Ocean Conservation News

Search this section • RSS Feed

After Yet Another Gulf Rig Explosion President Obama Should Permanently Ban New Drilling	2010-09-02
This morning, around 10:30 Eastern, another rig exploded into in the Gulf of Mexico. Heather Shute, Environment Washington's environmental advocate released the following statement:
Congressional Response to Oil Spill Disaster Delayed	2010-08-04
Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Reid announced that the Senate will not vote on oil response legislation before the August recess.
48 Beach Closings in Washington in 2009	2010-07-28
As thousands of Washingtonians flock to beaches around the state, Environment Washington and Citizens for a Healthy Bay reported that beach closings and advisories due to pollution dropped last year in Washington totaling 48 days of closed beaches, according to the Natural Resource Defense Council’s 20th annual beach water quality report.
Runaway BP Oil Well Capped For Now; We Must Never Let This Happen Again	2010-07-16
Late this afternoon, the National Oil Spill Incident Commander announced that BP’s broken oil well had been capped at approximately 3:30 PM, shutting off the flow of 1.5 to 2.5 million gallons of oil per day into the Gulf of Mexico.
Citizen Groups Announce First Suit To Enforce Federal Environmental Laws Directly Against BP	2010-06-01
Gulf Restoration Network, Louisiana Environmental Action Network, and Environment America Intend to Use Federal Clean Water Act to Force BP into Full Disclosure and Deployment of All Means Available to Clean Gulf Waters
Environment Washington Thanks President Obama for Virginia Lease Sale Cancellation; Calls for Permanent Ban on Drilling New Areas	2010-05-27
After 35 days of the largest oil spill in U.S. history, it appears that BP is finally bringing some control over the river of oil gushing into the Gulf.
Environment Washington Supports Making Polluters Pay	2010-05-26
Yesterday, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee considered increasing penalties under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCLSA) for oil companies who violate permit or lease conditions and raising liability limits for economic damages from oil spills.
One Month after Beginning of BP Oil Spill, Major Environmental Groups Call on President Obama to Ban New Offshore Drilling	2010-05-20
Today, 14 major environmental groups (Center for Biological Diversity, Clean Water Action, Clean Ocean Action, Conservation Law Foundation, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, Environment America, Greenpeace, League of Conservation Voters, National Audubon Society, Ocean Conservancy, Oceana, Sierra Club, The Wilderness Society) joined together on a letter asking President Obama to ban offshore drilling in places off U.S. coasts that are not currently being drilled.
Environment Washington Calls on Senate Committees to 'Drill Deeper' into the BP Oil Spill	2010-05-19
Today the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the Environment and Public Works Committee and the Commerce Committee continue their investigation of the causes of the tragic blowout, fire and oil spill from the Deepwater Horizonnow in its fourth week.
BP’s Oil Spill Disaster Hurts Louisiana Fisherman & Seafood Businesses	2010-05-07
Today representatives of the fishing and seafood industry spoke out on the impact of the BP oil spill on their livelihoods and businesses.
In Response to Gulf Oil Spill Disaster, Environment Washington Demands No New Drilling	2010-04-30
Last week in the Gulf of Mexico, the Deepwater Horizon, one of the world’s most technologically advanced oil drilling rigs, exploded into a firestorm, killing eleven workers; three days later the rig sank in more than 5,000 feet of water and the well started spilling enormous amounts of oil.
Environment America Outraged at Offshore Drilling Announcement	2010-03-31
Today, the Obama Administration unveiled a proposal to open vast expanses of the Atlantic coastline, Gulf of Mexico, and the Northern coast of Alaska to new offshore drilling.
Risks from Expanded Offshore Drilling To Ocean and Beaches in Washington	2009-10-29
Washington's coast has wonderful beaches, parks, marshes, remarkable underwater ecosystems and amazing wildlife, all of which would be threatened by more offshore oil drilling, currently under debate in Washington, D.C.
Environment Washington Supports Investment in Clean Water	2009-03-30
Environment Washington supported a bill in the state legislature that would control toxic storm water runoff by creating low-impact development projects around the Puget Sound. As the legislature now deliberates the state's budget for the 2010 fiscal year, the organization calls on legislators to include measures to fund low-impact development in its plan.
Saving Puget Sound: Washington Becomes First State to Ban Class of Toxic Chemicals	2007-04-06
OLYMPIAâ€”In an important victory for both human health and the effort to clean up Puget Sound, Washington became the first state in the nation to initiate a complete ban on a class of toxic flame retardants known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). While several states have banned penta and octa, Washington is the first state, joining the European Union, in banning a third type of PBDE, deca.
