Each summer, the National Sea Grant Law Center hires a full-time law student. This summer’s Research Associate is Sam Stewart, a rising 3L at Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. Over the course of the summer, Sam will contribute to the NSGLC’s research projects and publications.
The National Sea Grant Law Center has selected Gabriela Martinez, a rising 2L at Pace University’s Haub School of Law, for the 2023 Sea Grant Law Diversity Internship Program (SGLDIP). Over the summer, Gaby will gain experience in the field of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes law, with an emphasis on issues facing underrepresented or indigenous communities.
On May 11th, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion upholding a controversial California animal rights law adopted in 2018. The law, known as Proposition 12, prohibits the sale in California of whole pork products by a seller who knows or should know that the meat came from a breeding pig or their offspring that was “confined in a cruel manner.”
We are excited to welcome Tiara Parkins, NSGLC’s 2023 Community Engaged Intern. Tiara is a senior Integrated Marketing Communications major at the University of Mississippi.
The National Sea Grant Law Center (NSGLC) at the University of Mississippi School of Law in Oxford, MS is seeking applicants for its Community Engaged Internship (CEI) program for the summer of 2023. Sea Grant’s CEI program aims to broaden participation in coastal, ocean and marine sciences by offering paid internships to students from under-resourced, underrepresented and/or indigenous and tribal populations. The CEI is a national program partnering with Sea Grant at colleges and universities in all coastal states.
The National Sea Grant Law Center (NSGLC) at the University of Mississippi School of Law in Oxford, MS is seeking applicants for the 2023 Sea Grant Law Diversity Internship Program (SGLDIP). The summer internship seeks to provide experiential learning opportunities to a law school student from a diverse background in the field of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes law, with an emphasis on issues facing underrepresented or indigenous communities.
On January 13, 2021, the Corps issued Nationwide Permit 56, which authorizes structures in marine and estuarine waters designed for use in finfish mariculture. (NWP 56). This permit allows permittees to, after providing pre-construction notice to the Corps and the Coast Guard, install structures such as cages, net pens, anchors, floats, buoys, etc. in navigable waters of the United States.
In 2017, the Miami Beach Association built a fence with an entry gate and implemented a permitting system for access to Miami Beach in Old Lyme, Connecticut due to an increase of inappropriate behavior and trash. As this system placed restrictions on the public’s use of the beach, residents of Old Lyme living near Miami Beach sued the Association.
California Passes Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act
August 16th, 2022 — by Kennady Hertz — Category: Miscellaneous
California recently passed an extended producer responsibility law, SB 54, that shifts the “plastic pollution burden” from consumers and local governments to producers in the plastics industry.
Supreme Court Clarifies Scope of Landmark McGirt Ruling
July 29th, 2022 — by Zachary Evans — Category: Miscellaneous
In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court released its 5-4 decision in Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta. The Court found the federal government and states both have authority to prosecute non-Indians for crimes committed against Indians in Indian Country (or, all land located within the boundaries of an Indian reservation).
The National Sea Grant Law Center has selected Zachary Evans, a rising 2L at Albany Law School in New York, for the 2022 Sea Grant Law Diversity Internship Program (SGLDIP). Over the summer, Zach will gain experience in the field of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes law, with an emphasis on issues facing underrepresented or indigenous communities. In addition to working with the NSGLC, Zach will work with Virginia Coastal Policy Center, the 2022 SGLDIP partner.
The National Sea Grant Law Center is excited to welcome Kennady Hertz for its Community Engaged Internship (CEI) for the summer of 2022. Kennady is a Public Policy Leadership major at the University of Mississippi Lott Leadership Institute.
Each summer, the National Sea Grant Law Center hires a full-time law student. This summer’s Research Associate is Betsy Randolph, a rising 2L at Lewis & Clark Law School. Over the course of the summer, Betsy will contribute to the NSGLC’s research projects and publications. We asked Betsy several questions to get to know her better.
The National Sea Grant Law Center (NSGLC) at the University of Mississippi School of Law in Oxford, MS is seeking applicants for its Community Engaged Internship (CEI) program for the summer of 2022. Sea Grant’s CEI Program aims to broaden participation in coastal, ocean and marine sciences by offering paid internships to students from under-resourced, underrepresented and/or indigenous and tribal populations. The CEI is a national program partnering with Sea Grant at colleges and universities in all coastal states.
The National Sea Grant Law Center (NSGLC) is pleased to announce the application period for two Ocean and Coastal Law Fellowship positions is open. During the one-year fellowships, which may be extended for a maximum of two years, the Fellows will conduct legal research, write articles, and prepare white papers and other materials under the supervision and direction of the Law Center director.
