Preserving One of the Last and Greatest Ocean Wilderness Areas

BY KERRI-ANN JONES 
Dr. Kerri-Ann Jones serves as Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.

On March 18, 2013, Secretary of State John Kerry spoke to a packed room of diplomats from around the globe, non-governmental conservation advocates, and others about the urgency of protecting our vast oceans. New Zealand Ambassador to the United States Mike Moore and Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr, two good friends of the United States and of oceans, joined the Secretary on the podium at this important event.

The Secretary spoke passionately about our connection and responsibility to the oceans as a people and a nation, and how ocean acidification, pollution, and fishing pressure are challenging our ability to sustain the sea and the benefits it provides to us all. You can read and watch his full remarks here.

These threats to the oceans are why the United States is so firmly committed to the protection of Antarctica's Ross Sea, one of the last and greatest ocean wilderness areas on our planet. This unique region is home to a highly productive and diverse ocean ecosystem that supports vast numbers of whales, penguins, seals, and other marine life.

Joined by New Zealand, we propose establishing a marine protected area in the Ross Sea roughly the size of Alaska. If established, it would be the largest protected area in the world. The protected area would specifically conserve critical habitats, marine life, and areas of ecological importance in the Ross Sea. Other areas of the Ross Sea would remain open to sustainably managed fisheries, allowing countries like New Zealand with an economic interest in the sea to continue to benefit from this rich area. This will give us both a baseline of untouched ocean and comparison regions where we can study the direct impact climate change and fishing are having on the oceans.

It is my sincere hope that the members of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources approve our proposal at their next meeting this July. The United States will continue to work closely with all the members of the Commission to seize this historic opportunity. As Secretary Kerry said, "The world has shown that we can work together to ensure that Antarctica remains a place devoted to peace and devoted to expanding the human understanding of this fragile planet that we live on. This is one of the last places we could do this, and I think we owe it to ourselves to make it happen."

Heroes At Sea

Coast Guard Cutter Venturous, homeported in St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Venturous, homeported in St. Petersburg, and the Coast Guard Cutter Marlin, homeported in Fort Myers Beach, were recognized by members of the Propeller Club - Port of Tampa, aboard the Venturous, Tuesday for two separate rescues they conducted in 2012.

While patrolling off the coast of Jamaica in January 2012, a Venturous crewmember spotted a faint white light in the water, which appeared to be flashing. The cutter approached the light to find five people clinging to debris. The crewmembers recovered the five survivors from the water and were told their fishing boat had sank due to heavy seas. The light seen was one of the survivor's cell phones being waved.

Coast Guard Cutter Marlin

The crew of the Marlin was also recognized for their efforts while underway conducting law enforcement operations in November 2012. They were diverted in response to distress calls from a sailing vessel. The vessel, with three people aboard, lost propulsion and could not make way approximately 120 miles northwest of the Dry Tortugas in the Gulf of Mexico. With weather conditions too severe to launch the cutter's small boat, they established a 30-hour tow to bring the sailing vessel and its crew to safety.

Retired Coast Guard Rear Adm. William Merlin, a member of The Propeller Club - Port of Tampa presented plaques to both crews as special recognition for a salute to the Coast Guard.

"I am very proud of the accomplishments of the crews of the Marlin and the Venturous, as well as all of our Coast Guardsmen who serve the American public every day," said Capt. Sheryl Dickinson, commanding officer of Sector St. Petersburg. "I thank the Propeller Club for recognizing the contributions of these crews to the safety and security of the ports and waterways of the west coast of Florida."

Capt. Sheryl L. Dickinson, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Fla., members of the Tampa Propeller Club, crew members from the Coast Guard Cutters Venturous and Marlin, homeported in St. Petersburg, are shown after a recognition ceremony Tuesday, March 13, 2013. The crew of the Venturous and Marlin were recognized by The Propeller Club - Port of Tampa for two separate rescues they conducted in 2012. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

USS Constitution VS HMS Java 200 Years Ago Today

 USS Constitution VS HMS Java

Story taken from the journal of Commodore William Bainbridge commander of the USS Constitution.

Journal of Commodore William Bainbridge

Extract from Commodore 

Bainbridge's Journal Kept 

on board the U. S. Frigate

Constitution

Tuesday 29th December 1812

At 9 AM, discovered two Strange Sails on the weather bow, at 10. AM. discovered the strange sails to be Ships, one of them stood in for the land, and the other steered off shore in a direction towards us. At 10.45. We tacked ship to the Nd & Wd and stood for the sail standing towards us,-At 11 tacked to the Sd & Ed hauld up the mainsail and took in the Royals. At 11.30 AM made the private signal for the day, which was not answered, & then set the mainsail and royals to draw the strange sail off from the neutral Coast.

Wednesday 30th December 1812, (Nautical Time) Commences with Clear weather and moderate breezes from E.N.E. Hoisted our Ensign and Pendant. At 15 minutes past meridian, The ship hoisted her colours, an English Ensign, --having a signal flying at her Main Red Yellow-Red At 1.26 being sufficiently from the land, and finding the ship to be an English Frigate, took in the Main Sail and Royals, tacked Ship and stood for the enemy

At 1 .50. P.M, The Enemy bore down with an intention of rakeing us, which we avoided by wearing. At 2, P.M, the enemy being within half a mile, of us, and to wind ward, & having hawled down his colours to dip his Gafft, and not hoisting them again except an Union Jack at the Mizen Mast head, (we having hoisted on board the Constitution an American Jack forward Broad Pendant at Main, American Ensign at Mizen Top Gallant Mast head and at the end of The Gafft) induced me to give orders to the officer of the 3rd Division to fire one Gun ahead of the enemy to make him show his Colours, which being done brought on afire from us of the whole broadside, on which he hoisted an English Ensign at the Peak, and another in his weather Main Rigging, besides his Pendant and then immediately returned our fire, which brought on a general action with round and grape.

The enemy Kept at a much greater distance than I wished, but Could not bring him to closer action without exposing ourselves to several rakes.-Considerable Manoeuvers were made by both Vessels to rake and avoid being raked.

The following Minutes Were Taken during the Action

At 2.10. P.M,

Commenced The Action within good grape and Canister distance. The enemy to windward (but much farther than I wished).

At 2,30. P.M,

our wheel was shot entirely away

At 2.40.

determined to close with the Enemy, notwithstanding her rakeing, set the Fore sail & Luff'd up close to him.

At 2,50,

The Enemies Jib boom got foul of our Mizen Rigging

At 3

The Head of the enemies Bowsprit & Jib boom shot away by us

At 3.5

Shot away the enemies foremast by the board

At 3.15

Shot away The enemies Main Top mast just above the Cap

At 3.40

Shot away Gafft and Spunker boom

At 3.55

Shot his mizen mast nearly by the board

At 4.5

Having silenced the fire of the enemy completely and his colours in main Rigging being [down] Supposed he had Struck, Then hawl'd about the Courses to shoot ahead to repair our rigging, which was extremely cut, leaving the enemy a complete wreck, soon after discovered that The enemies flag was still flying hove too to repair Some of our damages.

At 4.20.

The Enemies Main Mast went by the board.

At 4.50

[Wore] ship and stood for the Enemy

At 5.25

Got very close to the enemy in a very [effective] rakeing position, athwart his bows & was at the very instance of rakeing him, when he most prudently Struck his Flag.