NOAA Announces First Tsunami Awareness Week, March 21-27

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program have designated March 21-27 as Tsunami Awareness Week. This designation comes in the wake of last month’s tsunami in Chile and less than six months after a tsunami hit American Samoa, both events resulting in loss of life and property....

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Proposal Not Adopted After Intense Debate

The proposal to list Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) under Appendix I of CITES was not adopted today by the Parties. The proposal, sponsored by the Principality of Monaco, and strongly supported by the United States, garnered intense debate by the Parties due to the importance of this migratory fish species for commercial purposes....

NOAA Takes Steps to Assure Fair and Effective Enforcement, Protect Resources

NOAA administrator Jane Lubchenco today outlined specific steps the agency has taken and will take to assure that NOAA has an effective and fair enforcement program to protect fisheries and other marine resources that sustain the jobs and economic vibrancy of America’s coastal communities, in response to a January review of the Commerce Department...

NOAA: Sixth Warmest February in Combined Global Surface Temperature, Fifth Warmest December-February

Last month’s combined global land and ocean surface temperature made it the sixth warmest February ever recorded. Additionally, the December 2009 – February 2010 period was the fifth warmest on record averaged for any similar three-month Northern Hemisphere winter-Southern Hemisphere summer season, according to scientists at NOAA’s National Clima...

NOAA Lists Pacific Smelt as Threatened”

NOAA’s Fisheries Service said today it is listing Pacific smelt, a little fish with a big history, as threatened under the Endangered Species Act....