Latest Skimmer Articles

• Scientists describe a new deep reef marine zone – the rariphotic
• Ecosystem-based MSP process underway for Azores, Madeira, and Canary Islands
• UNEP launches portal of global and regional marine and coastal data resources
• New high-resolution, publicly-available dataset captures activity of more than 70,000 fishing vessels, including majority of large industrial fishing vessels
• New climate resilience tool helps discover, visualize, and analyze climate and socioeconomic datasets globally
• Paper outlines roles for ocean businesses in implementing Sustainable Development Goals and advancing blue growth
• World’s first commercial floating offshore wind farm performing well in initial months
• Interview with expert on new phenomenon of “annihilation trawling”, non-targeted bottom trawling
• UK releases new report on future trends, challenges, and opportunities from the sea
• Ocean Atlas provides short summaries and good graphics of major threats to ocean ecosystems
• Expert input on cumulative impact tools for MSP summarized
• New online mini-course provides overview and case studies of coastal social science
• Ecosystem approach to aquaculture and its role in blue growth reviewed
• Regional assessments of biodiversity and ecosystem services for Africa, Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe-Central Asia released
• US NOAA avoids major budget cuts for now
• Interactive tool shares findings and lessons learned from Baltic MSP
• TNC launches updated website of marine planning resources
• New MSP Library and MSP Glossary available

Editor’s Note: From the Archives calls attention to past MEAM articles whose perspectives and insight remain relevant.

Maritime industries deliver 90% of international trade, supply 30% of oil and natural gas, and carry 98% of international communications. Yet despite the vast industrial use of the oceans, ocean planning processes often have relatively little involvement by industry. Read what industry leaders have to say about what ocean planning practitioners should (and should not) do to engage the ocean business community.

A very quick update on Arctic ecosystems

Trump's proposed offshore drilling plan: What does it mean for MPAs and MSP?

Latest News and Resources for Ocean Planners and Managers for the month of March 2018.

By Tundi Agardy, Contributing Editor, MEAM. Email: tundiagardy [at] earthlink.net

In a very short time, the story of the Arctic has seemed to morph from a case study in international law that only a policy wonk could love to a sobering story of a dystopian future. As the ice recedes and access to the riches of the pole opens up, Arctic nations are clamoring to secure rights and wield new technologies in shipping and oil and gas exploration and extraction that will promote short term profitability while likely threatening long term sustainability. Environmental conditions, and their rapid rate of change, have turned a laboratory for negotiation and cooperation into the Wild West.

MEAM is doing a major expansion of its Training Opportunities page and will roll the new resource out in the April newsletter. We are looking for short courses, graduate programs, tools trainings, elementary/secondary/university-level resources, and other miscellaneous opportunities such as video trainings and interactive games related to marine conservation and management for possible inclusion in the compilation. If you have any suggestions for us, please send them to meam [at] openchannels.org at any time. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise and helping to build this unique and valuable resource!

All about insurance for the oceans

A new way to frame ecosystem services for the oceans.

Latest News and Resources for Ocean Planners and Managers for February 2018.