Published by Ocean Conservancy The Coast Guard has launched a new study of vessel traffic in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas off the northwest and north coast of Alaska. The study, which was announced late last month, will assess current and predicted vessel traffic in the region and—if warranted—recommend measures to improve safety and environmental protection. […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy It’s officially awards season! And with the release of Oscar nominations just this morning, I couldn’t help but notice some of my favorite ocean species didn’t make the cut—so I came up with my own nominations. Regardless of the other snubs and surprises, I think we can all agree—these ocean critters are […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy This article first appeared in The Seattle Times on August 9, 2017. Crystal Dingler is the mayor of Ocean Shores, WA and Mike Cassinelli is the former mayor of Ilwaco, WA. Summer is the busy season here on the Washington coast, when we see our biggest influx of visitors eager to experience […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Amy Grondin is a commercial salmon fisherman based out of Port Townsend, WA. When not fishing on F/V Arminta she works in commercial fisheries outreach and sustainable seafood consulting. The research and data provided by the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA) are crucial to my livelihood as a commercial fisherman. Further, […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Ornithophobia—fear of birds. I think we can all agree that, at times, birds can be extremely terrifying. Or at least I do. And not only because I took a course on Alfred Hitchcock films in college and was forced to create a presentation on The Birds. With their sharp beaks, pencil legs, […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy What does the ocean mean to you? I got to ask Gardner Douglas, host of the Oyster Ninja Podcast, this question. We sat down at Union Market, where Douglas used to shuck oysters, to discuss the role the ocean and oysters have played in his life and how he came to be […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy “How are the beaches?” This is a question we’ve heard hundreds of times this fall and going into this winter, from tourists and other folks who migrate to Florida by the millions when things turn icy and cold up north. Winter travelers come to Florida to soak up the sun and spend […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy The European Union made headlines in 2018 when it proposed to ban certain single-use plastic items by 2021. This spring, individual member states are expected to vote on the legislation and begin devising just how this ambitious initiative will unfold. Ocean Conservancy had the chance to speak with Ambassador of the European […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy As the federal government shutdown trudges on into the New Year, people from coast to coast are feeling the impacts of losing access to the many federal agencies that provide critical services to their communities and to our nation. One of the agencies whose important work is suffering under the shutdown is […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Pantone’s Color of the Year—Living Coral—echoes Ocean Conservancy’s hope and optimism for the ocean in 2019. “But wait,” you might be thinking, “I thought coral reefs are in trouble!” You’d be right, of course, because coral reefs are in danger. What might be new to you is that there are ambitious solutions […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy On Tuesday, lawmakers in the House of Representatives from across the country banded together to send the Trump administration a clear message: don’t recklessly expand drilling off our coasts. Representatives introduced a suite of eight separate bills to prohibit expansion of oil and gas development in nearly every region of our outer […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy This blog was written by Chelsea Rochman, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto and Scientific Advisor to Ocean Conservancy. Synthetic microfibers are just one of many types of microplastic pollution; however, microfibers are one of the most common types of microplastic pollution that we find in the environment. Where do […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Ocean friends, a new year is upon us and that means new book recommendations for 2019…and boy, are there some phenomenal pieces on the list this year. Grab a warm mug of your favorite beverage, get comfy and ready yourself to make the only difficult choice that this list requires you to […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy If you’ve ever—even for a fleeting moment—considered learning how to SCUBA dive but waved the thought away out of fear that you wouldn’t succeed (“I’d totally freak out!”; “I’d just float away!”; etc.), I’m here to tell you that you absolutely are capable and 2019 is the year to do it. I […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Sea stars are possibly one of the most recognizable and iconic of all marine wildlife species, and a coastal classic when it comes to shoreline visits. Yet, there’s so much more than meets the eye when it comes to these seemingly simple creatures. From thousands of hidden feet to the ability to […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Many of you likely agree that 2018 was a tough year. Even with its many ups and downs, I’m hopeful that you all had a restful holiday season and begin this New Year with a renewed sense of hope and infinite possibilities for yourselves, your families and friends and, of course, our […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Galveston Beach, where the International Coastal Cleanup first began in 1986, is a 45-minute drive from my house. It’s not your typical vacation destination with crystal-clear water and sugar-white sand. Actually, the water here is distinctly brown, and the sand is, too. As a longtime resident of the Gulf, you learn to […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Warming temperatures, thinning and shrinking sea ice, increasing ship traffic and a threat of expanded offshore oil drilling… lately, news from the Arctic hasn’t exactly been uplifting. This year, researchers even found microplastics in remote Arctic waters. But there’s good news too. Here’s a recap of what went right in the U.S. […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy It’s one wild ocean out there when it comes to fishes and their flashy fins, humorous habits and serious camouflage capabilities. Take even the most unsuspecting fish and we bet you’ll find something fun and unexpected about it. Discover these five fin-credible fishes showcasing some of the most interesting diversity in our […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Last night Congress missed its deadline to agree on a funding solution to replace the expiring Continuing Resolution (CR) and the federal government has partially shut down. Until Congress can reach an agreement on federal funding that President Trump is willing to sign into law, dozens of agencies—including the EPA, Department of […]