Author Archives: Tom Sadler

It’s Official: Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary Becomes a Reality!

Posted by Tom Sadler Oct 23, 2024 Featured, Marine Reserves, Public Lands 2 Comments

Indigenous collaborative co-stewardship will drive management For National Marine Sanctuary Day, the Marine Fish Conservation Network celebrates its newest addition: the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary! On October 11, NOAA announced America’s 17th national marine sanctuary, Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. The first Tribally nominated national marine sanctuary covers 4,543 square miles of coastal and […]

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Proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary Continues to Move Forward

Posted by Tom Sadler Sep 19, 2024 Featured, Public Lands Leave a Comment

Top photo: View of Cojo Anchorage in the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. (Image credit: Robert Schwemmer/NOAA) On September 6, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released the final environmental impact statement (EIS), outlining the environmental impacts of the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. The final EIS is an important and necessary […]

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FISH Act Helps Ready the U.S. Seafood Industry for the Future

Posted by Tom Sadler Jul 24, 2024 Climate Change, Commercial Fishing, Featured, Working Waterfronts Leave a Comment

Rep. Mary Peltola’s reputation as an advocate for fishing and Native Alaskan fishing communities was never more evident than with the introduction of her Fisheries Improvement and Seafood Health (FISH) Act in June 2024. At a time when more and more legislation is introduced to do nothing more than “send a message” about the sponsor’s […]

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Marine Sanctuary Proposed for Hawai’i’s Globally Significant Marine Monument

Posted by Tom Sadler Mar 13, 2024 Climate Change, Featured, Public Lands Leave a Comment

One of the things I talked with Joel R. Johnson, president and CEO of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, during our recent Waterside Chat was the potential for a national marine sanctuary in the marine portions of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. On February 29, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released for public comment draft […]

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Reintroduced: The Keep America’s Waterfronts Working Act

Posted by Tom Sadler Dec 18, 2023 Commercial Fishing, Featured, Policy, Sustainable Seafood, Working Waterfronts Leave a Comment

U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Rob Wittman (R-Va.) have reintroduced the bipartisan Keep America’s Waterfronts Working Act, H.R. 6641. The legislation establishes a Working Waterfront Grant Program to help preserve and expand access to coastal waters for water-dependent businesses, create a Working Waterfronts Preservation Loan Fund to make funds available through state governments for […]

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Working Waterfront Preservation Act Would Provide Needed Funding to Coastal Businesses

Posted by Tom Sadler Nov 15, 2023 Commercial Fishing, Featured, Recreational Fishing, Sustainable Seafood, Working Waterfronts Leave a Comment

Earlier this month, U.S. Senator Susan Collins of Maine introduced S. 3180, the “Working Waterfront Preservation Act,” which would establish a grant program to help preserve waterfronts in coastal communities. Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island cosponsored the legislation, and it was referred to the Senate Energy and Public Works Committee. The Network’s support for […]

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New Public Comment Opportunity on the Proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary

Posted by Tom Sadler Sep 6, 2023 Featured, Public Lands, Sustainable Seafood Leave a Comment

On August 25, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced a 60-day comment period (ends October 25) on the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary draft management plan and environmental impact statement (EIS), which will determine the final boundaries, permitted activities, and general regulations of the marine sanctuary. NOAA is hosting in-person and virtual informational […]

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Legislation Focuses on the Chesapeake Bay

Posted by Tom Sadler Aug 30, 2023 Commercial Fishing, Featured, Policy, Public Lands, Recreational Fishing, Summer Flounder Leave a Comment

The Chesapeake Bay is an iconic marine ecosystem that inspires stories, songs, and lifelong memories. I’ve fished, hunted, and raced sailboats in and around the bay. And while now I live in the headwaters of the bay watershed, I continue to be closely connected to it. This summer, members of Congress in the Chesapeake Bay […]

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