Open Ocean

10 Years after Deepwater Horizon: A Statement from the​ Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustee Council

Posted on April 20, 2020 | Restoration Area

Today marks ten years since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurred. The rig explosion led to the largest marine oil spill in American history and caused the loss of 11 men and injury to 17 others. For months, millions of barrels of oil flowed into the Gulf of Mexico. Many coastal communities were severely impacted. In these trying times, we recognize the human cost of the oil spill, and continue to extend our deepest condolences to those whose loved ones were lost or otherwise injured. 

On this day, we, the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees, want to provide an

Project Restoring Gulf Pelagic Fish Kicks Off Fourth Year

Posted on January 28, 2020 | Restoration Area

After three successful project years, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and NOAA announced the fourth year of the Deepwater Horizon Oceanic Fish Restoration Project, which began on January 1, 2020.

Twelve Florida and Louisiana fishing vessel owners are participating. They will take a voluntary break from pelagic longline fishing, and have options to use alternative gear that reduces bycatch of non-target species to continue to bring fish to market.

The pelagic longline fishery in the Gulf of Mexico targets species such as yellowfin tuna, swordfish and mackerel. Many of these

Open Ocean Draft Restoration Plan 2 Available for Public Comment

Posted on May 15, 2019 | Restoration Area
Updated July 22, 2019

The Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group has released the Draft Restoration Plan 2 and Environmental Assessment: Fish, Sea Turtles, Marine Mammals, and Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities (PDF 438 pg.) for public comment. The deadline was extended through July 15, 2019, and reopened to end on August 2, 2019.

The draft plan is available here and in libraries and other repositories throughout Gulf of Mexico states, which are listed in the plan’s Appendix G. The draft restoration plan, fact sheets, Appendix G, how to provide public comment, and information on our

Strategic Approach for Bird Restoration Evaluation

This project will contribute to a more complete understanding of the benefits to injured bird species resulting from multiple restoration efforts and the data needed to evaluate bird restoration. An important component of this work will be an inventory of available data assets to support analyses to evaluate benefits of restoration work, progress towards bird restoration goals listed in the PDARP/PEIS, and the development of updated Open Ocean bird restoration indicators.

Seabird Nesting Colony Protection and Enhancement at Dry Tortugas National Park

This project will evaluate both historic and current population size of nesting seabird colonies on Dry Tortugas National Park (DRTO) to establish an updated understanding of baseline conditions that inform the design of future restoration actions, and that actively restore seabird colonies through habitat enhancement, social attraction, and biosecurity measures. Project activities will be conducted over a five to seven year period and implemented in two phases.

Seabird Nesting Colony Reestablishment and Protection at Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge

This project will maximize the restoration benefits of previously implemented invasive species eradication efforts conducted on Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge, by reestablishing nesting colonies for five target seabird species including bridled tern, sooty tern, brown booby, magnificent frigatebird, and brown noddy; and by enhancing existing biosecurity efforts.

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