Author: US Harbors

White oak seedlings at John S. Ayton State Tree Nursery.

“Gift of Trees” Can Last for Generations

Environment

12/4/2019 - The Maryland Department of Natural Resources offers holiday shoppers the opportunity to give a lasting legacy. The Gift of Trees is a program where Marylanders purchase native trees — either a single tree or a grove of 10 trees — for planting in honor of a celebration, commemoration, or observation. A Gift of Trees certificate suitable for framing… SEE MORE

Coral reefs play a vital role in sustaining the health of our oceans and our economy.

10 Ways to Protect Coral Reefs

12/4/2019 - Here are some things YOU can do: Corals are already a gift, don't give them as presents. Conserve water. The less water you use, the less runoff and wastewater that will eventually find its way back into the ocean. Volunteer in local beach or reef cleanups. If you don't live… SEE MORE

Seafood Firm Plans to Build Fish Production Site in Jonesport

11/29/2019 - By Bill Trotter. A Dutch aquaculture company plans to build a $110 million land-based fish aquaculture site in Jonesport, company officials said last Wednesday. Officials from Kingfish Zeeland, which specializes in growing yellowtail for the European seafood market, met with residents Wednesday evening at the local library to share information about… SEE MORE

Fisheries

Red Tide Status Update from Florida Fish and Wildlife Commision

11/29/2019 - November 27th, 2019 - Current Conditions A bloom of the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, persists in Southwest Florida. Additional details are provided below. In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in Pinellas County, background to medium concentrations in Sarasota County, very low to high concentrations in and/or offshore of Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties and… SEE MORE

Coast Guard Poacher Patrol Rescues Sea Turtles

Fishing

11/29/2019 - By Kirk Moore. Boat crews from Coast Guard Station South Padre Island routinely give chase to Mexican poachers who slip across the Texas border to illegally snatch shark and red snapper. On Sunday they rescued some victims of the poachers, freeing three live green sea turtles from a gill net… SEE MORE

Active 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season Comes to An End

Extreme Weather

11/27/2019 - The season produced 18 named storms, including six hurricanes of which three were “major” (Category 3, 4 or 5). NOAA’s outlook called for 10-17 named storms, 5-9 hurricanes and 2-4 major hurricanes, and accurately predicted the overall activity of the season. “During each and every hurricane season, thousands of workers… SEE MORE

Hurricane Season

Photo Courtesy of Rick Swart / Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife.

State Parks to Waive Fees on Black Friday

11/22/2019 - Looking for an alternative to the shopping lines on Black Friday? Fees at state parks in Oregon and Washington will be waived the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 29), and the Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife is offering free fishing, crabbing, and clamming across the state. The free day-use parking… SEE MORE

Fishing License

Bodega Bay Crabbers Delay Friday Opener to Avoid Whales

Fishing

11/22/2019 - By Kirk Moore. Bodega Bay crabbers made an unprecedented decision to hold back from Friday’s scheduled Dungeness season opener, to avoid potential encounters with humpback whales gathered off the California coast. The fishery was marred by gear entanglements in the 2015-2016 season, and tightened state oversight could severely curtail this… SEE MORE

migrating whales

https://maineboats.com/blog/2019/noaa-phase-out-paper-charts-beginning-next-year

NOAA to Phase Out Paper Charts Beginning Next Year

11/20/2019 - By Polly Saltonstall. The era of cartographers drawing charts is coming to a close. NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey has announced plans to phase out completely its production of traditional paper charts over the next five years in favor of electronic vector charts based on digital data. The announcement came… SEE MORE

NOAA Reports Uptick in Stranded Sea Turtles on NY / NJ Beaches

11/20/2019 - The recent cold snap has caused a sudden uptick in the number of cold-stunned sea turtles washing up on beaches in northern, NJ - particularly Sandy Hook and Long Beach Island and Long Island, NY. NOAA is asking all individuals walking these beaches, and beaches throughout the northeast, to report stranded… SEE MORE