Spring 2012 in THIS EDITION: Exploring Interior’S Deepest Monument a Look at Interior’S Deepest Ocean Monument
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NEWSWAVE NEWS FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR: OCEAN, COASTS AND GREAT LAKES Spring 2012 IN THIS EDITION: Exploring Interior’s Deepest Monument A Look at Interior’s Deepest Ocean Monument .. 1 Ocean Role and the Interior’s Ocean Role ............ 1 National Ocean Policy Arctic Version of ERMA .......... 2 By Ann Tihansky and Randy Bowman Tracking Tsunami Debris ....... 3 Interior has a critical Federal role World Oceans Day 2012 ....... 4 in ensuring that our Nation effi- First Lady of Oregon Visits ciently and effectively conserves Chesapeake Bay .................... 5 and manages our ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources. Top Sea Turtle Hotspots .............. 6 Interior leadership as well as New Director for the National Bureau staff continue working to Ocean Council ........................ 6 ensure that planned implementa- US Coral Reef Task Force ...... 9 tion measures for the nine Priority USFWS Monument Superintendent Objectives of the National Ocean Science Experts and Sea-level Susan White and explorer James Rise Scenarios ...................... 10 Policy align with existing Interior Cameron pose beside the DEEPSEA programs and the Department’s Award for Watershed CHALLENGER, the single-pilot See Ocean Role page 7 Improvements ..................... 11 submersible vehicle. Decoys at Poplar Island .......12 Interior hosted a world-class ex- “One Nation, ploration team as they conducted Shaped By the New USGS Video .................. 13 an historic dive on March 25, to Sea” Invasive Species Impacts ... 14 Challenger Deep in the Marianas June 4-8, 2012 Maritime Heritage ............... 15 Trench, the deepest place known on Earth. The Marianas Trench Interior is one of Deep Sea Coral Experts ....... 16 Marine National Monument (MT- this year’s par- News from the Regions ....... 17 MNM) is jointly managed by the ticipants chosen to examine the The Surfing Bison . ............... 20 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as ocean’s role in shaping our nation. part of its National Wildlife Refuge “One Nation, Shaped by the Sea,” System and the National Oceanic will provide policymakers, business and Atmospheric Administration’s leaders, academics, and concerned Marine Fisheries Service. Ref- citizens with insights into Amer- uge Chief Jim Kurth said, “The ica’s interaction with the sea and Marianas Trench Marine National will help chart an economically and Monument protects one of the environmentally sustainable course most unique ocean environments for our nation’s future. in the world. It is a place we know FREE REGISTRATION precious little about. Like the other http://www.webworksmd.com/nmsf2012/ marine national monuments man- index-chow.php?action=register Calendar of Events: http://www.nmsfocean. org/CHOW-2012-calendar See Deep Dive page 8 NewsWave • Spring 2012 Visit us online: http://www.doi.gov/pmb/ocean/index.cfm BSEE, NOAA to Develop Arctic Version of ERMA The Bureau of Safety and Environ- mental Enforcement (BSEE) and NOAA are partnering to develop a version of the Environmental Response Management Applica- tion (ER MA) for the Arctic by this summer. ERMA will help address numerous challenges in the re- Are you interested in contribut- The National Ocean gion where more ship traffic and ing to NewsWave? Science Bowl® Needs proposed energy development are Submission Guidelines: http:// YOU! increasing the risk of oil spills and www.doi.gov/pmb/ocean/news/ The National Ocean Science Bowl chemical releases. ERMA is the Newswave/index.cfm (NOSB) needs ocean science ques- same interactive online mapping Please contact Ann Tihansky with tions for the 2013 competitions. tool used by Federal responders any questions or comments. This national academic competi- during the Deepwater Horizon. The [email protected] tion on marine sciences for high U.S. Arctic Research Commission 202-208-3342 or 813-727-0841 school students (www.nosb.org) came out in support of ERMA’s further development. Fran Ulmer, NewsWave Contributors has been inspiring students to pursue careers in Science, Tech- chair of the U.S. Arctic Research Ann Tihansky, DOI nology, Engineering and Math Commission, said, “An Arctic Rachel Pawlitz, USGS version of ERMA will greatly Betsy Boynton, USGS (STEM) applied fields for 16 years. aid U.S. response capacity in the Randal Bowman, DOI You could get paid for contribut- Valerie Grussing, NOAA ing questions. Visit: http://www. event of an oil spill or chemical Liza Johnson, DOI oceanleadership.org/2012/an- release and I strongly support it. Ellen Gordon, Coastal America nouncement-for-2012-2013-nosb- Now is the time to create useful Arturo Herrera, Coastal America question-writing-and-devel- tools like