07/16/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 07/16/2024 15:45
Deepwater corals on the western wall of the Monument's Oceanographer Canyon
NOAA OKEANOS Explorer Program, 2013 Northeast U.S. Canyons Expedition
The first half of 2024 was an eventful one for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, a hotspot of ocean biodiversity about 130 miles off Cape Cod that is home to vibrant deep sea corals, rare whales and seabirds, and an abundance fish life (I wrote about the Monument most recently here and here). And the excitement is not over yet-at the end of the blog, I highlight two scientific expeditions to the Monument that are about to launch.
Here's what has happened in 2024 to date (in chronological order):
On February 16, 2024, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) published final regulations that formally codified the commercial fishing prohibition that scientists believe is one of the most critical protective measures included in the proclamations creating the Monument. A peer-reviewed study published in January 2022 found no evidence that the commercial fishing measure has harmed the commercial fishing industry. In other words, the Monument is not only preserving biodiversity and enhancing climate resilience but is doing so cost-effectively.
Next up is my one piece of bad news: On March 18th, another lawsuit was filed challenging the creation of the Monument as well as the very legal authority of U.S. presidents to create marine monuments at all. The case was filed by two commercial fishermen who are being represented by the Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF), one of the legal groups around the country committed to aggressively fighting government efforts to protect the environment and public health. Aside from the addition of a claim challenging the fishing regulations discussed above, the legal claims in this latest lawsuit are very similar to those in 2022 and 2017 Monument challenges, also litigated by PLF, that were ultimately dismissed. NRDC and its litigation partners-Conservation Law Foundation, Center for Biological Diversity, and a whale-watch naturalist in Maine-have filed to intervene in the case to defend the Monument and presidential authority to create marine monuments.
Fin whale in the Monument on June 11, 2024
New England Aquarium
Looking forward, a couple of scientific expeditions to the Monument are about to get underway. The first expedition is planned to kick off at the end of this week. On the 19th, Mystic Aquarium, an interdisciplinary team of scientists, led by the Mystic Aquarium's Dr. Peter Auster, will take to the water to undertake a series of studies over 10 days (assuming the weather cooperates) in all seven major features of the monument (three submarine canyons and four seamounts). And it won't be strictly science: there are also several planned special live events with visiting officials as well as daily blogs and videos. Once the trip is underway, the Mystic Aquarium website will have more information on the expedition as well as information and video relayed from sea daily.
The second expedition, led by NOAA, involves a stop in the Monument on July 18 and 19 as part of a longer deep sea coral cruise. The expedition will be using the remotely operated underwater vehicle ROV ROPOS. NOAA intends to provide updates and highlights from the trip on the NOAA Fisheries website, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/, and may also have a livestream from the vessel.
Join me in wishing bon voyage to both teams!