Published by Ocean Conservancy The power of the tides has always fascinated me. The phenomenal gravitational pull of the moon and sun on the earth, the covering and uncovering of the intertidal zone, revealing mud flats, tide pools and an abundance of food for birds and bottom dwellers, has made way for some of my fondest explorations, […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy As the U.S. emerges from a polarizing and divisive midterm election, Ocean Conservancy looks forward to continuing our work on important issues, on behalf of our members and the millions of people who depend on a healthy ocean. We remain committed to three principles: Conservation Collaboration Unity We work on a bipartisan […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy The federal government has jurisdiction over a huge expanse of ocean. It manages activities in these waters—generally from three to 200 miles from coastlines—including shipping, fishing, recreation, conservation, offshore wind energy… and offshore oil and gas. Before an oil and gas company can drill an offshore well, it must acquire a lease […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Ocean lovers, a big day for the world (and our ocean) is coming up in just a few days. Election Day is on Tuesday, November 6th, and it’s your chance to be a hero for our ocean Election outcomes can help our country move upward toward positive ocean policies, and it’s time […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Jellyfish are among the most fascinating (and unique-looking) creatures of the sea! Did you know that these ancient invertebrates have been around long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth—more than 500 million years ago? Even though jellyfish have one of the most basic nervous system in a multicellular organism, they are able to […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy We are just one week into our expedition in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary aboard the E/V Nautilus and our team of scientists, engineers and ocean experts already have a clear leader in our quest to pick a theme song for our journey: Octopus’s Garden by The Beatles. It is an […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Halloween is full of chilling tales of zombies, ghosts and ghouls—but for some of the most frightening phenomena, look no further than our own Pacific Coast. From creepy critters to weird warming waters, this region is facing some seriously sinister threats. Here are our top 5 spookiest threats to our West Coast […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy This week Bali, Indonesia, is hosting the fifth annual Our Ocean conference. There is something inspiring about heads of state, industry leaders, conservationists like Ocean Conservancy and other stakeholders coming together to take meaningful action to protect the defining feature of this blue planet—our ocean. As a super-fan of smart ocean planning […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Ten Arctic and non-Arctic countries signed a binding agreement this month to prevent the start of commercial fishing in the international waters of the Central Arctic Ocean for at least 16 years while scientists assess the impact of climate change in this region. At the signing ceremony in Ilulissat, Greenland, I was […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Each day, hundreds of thousands of the most deadly items of marine debris indiscriminately haunt our global ocean. Lost or abandoned fishing gear, better known as “ghost gear,” includes nets, long lines, fish traps, lobster pots or any man-made contraption designed to catch fish or marine organisms. It’s estimated that 640,000 tons […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Most people understand that water is one thing that we all have in common. And the Gullah/Geechee Nation is busy building partnerships to protect our ocean. Queen Quet Marquetta L. Goodwine, Chieftess and head of state of the Gullah/Geechee Nation, is gifted in memorably explaining why. At a 2013 speech at the […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy There is no greater thrill than sitting in my kayak, bobbing up and down with the waves and spotting some of Alaska’s amazing ocean wildlife. I am fortunate to have seen orcas, humpback whales, gray whales and sea otters while paddling around the coast. But one of my favorite animals to watch […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy We LOVE Halloween here at Ocean Conservancy. In fact, we never miss an opportunity to suit up in costumes. But one thing that gives us pause every October is the sheer amount of waste—most of it plastic—generated by Halloween tricks and treats. Think about it. The candy wrappers. The decorations (like foam […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy At Ocean Conservancy, my day usually begins with a big cup of coffee and a scan of the news for the latest developments in politics that might impact our work on ocean policy in Washington, D.C. This week is going to be a little different—each morning I’ll be waking up in a […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Maybe you slept past your alarm this morning, and your day is thrown off because now you’re running late to everything. Perhaps you haven’t gotten enough sleep so far this week because of a huge project at work or school, a kid kept you up late, or because thoughts about the tenacity […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy With the rising concern about the impact of climate change in the wake of the new IPCC report and the recent acquisition by Ørsted of Deepwater Wind, it’s clear that the offshore renewable energy industry is experiencing expanded interest. Offshore wind is increasingly becoming a competitive space with global firms now interested […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Before I moved to Alaska to join Ocean Conservancy’s Arctic team, I envisioned a state with plentiful glaciers, bears, fish and mountains. After calling Alaska home for three years, I can say I’ve learned so much more about the people, the land, and of course, the oceans of our nations’ only Arctic […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy In May, Patty Chambers and I traveled to the remote Alaskan island of St. Paul to work with students from the school to clean up marine debris on a beach just outside of town. We both found the experience very rewarding and were very taken with the community. So, when I was […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Alaska has more coastline than the rest of the United States combined, and our beaches are home to marine mammals, birds and other wildlife. Unfortunately, Alaskan beaches also gather derelict fishing gear and other marine debris. Removing this debris can seem like a daunting and thankless task. Each of us, however, can […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Rusty Chinnis is a founder of and is Chairman Emeritus of Sarasota Bay Watch, a non-profit working to preserve and restore Sarasota Bay’s ecosystem through education and citizen participation. My experiences on the ocean have defined my life. They began almost seven decades ago with fishing trips and picnics with family on […]