Some of the most notable introductions include the Reauthorization of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act, which would reauthorize the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) for the next five years and maintain its current funding; the ESTUARIES Act that would reauthorize the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Estuary Program (NEP) through 2031; and the Industrial Certification for Coast Guard Veterans Act that would expand opportunities for US Coast Guard personnel to transition to the dredging sector, to name a few.
While renewable ocean energy has had its fair share of ups and downs, recent milestones and accomplishments mark forward progress. ORE Catapult has launched research to streamline cost-saving offshore wind technologies, RWE has installed more than half of the 72 monopile foundations for the 1 GW Thor Offshore Wind Farm, Eco Wave Power has signed an agreement to conduct a feasibility study for a potential wave energy power station at the Port of Ngqura, South Africa, and CorPower Ocean has secured a grant to support a pre-commercial 10 MW wave energy farm to be deployed off the coast of northern Portugal.
Outside of producing kilowatts, the exploration of dual-purpose uses of offshore wind farm footprints continues. Recently, RWE and The Oyster Restoration Company completed an oyster restoration feasibility project aimed at identifying scalable and verifiable biodiversity solutions at offshore wind farms. North Sea Farmers also celebrated their inaugural harvest in July at the first commercial-scale seaweed farm located within the Hollandse Kust Zuid wind park.
Spaces we’re watching: marine and ocean policy; co-located aquaculture; marine mining
You’ll find news and insights on all the above in “the water column”—an exclusive editorial dedicated to giving our readers an alternate, bird’s eye view of the most significant happenings across the marine science, industry, and policy space. To keep abreast of all the latest developments, access the water column in print editions of eco magazine, nestled among the pages of Environmental Policy news, and in a monthly circulating digital edition found on LinkedIn and our website.
