Published by Ocean Conservancy Dolphins and porpoises are some of the most charismatic critters in the ocean—but can you tell them apart? Although they might look alike at first glance, there are a few key differences that make it easy to tell which is which. Check them out below, then show off your knowledge next time […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy You wouldn’t dispose of your plastic straw by throwing it into someone’s front yard, and yet volunteers have picked up more than 9 million straws and stirrers from beaches and waterways over the 30+ year history of the International Coastal Cleanup. It’s no wonder they’re among the top ten items collected every year. […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Hey, we get it—invertebrates can be hard to tell apart. Although these soft-bodied, elongated sea-dwellers may seem similar, sea slugs and sea cucumbers could not be more different. Brush up on your invertebrate facts (and impress your friends) with these easy ways to tell them apart. First things first: sea slugs and […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy The ocean is essential to our climate, our food system, our economy—our very existence. It’s also filled with wonders and permeated with human stories and histories. Let’s hark back to the Middle Passage, the infamous part of the Atlantic slave trade in which millions of enslaved Africans were forcibly transported across the […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Last week, we lost a congressional icon—Former Michigan Congressman John Dingell. Dingell worked tirelessly to improve the lives of the American people while protecting the environment during his time in the House of Representatives. From fishing with his family to working as a park ranger in Rocky Mountain National Park, Congressman John […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Fossils are preserved accounts of history and the organisms that have walked (or swum) the Earth long before us. We have learned so much from fossils, particularly those found in the vast ocean that have seemingly decoded the necessary mechanisms to withstand extinction for millions of years. As time passes, however, the […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Valentine’s Day isn’t the only special day that falls this week: World Whale Day does too! In honor of both of these special holidays, I’ve put together a list of five incredibly loveable whale species to celebrate this year. From the chilly waters of the Arctic to the warm waves of the […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy For fish, relationship goals could mean anything from a morning dance to some truly bizarre life partnerships. These fascinating fish relationships might give you a new appreciation for underwater love. 1. Pufferfish make a masterpiece to show their love © Kimiaki Ito / National Geographic Many species of fish make nests, but when […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy The global discourse about oceans and climate change has been surging like a rising tide. The science of ocean climate change has been featured in major recent reports including the National Climate Assessment and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and the threats and solutions are being vetted at globally relevant climate […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Florida, my home, has an iconic natural environment. It is surrounded by oceans, built upon aquifers, shot through with rivers and lakes and is dependent on clean water running through all those systems. From the Panhandle to the Treasure Coast to the Florida Keys, you’re never more than 60 miles from the […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy As a young graduate student, I first came to the west coast in 1990 to study California’s kelp forests. On my first scuba dive near the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, I was instantly mesmerized. Never had I seen such incredible underwater habitats: 100-foot tall giant kelp plants swaying in the Pacific swell, […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Last week marked the 50th anniversary of the start of the Santa Barbara oil spill. The anniversary got me thinking about the three major oil spills in United States waters—Santa Barbara (1969), Exxon Valdez (1989) and Deepwater Horizon (2010). The three spills evidence a clear and troubling pattern—a major offshore oil disaster […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Why do we write the stories we write? As writers for the ocean and environment, it is important to ask these questions because we are always writing with a purpose. Even more, we should consider what our frame is, who and what is in the frame and who and what is left […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy This blog was written by Steph Borrelle, a Smith Postdoctoral Fellow in Conservation Biology and Chelsea Rochman, an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and Scientific Advisor to Ocean Conservancy. Plastic pollution has become so pervasive that it is found in seafood, bottled water, beer, table salt and even the air. […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy This blog is written by Kate Leavitt and Ashley Stokes. Kate Leavitt is the Director of Mission for programming and exhibits and Ashley Stokes is the Marine Mammal Rescue Program Manager at the Seacoast Science Center, located within Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, New Hampshire. New Hampshire may have a small […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy It’s without a doubt that otters are some of the most adorable mammals to ever grace the planet. From their curious faces to their charming behaviors, the otters of the world have earned the title of many nature lovers’ favorite creatures. However, we noticed a conundrum that many readers seem to get […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Plastic bags have become the poster child of the ocean plastic crisis. The promotional poster for the 2016 documentary A Plastic Ocean featured a beluga whale swimming with a plastic bag. When National Geographic launched its “Planet or Plastic” series in 2018 it was a plastic bag that donned the front cover […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Kevin Anderson is a professional tennis player from South Africa and currently ranked Number 5 in the world on the ATP Tour. A winner of six ATP titles, Anderson reached the 2017 US Open final, the 2018 Wimbledon final and qualified for the 2018 season-ending tournament in London as one of the […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Straws have become the poster child single-use item—and their days are numbered. This January, Washington D.C. became the second city in the United States to ban plastic straws. In 2014, Ocean Conservancy launched its Skip the Straw Campaign, with tens of thousands of individuals pledging to request their beverages without straws. In […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy The federal government shutdown is now the longest in history and shows no signs of drawing to a close. Of NOAA’s 11,000 employees, more than half are currently furloughed. None are currently being paid. NOAA’s important work has ground to a near-halt. As the shutdown wears on, each day brings new and […]