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Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary News

06 Feb 2017

Video: Retired Ship Sunk to Form Artificial Reef

Photo: Matrix New World Engineering

Sinking a 6,000-ton, 371-foot former cargo vessel to help create an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico is a herculean feat, one only accomplished with strict adherence to rigorous federal and state environmental regulations. When the cargo ship Kraken was recently sunk 67 miles off the Galveston coast, Matrix New World Engineering helped the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Artificial Reef Program ensure that the vessel was free of environmental hazards and safe to support coral, fish, sea turtles and other aquatic life.

21 Aug 2014

High Bids in Western GofM Lease Sale

U.S. Government agency BOEM informs that Western Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 238 attracted US$109,951,644 million in high bids for 81 tracts covering 433,823 acres on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf offshore Texas. A total of 14 offshore energy companies submitted 93 bids. “This sale underscores the President’s commitment to create jobs and home-grown energy through the safe and responsible exploration and development of offshore energy resources,” said Interior Deputy Secretary Mike Connor. The lease sale, which offered 21.6 million acres, builds on five previous sales held under the Obama Administration’s Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2012-2017 (Five Year Program).

20 Aug 2014

GoM Sale Yields $110m in High Bids

As part of President Obama’s all-of-the-above energy strategy to continue to expand safe and responsible domestic energy production, today’s Western Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 238 attracted $109,951,644 million in high bids for 81 tracts covering 433,823 acres on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf offshore Texas. A total of 14 offshore energy companies submitted 93 bids. “This sale underscores the President’s commitment to create jobs and home-grown energy through the safe and responsible exploration and development of offshore energy resources,” said Interior Deputy Secretary Mike Connor. Today’s lease sale, which offered 21.6 million acres…

19 May 2014

Documentary 'Window in the Waves'- Next Showing 5/21

'Window in the Waves', featuring Coral Reef in Gulf of Mexico will go on the air in May and June next. It is the story of the Flower Garden Banks, a documentary by Director of Photography Todd Richard of Synergy Productions in association with Louisiana Public Broadcasting. • Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 8 p.m. • Sunday, June 1 at 12:30 p.m. • Sunday, June 8 at 9:30 p.m. • Tuesday, June 10 at 11:30 p.m. • Tuesday, June 24 at 11:30 p.m. Located 110 miles off the Louisiana/Texas coast, the corals of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary rank among the healthiest in the world. 'Window in the Waves' tells the intriguing story of how these reefs were formed and why they are crucial to the global environment.

06 May 2013

U.S. DOJ: Pollution Settlement Nets $1 Million

$1 Million Settlement Enhances Land and Sea in the Eastern District of Texas. BEAUMONT, Texas — U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced a settlement reached with a European shipping corporation has resulted in significant enhancements to nature conservation groups in the Eastern District of Texas. The $1 million settlement was announced at a press conference on the banks of Village Creek in Hardin County, Texas today. CIMPSHIP Transportes Maritimos, S.A., a Portuguese corporation headquartered in Funchal, Portugal, was initially indicted in 2010 and charged with conspiring to violate environmental laws causing willful pollution of waterways within the Eastern District of Texas.

05 Nov 2012

U.S. DOJ: Environmental Crime Conviction

German Shipping Companies Convicted in Texas and Alaska for Environmental Crimes; Companies to Pay $1.2 Million for Covering up Marine Oil Pollution and Obstruction of Justice. WASHINGTON – Two German shipping companies pleaded guilty today in federal court in Houston to criminal charges that they concealed the illegal dumping of oil at sea from U.S. Coast Guard inspectors. Nimmrich & Prahm Bereederung and Nimmrich & Prahm Reedrei, the operator and owner of the commercial cargo vessel M/V Susan K…

18 Aug 2009

Study Assesses Hurricane Impacts Coral Reefs

The Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) recently concluded a study that gives new insight into the effects Hurricane Rita had on the Gulf of Mexico’s important coral reefs and banks in and around the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. The $357,000 study, entitled Post-Hurricane Assessment of Sensitive Habitats of the Flower Garden Banks Vicinity, provided an understanding of hurricane impacts, characterized the condition of the banks, and created a baseline for future assessment. “Protecting marine resources is an important part of the MMS mission and it’s essential for MMS to identify and assess any damage to these valuable habitats,” said MMS Director Liz Birnbaum.

12 May 2008

All American Marine Delivers the R/V Manta

All American Marine has delivered an 82-ft.Teknicraft research catamaran built under contract for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The R/V Manta will operate in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, located 100 miles offshore, directly south of the Louisiana-Texas boarder. The Manta is NOAA’s fifth Teknicraft Design catamaran built by All American Marine. The Manta will host a variety of research missions and visiting scientists concentrating on seafloor mapping…

01 Mar 2007

NR-1 Arrives in Texas For Gulf Exploration

Nuclear Research Submarine NR-1, towed by Submarine Support Vessel (SSV) Carolyn Chouest, pulled into Galveston, Texas, on Feb. 25 to take part in an expedition to survey the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and other sites of interest in the Gulf of Mexico. “This mission is going to be exciting and full of new challenges for the Submarine NR-1, and the crew of SSV Carolyn Chouest,” said Lt. Paul M. Kutia, operations officer for NR-1. The Navy will work in collaboration with The Institute for Exploration, the University of Rhode Island, Immersion Presents, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Sanctuary Program to broadcast their findings over live satellite.

23 Feb 2007

Ballard to Explore NOAA's Flower Garden

Dr. Robert Ballard and an interdisciplinary team of scientists will explore the fascinating undersea landscape of NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS). One of the 13 U.S. national marine sanctuaries, the FGBNMS is located approximately 115 miles off the Texas/Louisiana coast. Named for its colorful corals and sponges, the sanctuary was targeted for exploration because of its unique geology and biology. Its geological history also makes it a viable location to search for evidence of early human habitation that could predate current evidence of North America's first inhabitants. This expedition represents a unique collaboration between the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)…