk Oil has in several cases, in violation of the regulations of the marine environment law, released so-called 'red' … [Read more...]
Obama Creates World’s Largest Marine Reserve Off Hawaii
By Roberta Rampton (Reuters) U.S. President Barack Obama will dramatically expand the Papah?naumoku?kea Marine National Monument off the coast of Hawaii on Friday, the White House said, an action that will ban commercial fishing from more than 582,500 sq miles (1.5 million sq km) of the Pacific Ocean. Obama will visit the protected area on Sept. 1 to draw attention to … [Read more...]
The U.S. Just Created The World’s Largest Marine Reserve in the Pacific
President Obama on Thursday signed a proclamation designating the world's largest marine reserve and declaring it completely off limits to commercial fishing and mining. The proclamation expands the existing Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument to six times its current size, resulting in 490,000 square miles (about 390,000 square nautical miles) of protected … [Read more...]
Marisco Handed Monster Fine for EPA Clean Water Act Violations
HONOLULU – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) announced today their settlement with Marisco Ltd. including civil penalties of $710,000 for water pollution control violations at its ship repair and drydock facilities at Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor on Oahu. This is the largest Clean Water Act civil penalty … [Read more...]
Increased Maritime Activity Highlights Need for National Ocean Policy
By Susan Olcott, This New Year comes with new opportunities – as well as the potential for conflicts – in the open ocean. In 2013, the US federal government will offer competitive lease sales for offshore wind farms in the waters off of Virginia, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Considering the impact these sites could have on existing ocean industries, like … [Read more...]