New Oceans Report: Federal Government Make Little Progress Increasing the Number of Healthy Fish Stocks, Hides Failures Using Shell Games	2006-03-29
SEATTLEâ€”Only 18% of fish populations off the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington are known to be healthy, and that number has not improved since 2001, according to an analysis of government statistics in a new report published today by the Marine Fish Conservation Network (Network) and WashPIRG. The Pacific Fishery Management Council is the primary agency responsible for managing fishing activities and ensuring the health of 167 marine fish populations of which only 49 have been assessed to determine whether or not they are at healthy levels.
Contamination Forces Over 70 Beach Closings in Washington in 2004	2005-07-28
SEATTLEâ€”Beach closings due to hazardous bacterial contamination are on the rise at Washington beaches, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council's annual report released today by the Washington Public Interest Research Group (WashPIRG).
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposes to Gut Key Ocean Conservation Provision	2005-06-20
SEATTLEÃ¢â‚¬â€In a proposed rule issued today, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced its plans to open the nation's oceans to overfishing with impunity. If this rule becomes law, the overfishing standard, a fundamental conservation measure, will be stripped of its ability to protect the nation's fish populations and the ocean ecosystems of which they are a part.
Representative Rahall Continues Effort to Protect Oceans	2005-03-17
Representative Nick Rahall (D-WV), ranking member of the U.S. House Resources Committee, was joined by bipartisan cosponsors today in introducing legislation that will enhance fisheries science and management in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of marine fish and ocean ecosystems.
Cruise Ship Pollution Threatens Washington Businesses, Environment	2005-03-10
SEATTLEâ€”At a news conference on the Seattle waterfront today, the Washington Public Interest Research Group (WashPIRG) release a report detailing the risk cruise ship pollution poses to Washington's businesses and economy in the absence of meaningful regulations. The report "Cruising for a Bruising: Why Washington Needs Laws to Protect Its Waters from Cruise Ship Pollution" called on the Legislature to pass a bill that will more strictly regulate cruise ship pollution in Washington waters. California and Alaska, have already past strict cruise ship regulations, making Washington a potential target for increased pollution dumping from cruise ships.
Local Chefs Serve Up a Feast for Ocean Conservation: Event Raises Visibility of Threats, Highlights Solutions to Declining Fish Stocks	2004-11-30
SEATTLEâ€”In support of the Northwest's marine bounty and the findings of two blue-ribbon commissions, five of Seattle's top chefs today served up a luncheon in support of sustainable seafood and improved oceans management. The goal of the luncheon was to mobilize the public - from concerned citizens to upscale chefs to members of Congress - to end the ongoing decline in ocean health.
Representatives Rahall and Farr Introduce First Federal Bill to Address Ocean Commissions' Recommendations: WashPIRG Supports Legislation Designed to Fix Flawed Fishery Management System	2004-06-24
Seattleâ€”Representative Nick Rahall (D-WV), Ranking Democrat on the U.S. House Resources Committee, Representative Sam Farr, Co-Chair of the House Oceans Caucus, and 12 Members of Congress today introduced legislation that would help eliminate long-standing financial conflicts of interest, unbalanced representation, and poor conservation decisions in the fisheries management system. This is the first piece of legislation that would enact policy proposals made by the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the Pew Oceans Commission.
Science is Clear: Oceans in Trouble, Action Needed	2004-04-20
Seattleâ€”The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy (USCOP) report issued today should serve as a wake-up call to Gov. Locke, Congress and to the Bush administration that immediate action is needed to protect our oceans, according to the Washington Public Interest Research Group (WashPIRG). USCOP, a congressionally mandated 16-member panel, has spent the past three years surveying and studying Americaâ€™s oceans. Today USCOP revealed its comprehensive report and recommendations for a coordinated and comprehensive national ocean policy to governors and select members of Congress.
Dynamic locally produced film explores economic, environmental and health impacts of salmon farming	2004-03-28
Seattle, Wash.â€”All over the world, fish are at the heart of people's diets and cultures. And here in the Pacific Northwest, there's no fish like the legendary salmon. An important element in Native mythology, a livelihood for generations of fishermen and a staple of the Northwest diet, the salmon has become an icon for this region.
Seattle Chefs Cook Up Feast in Support of the Oceans	2003-10-27
Seattleâ€“Amid plates of sustainable seafood prepared by five of Seattleâ€™s top chefs, a coalition of fishermen, chefs, and conservationists gathered at Mattâ€™s in the Market Restaurant today to promote sustainable seafood and to call for significant changes to United States ocean policy. The coalition called attention to serious problems facing Americaâ€™s oceans and urged lawmakers to adopt the recommendations of the Pew Oceans Commission, which released its report this summer.