~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the age of multiple use of ocean and coastal resources, a coherent legal and management framework is imperative to create sustainable policies.

The Marine Affairs Institute at Roger Williams University School of Law contributes to the development of this framework through research and analysis of legal issues affecting oceans and coasts, education and training of law students in marine law, and outreach to lawyers, scientists, and policy-makers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Congratulations Graduates, Nick and Tory!

It has been the pleasure of the Marine Affairs Institute to work with Nick Battista and Tory Randall over the past three years.  Both have been an integral part of the Institute, particularly as joint degree students. 

Nick was recently honored with the Institute’s Marine Affairs Achievement Award in recognition of his dedication to supporting the Institute’s goals throughout his tenure at the School of Law.  He has served as President of the School’s Environmental Law Society as well as a board member of the National Association of Environmental Law Societies. 

He was also honored last week by the School for his commitment to community service, far exceeding any minimum hour requirement.  Beginning in first year, he volunteered with Save the Bay, doing policy work and research relating to RI’s Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) and RI Department of Environmental Management issues as well as to water security/conservation pricing issues.  Not just a deskbound warrior, Nick was always ready to work in the field and spent much time with the Save the Bay scientists on salt marsh restoration research and monitoring programs.  

Nick also worked for the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), focusing on CRMC matters including a proposed rule change to the Special Area Management Plans that might have allowed more subdivisions in several wetland areas. Due to the quality of his work and the passion brought to it, Nick was able to speak on behalf of CLF at a CRMC public workshop and later drafting more detailed comments for submission to CRMC.  

Finally, Nick worked for CLF on a project to foster better understanding of the RI “Least Cost Procurement Act.” This project became a major focus of his time with CLF, working to analyze a complex statute; anticipate what some of its implementing regulations might look like; and prepare CLF to intervene in the regulatory with a clear strategic roadmap to follow.   

While engaged in these activities whether on or off campus, Nick has been a well-respected leader within the student body.   Nick will complete his Master of Marine Affairs this fall at the University of Rhode Island. We wish him the best with his future endeavors!

As a Sea Grant Law Fellow, Tory undertook a variety of projects, ranging from researching property rights of derelict dams to conducting a legal analysis of the requirements of the 2006 reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Act and relevant Gulf of Mexico fishery management plans and documents, for evaluating the performance of individual fishing quota (IFQ) programs implemented to manage the U.S. Gulf of Mexico commercial reef fisheries with a focus on the red snapper IFQ. 

During the Summer of 2006, Tory clerked at the International Maritime Court (ITLOS) in Hamburg, Germany. While there he supported the legal officers and 21 sitting judges and performed legal research and analyses of current Law of the Sea, international law, and maritime and admiralty issues—specifically those relating to the dispute and enforcement regulations in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), international fisheries agreements, and environmental protection.

Tory was a member of the Environmental Moot Court team as a 2L, representing RWU SOL at the National Environmental Moot Court Competition at Pace Law School. 

During his final year of law school, Tory worked at the Naval Justice School, completing over 180 hours of pro bono legal service for the Public Internship Externship Program.  He has interviewed at the Environmental Defense, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National Sea Grant Law Center, to name a few. 

Tory will take the Massachusetts Bar this summer and will complete his Masters of Marine Affairs this fall.  But, his biggest challenge is fast approaching--his wife is expecting twins before May 16^th!  Best of luck on becoming a dad and a lawyer!