Published by Ocean Conservancy Wonder Woman? Aquaman? Batman? All of the above? (GASP! Holy saltmarshes ocean fans, am I drawing a connection between Super Heroes and a marine ecosystem?!) When I think about estuaries, that’s what comes to mind. By the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) definition, an estuary is simply “a partially enclosed body […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Unless you literally live underwater, chances are you’ve heard about the new Aquaman movie, premiering in North America on December 21st. The film stars Jason Momoa as the titular half man, half Atlantean whose powers include superhuman strength, extraordinary swimming skills and the ability to telepathically communicate with ocean animals. Personally, I’m […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Here’s one more reason to work to halt climate change: the Arctic Ocean has lost 95% of its oldest, thickest ice since 1985. Two kinds of Arctic sea ice have been a defining feature of our northern ocean for hundreds of thousands of years. Multiyear ice persists during the summer melting season. […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Last month Collins Dictionary announced “single-use” as the 2018 Word of the Year. This came as no surprise to us at Ocean Conservancy. Our Trash Free Seas® program has been busier than ever—growing our team and the work we perform on the issue of ocean plastic. It is estimated that eight million […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Out of all the animals that live in the ocean—octopuses have to be one of my favorite. I know everyone reading this blog will agree that octopuses are completely fascinating. They are extremely intelligent—earning the title of the smartest invertebrates in the world. Octopuses have a superpower-worthy defense mechanism—spraying ink as a […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy We have a great reason to celebrate in the Gulf region this holiday season—the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation just announced several new projects to restore the Gulf’s special places and the animals that depend on them. Among the long list of projects, we’re excited to see five new projects that will […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Our ocean is full of amazing creatures and underwater features that make it the incredible place it is. We can thank much of what we know about the oceans to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) fleet of 16 vessels. From shipwrecks to glacial fjords and rare sharks, the NOAA fleet […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Found in both tropical and temperate waters all across the globe, seahorses are arguably one of the most distinctive and charismatic marine wildlife species in existence. Ranging in length from over a foot to under one inch, there are more than 40 known species of these ‘horses of the sea’ recorded by […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy The Arctic is warming two times faster than the rest of the planet, which is reducing seasonal ice cover and opening the region to increasing ship traffic. This growth in vessel traffic creates a lot of risks. I was honored to testify yesterday before the Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Coral reefs are beautiful, colorful and the cornerstone of a healthy ocean ecosystem. Often called the ‘rainforest of the seas’—they host an abundant variety of sea life—crucial habitat for about 25% of all ocean species! Swim along with us (we promise you won’t need your SCUBA gear) as we go for a […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Arctic shipping has received a lot of attention in recent years. Russia’s Northern Sea Route and Canada’s Northwest Passage offer access to Arctic locations and resources and shorter routes between Pacific and Atlantic ports. An even shorter passage is the transpolar route, straight through the international waters of the Central Arctic Ocean, […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy It’s the holiday season—a hustle and bustle time of year spent traveling, visiting family, wishing good tidings, and of course, eating scrumptious food. But while we’re busy on land, there’s an entire world of animals under the sea with their own, unique, sea-sonal traditions. Have you ever wondered how ocean animals spend […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy What does conservation mean to you? Maybe a childhood memory of fishing with family comes to mind. Maybe you think of a bald eagle or a grey wolf, iconic American animals that people across the country have fought to protect. Or maybe you think of picking up trash at a beach, in […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy There have been a lot of headlines this week about the 4th National Climate Assessment (NCA 4) report and the Trump Administration’s attempts to bury the report by releasing it the day after Thanksgiving. What hasn’t received as much attention is the significant things this report has to say about the ocean: […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy The first Tuesday after Thanksgiving each year is a special day known as Giving Tuesday. This year, it’s fast approaching! Giving Tuesday is both symbolic and significant, as people all over the world take time out of their busy lives to pause to reflect on what a gift the act of giving […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Ocean Conservancy has a new partner in conservation: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. This year, Norwegian joined our Trash Free Seas Alliance®, a partnership our organization leads with businesses and organizations to reduce ocean plastics. Norwegian also supports the International Coastal Cleanup and is our partner in the world’s largest volunteer effort […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Driving from Savannah, Georgia to Saint Helena Island, South Carolina I see large houses and mobile homes, egrets standing in wetlands, and miles and miles of trees draped with Spanish moss. As we head to the 5th Gullah/Geechee Seafood Festival, I anticipate good company and good food—particularly the seafood and rice for […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy I’ve just returned from London where the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations’ body that regulates world shipping, took another positive step toward banning vessels from using or carrying heavy fuel oil (HFO) in the Arctic. Work to hammer out details of the ban will begin in February 2019, after being […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy From the scenic coastlines of Virginia to the sandy beaches of Hawaii, the newly-elected 116th Congress has brought a new wave of potential ocean champions to the halls of the U.S. Capitol. A new congress represents a clean slate for all members of Congress. We’re excited to work with both freshmen and […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy If we’re being honest, the term “waste management” doesn’t exactly sizzle. Those four clunky syllables conjure images of foul-smelling dump trucks, mountainous landfills and overstuffed curbside bins—things that most people are happy to keep out of sight and out of mind. But as unpleasant as it is (and smells), waste management (i.e. […]