The National Sea Grant Law Center is seeking applicants for a full-time paid research associate position for the summer of 2022. The NSGLC is a federally funded legal research, education, outreach center that works with organizations throughout the country to address legal issues related to our oceans and coasts.
The National Sea Grant Law Center (NSGLC) at the University of Mississippi School of Law in Oxford, MS is seeking applicants for the Sea Grant Law Diversity Internship Program (SGLDIP) for the summer of 2022. The internship seeks to provide experiential learning opportunities to a law school student from a diverse background in the field of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes law, with an emphasis on issues facing underrepresented or indigenous communities.
In October, the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) filed a discovery motion in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio related to a Columbian case regarding population control for Columbia’s invasive hippopotamuses. The court granted the organization’s motion to depose two experts in the nonsurgical sterilization of wildlife, and ALDF declared that animals had been recognized as legal persons for the first time in the United States.
Letter from the Editor: Reflections on My National Sea Grant Law Center Fellowship
October 21st, 2021 — by Zachary Klein — Category: Miscellaneous
I remember exactly how I first learned about the National Sea Grant Law Center. It was during the last days of August 2018 and, fresh out of an internship with the Ocean Conservancy during my second summer of law school, I felt like I had finally found my calling.
Maine’s New Recycling Law Makes Companies Pay for Recycling
October 14th, 2021 — by Betsy Lee Montague — Category: Miscellaneous
Many states are beginning to revisit their laws concerning plastic recycling, especially those that apply to manufacturers and retailers of plastic products. California, for example, recently enacted a slate of bills regulating recyclability and compostability claims on packaging, restricting exports of plastic scrap and updating the state's container redemption program. On the other side of the country, the governor of Maine signed into law LD 1541 (“An Act To Support and Improve Municipal Recycling Programs and Save Taxpayer Money”) on July 13, 2021, making Maine the first state to require companies that create consumer packaging to pay for the costs of its recycling through an Extended Producer Responsibility (“EPR”) law.
Federal Appeals Court Finds Penobscot Nation’s Namesake River Not Part of Its Reservation
August 10th, 2021 — by Katherine Hupp — Category: Miscellaneous
Nearly a decade ago, the Penobscot Nation (the Nation), an American Indian Tribe, brought suit in federal court to affirm its asserted right to ownership over the “Main Stem” of the Penobscot River in Maine. After years of litigation and multiple adverse judgments, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit recently delivered yet another unfavorable ruling for the Nation.
Big Problem for Big Plastic? Suit Against Plastic Producers Remains in State Court
June 24th, 2021 — by Sierre Anton — Category: Miscellaneous
In late February 2020, The Earth Island Institute, an environmental advocacy group, fired a shot in the legal fight over ocean pollution by filing suit against ten major beverage companies, including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestle. Earth Island is pursuing a litigation strategy somewhat similar to that advanced against tobacco companies and oil companies for human health and environmental harms allegedly caused by their products.
Biden Administration Releases its Preliminary 30 by 30 Conservation Report
June 8th, 2021 — by Madeline Doten — Category: Miscellaneous
“O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain, for purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain!” On May 6, 2021, the Biden Administration released a preliminary report for its aptly named America the Beautiful campaign detailing its plan to conserve 30% of the United States’ lands and waters by 2030.
The National Sea Grant Law Center received funding to develop a pilot Sea Grant Law Diversity Internship Program (SGLDIP). Amiah Henry, a rising 2L at Roger Williams University School of Law in Rhode Island, was selected as the 2021 intern. This summer, Amiah will gain experience in the field of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes law, with an emphasis on issues facing underrepresented or indigenous communities. In addition to working with the Law Center, Amiah will work with New York Sea Grant on a project related to nuisance flooding in New York’s Jamaica Bay watershed. We asked Amiah a few questions to get to know her better.
Each summer, the National Sea Grant Law Center hires a full-time law student. This summer’s Research Associate is Katherine Hupp, a rising 3L at Florida State University College of Law. Over the course of the summer, Katherine will contribute to the NSGLC’s research projects and publications. We asked Katherine several questions to get to know her better.
Court Finds for USDA in Dispute Over Organic Certification of Hydroponic Produce
May 26th, 2021 — by Sierre Anton — Category: Miscellaneous
In March, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California ruled against the Center for Food Safety (CFS) in their effort to restrict organic certification of hydroponic produce. Hydroponics refers to a form of crop production that involves growing plants in water or a nutrient solution instead of soil, and it has become one of the fastest growing markets of agriculture in the U.S. thanks in part to a reputation for requiring less space and resources than traditional methods.
