Published by Ocean Conservancy Manatees and dugongs are affectionately dubbed “sea cows” because of their grass-eating tendencies and slow nature. They are often seen swimming gracefully with their powerful tails and flippers. But, did you know that manatees may have been the inspiration behind many sailors’ tales of sirens and mermaids? History Channel reported that during […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Susan Ruffo wrote this blog in partnership with Louie Porta, vice-president of operations for Oceans North, a Canadian nonprofit that works on Arctic marine conservation in partnership with Indigenous organizations. When Canada hosts a G7 summit meeting in Charlevoix, Quebec next month, Environment Minister Catherine McKenna has pledged to work with other […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Ocean Conservancy recently embarked on a partnership with Force Blue to support a coral restoration mission in Puerto Rico. Nathan Quinn, a member of Force Blue Team One deployed to Puerto Rico to assist NOAA, Sea Ventures and Puerto Rico’s Department of Natural Resources in October and has been there since. The Florida native and U.S. […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Picture a sea turtle. Perhaps a baby, crawling to the ocean for the very first time, or a mother who just laid her eggs on the very same beach she was born. These images should invoke the most beautiful emotions of hope and best wishes for these beautiful creatures and it’s likely […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Karen Matsumoto and I are sitting in the Uwajimaya food court in Seattle’s International District. Throngs of people bustle around us and the smell of Japanese and Chinese food sizzling under heat lamps envelops me, conjuring up memories of home. Matsumoto is the Climate Change and Environmental Science Educator for the Suquamish […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Back in February, we brought you some alarming news: the Trump administration had proposed a shocking $1 billion cut to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for next year that would severely impact our ocean. Since then, people who care about the ocean have been urging Congress to reject this proposal […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy When Glenn Nelson was in college, a story he wrote about his school’s historic basketball season ended up on the front page of the local newspaper. Astonished, he walked over to the local newsroom, knocked on their door and told them, “I’m the one who wrote the story. You should hire me.” […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Ocean Conservancy recently embarked on a partnership with Force Blue to support a coral restoration mission in Puerto Rico. Nathan Quinn, a member of Force Blue Team One deployed to Puerto Rico to assist NOAA, Sea Ventures and Puerto Rico’s Department of Natural Resources in October and has been there since. The […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Several weeks ago, Henry Huntington, Andrew Hartsig, and I traveled to Utqiaġvik to meet with leaders and others in the community. After Henry and Andrew left for home, I continued on to Point Lay. This village in the North Slope Borough is about 300 miles west and south of Utqiaġvik along the […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Since the inception of Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) in 1986, plastic straws and stirrers have made the top ten list of items collected on beaches worldwide. Over the last few decades, ICC volunteers have picked up nearly 10 million straws. To address this issue, Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas Program […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Let’s face it, manta rays and stingrays look pretty similar and you can only spot the differences if you know what you’re looking for. Both manta rays and stingrays are related to sharks under the cartilaginous fish group chondrichthyes, meaning their structure is built on material similar to that found in our […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy As I flew out of Nome, the passenger next to me pointed out the window as we flew over eastern Norton Sound at a huge area of open water. Open water wouldn’t seem like the type of thing you show your seatmate, but in this region the sight of open water so […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy In honor of National Teacher Appreciation Day, several team members here at Ocean Conservancy shared their own stories about teachers who helped propel them forward to a career in the field of ocean conservation! “I had an advisor during my undergraduate shark research in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Dr. Aaron Henderson, […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy We all know we’d never be where we are today without the love and support of our mothers. From the minute we’re born, they provide for us, nurture us, love us, and are our very first best friends. One incredible aspect of life on Earth is the fact that this motherly love […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Ocean Conservancy recently embarked on a partnership with Force Blue to support a coral restoration mission in Puerto Rico. Nathan Quinn, a member of Force Blue Team One deployed to Puerto Rico to assist NOAA, Sea Ventures and Puerto Rico’s Department of Natural Resources in October and has been there since. The […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy You may recall that back in February, 3,000 gallons of heavy fuel oil (HFO) spilled into the water off Shuyak Island, Alaska. The spill occurred when hurricane force winds destroyed an old fuel dock, releasing this tar-like substance into designated critical habitat for the endangered Northern sea otter and Steller sea lion. Last […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy What’s tall, covered with solar panels and antennas and standing in the middle of Tampa Bay? Boaters might (or might not) be asking each other that very question this spring as they pass by the ocean acidification monitoring array that was installed this past winter in Tampa Bay, Florida. The Tampa Bay […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy When exploring the magnificent open waters of the ocean, there are so many creatures and various species to find, some of which are still undiscovered. But some of those we have discovered include eels and sea snakes, two extremely different animals that are often mistaken for one another. But no need to […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Reading helps children develop their comprehension skills and promotes a furthered understanding and perception of the world as a whole. In honor of National Children’s Book Week, we thought it perfectly fitting to acknowledge just how important it is to discuss our ocean, its resident wildlife and the many things we can […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Last month, we were excited to explore science communication on the Gulf Coast courtesy of OCEANDOTCOMM, a collaborative storytelling event hosted by the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON). People from around the world and all walks of life came together for five days to share, learn, collaborate and create. Often abbreviated to […]