Published by Ocean Conservancy Ocean Conservancy is reflecting on the work we’ve done to restore the Gulf of Mexico after the BP Deepwater Horizon tragedy. These are conversations with women of color who are leading change for the Gulf of Mexico. Click here to read about Keala Hughes and Frances Roberts-Gregory. Colette Pichon Battle is a […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy In many ways, Elaine Shen’s journey in marine conservation parallels the footsteps of Roger Arliner Young, the first African-American woman to receive a doctorate in zoology. We met five years ago when Elaine was studying ecology and evolutionary biology at Rice University. At that time, she was still a pre-med student, which […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy For most of my life, the Florida Keys has been one of those “safe” places for me. Like those old, holey, worn out jeans you always reach for because they’re so comfortable, so the Keys are for me. This paradise is just far enough away from home to be a true road […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy My home state of Alaska is on fire—both figuratively and literally. More than 2 million acres of forest have burned this year, making 2019 one of the worst fire years Alaska has ever experienced. Already, more acreage has burned than in all of the devastating fires in California last year. These fires […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy At first glance, sea stars and brittle stars might appear to be the same—they (usually) have five radiating arms and creep along on the ocean floor. But although sea stars and brittle stars are similar, they’re actually quite different! Follow along as we explain what makes these colorful invertebrates unique (and why […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy As we approach the 10-year anniversary of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil disaster, Ocean Conservancy is reflecting on the work we’ve done to restore the Gulf of Mexico and inviting Gulf Coast community leaders to reflect with us. As two women of color with special connections to the Gulf and as emerging […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy We get it—compared to charismatic megafauna like whales or quirky creatures like frogfish, plankton may not seem like the most interesting organisms in the sea. But these tiny plants and animals are extremely important—they are responsible for much of the air we breathe and the food we eat. What are plankton, anyway? […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy This blog post was written in collaboration with Dr. Chelsea Rochman, assistant professor at University of Toronto (UofT), Rachel Giles, graduate student at UofT, and Nguyễn Văn Công, representative at Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD). “Rice bag fragments: 2. Food wrappers: 7.” This was our rhythm while counting litter […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Did you know that six of the seven species of sea turtles live in the ocean off the United States? Sea turtles are reptiles, but unlike land turtles, they can’t pull their head and flippers inside to protect themselves. Sea turtles have streamlined bodies and large flippers—which make them well-adapted to life […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Have you ever wondered how a firefly gets its glow? If you’ve ever seen a firefly (also called a lightning bug, depending on where you grew up), you’ve seen bioluminescence in action. But these summertime staples aren’t the only ones who bioluminesce—many ocean animals use this process, too. Read on as we […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy If you’re looking to find one of the strangest fish in the sea, look no further than the frogfish. Their leg-like fins, camouflaged skin and perpetual “oh no!” expressions make them an unusual sight on the sea floor. But, if you’re lucky enough to spot one in person, you’ll see why they’re […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy It’s no secret that marine debris is one of the biggest problems facing our ocean: every day, the issue of ocean plastic makes headlines across the globe. Since scientists first estimated annual ocean plastic inputs at 8 million metric tons in 2015, the number of initiatives by governments, institutions, non-profits and corporations […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy This blog post was written in collaboration with Vicky Chan, who is a former Smithsonian I2F Fellow in Family Programs at the National Museum of Natural History. She hopes to continue science outreach and attend graduate school to strengthen her interests in science communication, program development and design. What do a back […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Shark week is HERE and that means we get to dedicate a full 168 hours to learning about all the fin-credible sharks throughout the ocean. Even though sharks are regarded as some of the toughest creatures on the planet, sharks around the world face many threats—including marine debris. Here are some truly […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy It’s that time again…the best week of the year has finally arrived! One of the most common questions we get from our community during Shark Week is “What can I do to help?” Well, friend, look no further. From decreasing your single-use plastic usage to supporting scientific research that promotes shark habitat […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Sharks are dark, scary monsters of the deep—or are they? Sharks get a bad reputation for being the ocean’s top predators (thanks Jaws!), but there is a lot more to these fierce fish than meets they eye. This Shark Week, we want to set the record straight on five of the top […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Many of us think of sharks as big, powerful apex predators who use power and speed to capture their prey. And while that’s true—just look at mako, great white and bull sharks—some sharks take a different approach. The recently-discovered American pocket shark (Mollisquama mississippiensis) has a creative method to lure in its […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Sharks have been swimming in the Earth’s ocean for nearly 450 million years—this predates dinosaurs! Today, there are more than 400 species of sharks, ranging in size from the world’s largest fish to a shark that can fit in your hand. While we’re not going to write a blog about ALL 400 species of sharks—we […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy The Red List of Threatened Species, produced and managed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is known globally as the world’s most comprehensive catalog of the current conservation status of living species. This morning, the publication was updated to reflect the latest assessments of plant and animal species worldwide, […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy We’ve seen many attacks on the environment over the last several years. The Trump administration may have hoped you wouldn’t notice its latest salvo, which is deeply wonky but also deeply important. Instead of outright changing laws and regulations, the administration is attempting to change how the federal government implements a key […]