NMFS Not Required to Release Famous Orca’s Death Records
April 9th, 2021 — by Betsy Lee Montague — Category: Miscellaneous
In a brief filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on March 19, 2021, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) maintained that it lacks the legal authority to obtain the medical records of Tilikum, the orca made by famous by the documentary Blackfish, who died in 2017.
A Closer Look at the High-Level Ocean Panel’s Plan to Protect Marine Environments
March 11th, 2021 — by Sierre Anton — Category: Miscellaneous
Members of the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (the Ocean Panel), an initiative by 14 nations striving to protect ocean environments, signed onto a pledge in November 2020 to take intensive action to reduce marine environmental degradation over the next ten years. The primary objective of the Ocean Panel’s plan is to commit 100% of the members’ respective ocean waters to be sustainably managed by 2025.
Florida District Court Says Church Can Offer Free Parking for Beachgoers
March 3rd, 2021 — by Betsy Montague — Category: Miscellanous
A Florida federal district court recently ruled that the City of St. Pete Beach (the City) cannot prevent a local church from offering free parking to the public. The City had fined Pass-a-Grille Beach Community Church (the Church) for violating a city ordinance regulating commercial parking lots after the church permitted beachgoers and tourists to utilize its parking lot for free.
February is Black History Month. First proposed by black educators and the Black United Students at Kent State University in 1969, Black History Month is now a federally recognized observance honoring “the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every endeavor throughout our history.”
On January 19, the National Sea Grant Law Center welcomed its first ever AmeriCorps VISTA Member! Taylor Harris is serving through the North Mississippi VISTA Project (NMVP) and will dedicate her one year of full-time national service to supporting the University of Mississippi’s Lead in Drinking Water Team improve programming and outreach to communities in the Mississippi Delta and throughout the state. We asked Taylor some questions to get to know her better.
The National Sea Grant Law Center (NSGLC) is pleased to announce that the application period for its 2021 summer research associate program is now open. The eight-week, full-time paid internship seeks to provide a law student with research and professional development opportunities in the field of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes law. During the internship, the research associate will function as an integral component of the Law Center’s staff, assisting with publications, preparation of memorandum of law, and other ongoing projects.
The National Sea Grant Law Center (NSGLC) developed a pilot Sea Grant Law Diversity Internship Program (SGLDIP) in 2020 and recently opened the application period for 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic shifted last summer’s internship from an in-person to a virtual experience, and it may do so for 2021 as well. Whether in person or virtual, the internship aims to give the intern a unique opportunity to enhance his or her legal education by conducting research and outreach alongside NSGLC attorneys and SGLDIP project partner attorneys.
See You Later Alligator: Louisiana Thwarts California’s Attempt to Ban Alligator Products
December 3rd, 2020 — by Blake Tims — Category: Miscellaneous
California’s ban on alligator and crocodile products has been struck down after the State of Louisiana, which leads the U.S. in production of alligator products, challenged the ban. By enacting this ban, California sought to curb animal cruelty and the trafficking of endangered species. Louisiana argued that the ban directly conflicted with federal law, and threatened jobs—as well as conservation efforts—in the state. The U.S. District Court for California’s Eastern District agreed on both counts in its decision in the case, Paris v. Becerra, No. 219CV02471KJMCKD, 2020 WL 6043948 (E.D. Cal. Oct. 13, 2020).
On November 13, 2020, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer filed a legal complaint to shut down the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline. Enbridge is a Canadian petroleum transportation company. One of its pipelines, Line 5, runs from Western Canada through Wisconsin and Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas into Ontario, where the oil is used in refineries and petrochemical plants.
Jacques Cousteau, wearing his signature red cap, achieved worldwide fame as an oceanic explorer, filmmaker, and marine conservationist. Prior to his death in 1997 at the age of 87, Cousteau established The Cousteau Society (TCS) and granted the nonprofit exclusive rights to his intellectual property portfolio.
Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping
November 4th, 2020 — by Philip Lott — Category: Miscellaneous
On September 22, 2020, President Trump signed “Executive Order 13950 on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping,” which purports to set aside workplace diversity training across the country that is “inherently sexist and racist.”