this.” http://www.bsee. Joe Milmoe, FWS opment-committee-participants/ gov/BSEE-Newsroom/Press-Re- Marjorie Weisskohl, BOEM leases/2012/press02072012.aspx Bret Wolfe, FWS Chris Guy, FWS Peter McGowan, FWS Robbie Callahan, FWS Eileen Sobeck, DOI Kathryn Reshetiloff, FWS Brett Seymore, NPS Dan Schrierer, USGS Mike Slattery, FWS For more information about ocean and coastal activities at DOI contact: Terry Holman, Coordinator DOI Ocean and Coastal Activities, 1849 C Street, NW, Mail Stop 3530 Washington, D.C. 20240, Close-up image of the cold-water coral Telephone: 202-208-1944, Lophelia pertusa, with polyps extended. Fax: 202-208-4867 The coral polyps eat by grabbing tiny suspended particulates (visible against [email protected] Close-up of a squat lobster, Eumunida the dark water background). picta, in a thicket of Lophelia pertusa Photo credits: USGS coral. 2 NewsWave • Spring 2012 Japanese Tsunami Debris Reaches US Shores By Bret Wolfe and Ann Tihansky A Japanese soccer ball and volley- ball recently discovered on a beach in Alaska are some of the first items that clearly document tsu- nami debris from Japan is reaching American shores. The tsunami that followed the March 2011 Tohoku earthquake in Japan inundated and swept across large coastal areas introducing a wide array of mate- rial into the ocean. While much of the material likely sank, large areas of debris were Tsunami debris making its way across the Pacific Ocean could have impacts on coastal initially observed floating in wildlife such as these green sea turtles seen loafing at French Frigate Shoals in the coastal areas off Japan’s shores. Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, part of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. Photo: USFWS The appearance of the debris in the Gulf of Alaska within a little over els developed by NOAA and the Report sightings of potential a year’s time demonstrates how the University of Hawaii are predicting Japan tsunami marine debris oceans connect our shores across that tsunami debris will continue by sending information and the globe. to reach the Pacific shores of North photos to: America during the next few years. [email protected] The Hawaiian Islands may see NOAA Japan Tsunami Debris debris come ashore at any time. FAQ’s Sensitive shorelines, seabird http://marinedebris.noaa. habitats and delicate coral reefs in gov/info/japanfaqs.html the Papahānaumokuākea Marine EPA Region 9 Marine Debris National Monument are cur- http://www.epa.gov/re- rently within the predicted path. gion9/marine-debris/ Federal government agencies, including NOAA, EPA, and the Individuals or groups can Japanese writing on soccer ball U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are help monitor shorelines. Re- recovered on Middleton Island in the coordinating with Pacific coastal quest a copy of the NOAA’s Gulf of Alaska. Photo credit: David Baxter, Marine Debris Program’s NOAA states, the Government of Japan and other partners to reduce pos- Shoreline Survey Field Guide Wind and ocean currents continue sible impacts to natural resources, and electronic data sheet at: to disperse and transport this mate- coastal communities and marine [email protected]. rial. The islands of Midway Atoll transportation. Partner agencies Marine Debris Joint Informa- and Hawaiian Islands National are requesting public support to: tion Center webpage: http:// Wildlife Refuges, are impacted disasterdebris.wordpress.com/ daily by the large amount of ma- -help gather at-sea observations rine debris already present in this of debris concentrations and International Pacific Research area of the Pacific Ocean.While -inform discussions of how the Center – Tsunami Debris much of the debris cannot be accu- tsunami marine debris may affect Models: http://iprc.soest. rately attributed to having tsunami our marine transportation systems. hawaii.edu/news/marine_and origins, ocean circulation mod- _tsunami_debris_news.php 3 NewsWave • Spring 2012 World Oceans Day 2012 Creating a Vision through Live Interactive Video, Art, Photography, and Films Celebrate World Oceans Day by taking a virtual dive into a kelp forest with National Park Service diving park rangers. From June 6-9, ‘Live Dive’ broadcasts will be transmitted from underwater at Channel Islands National Park to participating west coast institutions from Alaska to southern California. You can also view the programs at the Park’s visitor Center in Ven- tura, California or online at: http:// www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/ live-programs.htm This unique program is provided by an educational partnership between the NPS and the Ventura The Channel Islands National Park reaches audiences beyond the Park through the County Office of Education. ‘Live Dive’ program where SCUBA Rangers give live interactive tours through kelp forests and other offshore environments. The Channel Islands National Park