Published by Ocean Conservancy When I think of polar bears and what makes them so unique, one of the most identifying features that come to mind is, of course, their iconic white fur. But what would you say if I told you that their fur isn’t really white at all? In fact, it’s one of the […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Every year, Ocean Conservancy hosts artists-in-residence to highlight the beauty and power of the ocean and to educate communities about the role of the ocean. This year, Josie Iselin and Joan P. Bogart were selected, and are hosting a year-long show in Ocean Conservancy’s Santa Cruz office. The following is based on […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy While freediving in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia’s Lady Elliot Island, photographer Kristian Laine spotted something that at first took him aback. Was his camera malfunctioning? Somehow, some way, the belly of the manta ray he was seeing through the lens appeared to be a […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy For Floridians, water is in our DNA. We’re surrounded on three sides by the Gulf, the Florida Straits and the Atlantic Ocean; lakes and rivers and springs and swamps and glades riddle the state with freshwater. The interconnectedness of our freshwater and marine ecosystems is a keystone of the Floridian environment, and […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy It’s that time of year again. For many, Valentine’s Day is a chance to show their significant other affection with overpriced chocolate, romantic dinners and cards with cheesy love-related puns. Here on land, cards and flowers are a widely-accepted way to show someone you care. But what about in the ocean? How […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy You might not know it, but as corporations have tried to sell us all on tomorrow being THE day for love (and for us to hand over our money), what they’ve actually been selling us is the lifestyle of an albatross—or at least, the idealized life of an albatross. © Samantha Chaves If […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Despite their size, microplastics are a big deal. We know that these tiny pieces of plastic (less than 5mm in size) are pretty much everywhere—from Arctic ice to the bottom of the ocean and even inside some of the sea’s smallest organisms. What’s less clear is what this all means. What kinds […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy The new year has brought with it a whirlwind of activity in Congress affecting our ocean. Less than a month ago we applauded the unanimous passage in the Senate of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, which specifically targeted ocean plastic pollution. Today, Senator Udall and Representative Lowenthal have introduced another piece […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Love is in the air and beneath the waves. Valentine’s Day is this week and we want to prepare you with everything you need to make the holiday fin-tastic. If you’re Valentine is as nerdy about puns and the ocean as we are (and we seriously hope they are), we’re about to […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Fish are considered one of our ocean’s most important resources. In the United States alone more than 1.7 million jobs rely on commercial and recreational fisheries, and fishing generates more than $200 billion in revenue each year. They are a key species in ocean ecosystems around the world, from tropical waters of […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy During a full moon, it’s not unusual to hear people make jokes about the erratic actions of themselves or others, blaming the “bella luna” for any bad behavior. In fact, the word “lunatic” or “lunacy” is derived from the Roman goddess of the moon, Luna. The moon has been accused of controlling […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy You may have seen this video which has been making its way around the internet since it was introduced last fall. In it, Heidi the octopus is sleeping. While she snoozes, she begins to change her color rapidly while David Scheel, a marine biologist at Alaska Pacific University, narrates. He constructs a […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy The deep sea is unlike anywhere else in the ocean—so much so that it almost feels like a different planet. The deep sea is a dark and mysterious place full of specially-adapted creatures, some of which we are just beginning to discover. In fact, we know more about the surface of the […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy As we prepare for Super Bowl Sunday, it’s easy to make parallels between football and our environment. Take the relationship between the quarterback and their receivers. If your QB is struggling, your receivers will likely be struggling as well. Or, if you have struggling receivers, your QB is probably not going to […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Last February, Ocean Conservancy became the Ocean Partner for the Miami Super Bowl Host Committee, the first-ever ocean partner in Super Bowl history. Our partnership helps bring attention and action to the health of Florida’s coasts for this year’s Big Game. Like football, protecting the ocean is a team support. As we […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Last June, we told you about a climate change-focused court case in which 21 children and young adults sued the U.S. government, arguing that they have a constitutional right to a climate capable of supporting life. Earlier this month, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals dealt a setback to the plaintiffs when […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy The natural world all around us is truly magnificent. And, just when you think you have heard it all—a new scientific discovery has you in a state of awe and wonder. The latest fin-tastic discovery comes to us from researchers studying sharks in the waters surrounding Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy If you share my obsession with food videos, you may recall the winter of 2017 when “Salt Bae” (aka Nusret Gökçe) came into our lives and left his mark forever in our hearts. His salt sprinkle technique made him world famous and launched a thousand memes declaring him the saltiest in the […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy As a rule, you should not touch marine wildlife. But you especially should not touch marine wildlife that can kill you. Our ocean is full of toxic creatures, from the blue-ringed octopus to the lionfish, but the stonefish holds the title of most venomous fish in the sea. The name “stonefish” refers […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy From the Atlantic to Pacific, a diverse set of seabird and shorebird species speckle our ocean’s coasts. From protecting their babies before they hatch to ensuring their hatchlings grow into healthy, thriving individuals, the level of commitment that seabird mothers show to their offspring is remarkable. Take a look at these spectacular […]