Presidential Proclamation on U.S. Policy on Marine Research in the EEZ
October 8th, 2020 — by Philip Lott — Category: Miscellaneous
On September 9, 2020, President Trump signed Presidential Proclamation 10071 revising the United States’ Marine Scientific Research policy. The proclamation revises the policy with respect to the United States (US) exercising its right to regulate, authorize, and conduct marine scientific research within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Previously, the United States had declined to exercise jurisdiction over marine research in the EEZ. The proclamation now aligns the US with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The National Sea Grant Law Center (NSGLC) is pleased to announce that we’ve hired a second law fellow, Olivia Deans. Olivia received her J.D. from Vermont Law School in 2020 and a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Michigan Technological University in 2016. During her time at NSGLC, Olivia will focus on fisheries management and water law. We asked Olivia a few questions to get to know her better. Welcome, Olivia!
Each summer, the National Sea Grant Law Center hires a full-time research associate. This summer’s Research Associate is Madeline Doten, a rising 2L at Stetson University College of Law. We asked Madeline several questions to get to know her better.
COVID-19 has affected all of our lives in a multitude of ways. It can be difficult to navigate Congress’ efforts to ease the impact on Americans, such as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (or “CARES”) Act. As a result, the National Sea Grant Law Center (NSGLC) has received numerous questions from both the National Marine Fisheries Service and Sea Grant programs throughout the country on what relief is available to fishermen, aquaculture farms, and the larger seafood industry.
In 1996, Intersal, Inc., a marine salvage company, discovered Blackbeard’s sunken pirate ship off the coast of North Carolina. Blackbeard had seized the French slave ship in 1717, renaming it the Queen Anne’s Revenge. He navigated the vessel through the Caribbean and up the North American coast. The vessel’s tenure as a pirate ship was cut short in 1718 when Blackbeard ran it aground on a sandbar off the coast of Beaufort, North Carolina. Under state and federal law, the wreck belongs to the state. The state contracted with Intersal to recover the shipwreck. Intersal contracted with Allen to document the operation. Allen made videos and photos of the recovery efforts, registering copyrights for his works.
Do feeding and cleaning dives at the Houston Aquarium qualify as “scientific” for purposes of commercial diving regulations? This question was front and center in Houston Aquarium, Inc. v. OSHRC, one of several Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals cases argued at the University of Mississippi School of Law during the first week of March. Although most Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals cases are heard in New Orleans, where the court is based, it occasionally convenes at other cities and law schools throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The Fifth Circuit has visited Ole Miss every three years since 1984.
The Alaska Institute for Justice recently filed a complaint with the United Nations (UN) on behalf of five Tribal communities located in Alaska and Louisiana. The complaint alleges that the United States (US) government is responsible for human rights violations as a result of its failure to protect the Tribes from climate-caused land loss.
The National Sea Grant Law Center (NSGLC) is seeking applicants for the Sea Grant Law Diversity Internship Program (SGLDIP) for the summer of 2020. The internship seeks to provide experiential learning opportunities to a law school student from a diverse background in the field of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes law, with an emphasis on issues facing underrepresented or indigenous communities.
Each summer, the National Sea Grant Law Center hires a full-time research associate. This summer’s Research Associate is Bryce Burgwyn, a rising 2L at Harvard Law School. We asked Bryce several questions to get to know her better.
The National Sea Grant Law Center, through the Sea Grant Law & Policy Journal, is partnering with the Urban Coast Institute at Monmouth University in New Jersey to publish papers from the institute’s Climate Change, Coasts & Communities Symposium. The New Jersey coast has been facing increased storm events, flooding, sea level rise, and coastal erosion, all of which will present daunting adaptation challenges in the future for the state. The symposium, which took place April 17-18, 2019, featured leading experts in climate change adaptation law and science to discuss lessons learned from other states and countries to assist New Jersey in navigating these challenges in the future.
The Sea Grant Law & Policy Journal (SGLPJ) has some exciting things planned for the Spring. First, we have out a call for student papers. We are currently seeking submissions from law students for papers addressing coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes law and policy issues. The chosen papers will be published in a Summer 2019 edition of the SGLPJ. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. central time on Friday, March 15, 2019 and should be emailed to cjanasie@olemiss.edu.
Each summer, the National Sea Grant Law Center at the University of Mississippi School of Law in Oxford, Mississippi hires a full-time paid research associate. During the 8-week position, the research associate functions as an integral component of the Law Center’s staff, assisting with publications, preparation of memorandum of law, and ongoing projects. Previous Research Associates have assisted with research on shellfish permitting, invasive species, and other legal issues related to our oceans and coasts. Associates also write at least one article for publication in the Law Center’s quarterly newsletter, The SandBar.
