Published by Ocean Conservancy Our ocean is powerful, covers two-thirds of the planet and is home to incredibly diverse ecosystems. Our ocean also supports growing human uses and economies. The role of managing our ocean resources in a sustainable manner is the job of our local, state and federal government agencies, often through collaboration. Unfortunately, funding […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy In the Arctic, starting in autumn, cold weather causes sea ice to form and grow throughout the winter. By March, sea ice has extended as far as it will for the year, also known as the sea ice maximum. When spring warmth takes hold, the ice retreats again until September, when it […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy In the scheme of ocean-related conferences (of which there are actually quite a few now), the recently wrapped Sixth International Marine Debris Conference (6IMDC) was unique. Whereas many international confabs are designed to attract heads of state or other high-ranking government officials, often gunning for framework agreements or commitments after two days […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Nobody said it would be easy. Thank you for stepping up for our ocean! More than a year ago, we brought you some frightening news. The Trump administration had proposed a shocking $1 billion cut to NOAA, our nation’s premier ocean agency. After that awful news broke, a remarkable thing happened. From […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy A Bloomberg editorial described it as a “minor miracle” and Quartz magazine called it a “stunning victory” for global conservation in its 2017 retrospective. In December, 10 countries reached an agreement to prevent the start of commercial fishing in the Central Arctic Ocean (CAO) for at least 16 years while scientists study […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy During winter in the high-latitude Arctic Ocean, sea ice reflects much of the sun’s energy until seasonal melting promotes a spectacular plankton bloom along floe edges and even beneath the ice. The annual explosion of Arctic life starts first in polynyas, areas of northern sea kept perennially ice-free by wind and currents […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy This past Wednesday, I took part in the first full meeting of the Aleutian Islands Waterways Safety Committee in Anchorage, Alaska. Here are five things you should know about this new group: The Committee is brand new. It was established late in 2017 to provide a forum for mariners and other stakeholders […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy After 3 hours of zigzag patterns without a single whale shark sighting, we being to think we may come up emptyhanded during our last day on the water in St. Helena. We have been here to undertake the first whole-island survey of ocean plastics, but today we are assisting Dr. Al Dove […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Devastating 3,000 Gallon Spill of Heavy Fuel Oil Near Kodiak As of March 1, responders have still not been able to get to the site. What I anticipated to be a glorious day—how could the day after International Polar Bear Day be anything but amazing—began on a sad note as news broke […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy A few months ago, I wrote a blog about searching for traces of Dr. Roger Arliner Young’s legacy on her alma mater, Howard University’s campus and coming up empty handed. Despite being the first African-American woman to earn her doctorate in zoology, her absence speaks volumes about equity, diversity and inclusion not […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Most people interact with the oceans through the coasts. Beaches, from the white sands of the Florida Keys to rocky stretches of California coastline, are the windows to the expanse of the rest of the sea. In its 6th installment, BBC’s Blue Planet II focuses on the creatures and ecosystem that occupy […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy I’ve just returned to Alaska from a very successful meeting in London where the international community discussed important measures that mitigate potential safety and environmental risks of increasing vessel traffic in the Arctic. I’m excited to share with you that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will continue to work towards implementing two-way […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy By some accounts, the Arctic Ocean remains a largely blank area on the map. Yes, we have charted the contours of the seafloor, and, yes, we map the extent of its sea ice throughout the year. But what lies between the bottom and the top of the sea? The recent international agreement […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy The Ocean Sciences Meeting in Portland, Oregon, had a strong focus on science and communication. While I was there, I spoke with someone whose work relies on both. Mona Samari is an investigative journalist from Tunisia who works on ocean issues. Samari answered several questions about what motivates her. What do you […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy In its latest installment, Blue Planet II brings viewers to new underwater ecosystems. “Green Seas” highlights the kelp forests, mangroves and underwater grasslands that provide homes to some unique creatures. Dragon fish dads float through the currents, looking for a safe place to spawn. Giant cuttlefish search for mates. Thousands of spider […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Buoyancy. Betterment. Belonging. Three words that drive the mission of Force Blue, an initiative that unites the community of Special Operations veterans with the world of coral reef conservation for the betterment of both. Ocean Conservancy is proud to support these veterans and their mission. Julia Roberson spoke to cofounders Jim Ritterhoff […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy We touchdown on a narrow, deserted airstrip in Namibia after a two-hour flight from Johannesburg, South Africa. It has been nearly two days and Nick Mallos and I are still in route to St. Helena, one of the world’s most remote islands. We wait on the tarmac, refueling for our final journey […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy For most of us, Canada’s Northwest Passage still conjures a romantic mystique: the lure of explorers, hardship, dreams, riches and failure. Where the Arctic explorers Franklin searched and died and where Amundsen at last succeeded, tour ships cruise today and the entire route can be sailed at times without encountering ice. And […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Opinion by Larry McKinney and Chris Robbins (This piece was originally posted on NOLA.com, February 15, 2018) In the shadow of New Orleans’ legendary Mardi Gras festivities, the city recently hosted a much more sober affair—one that can make or break the Gulf of Mexico. At the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Greetings from Portland, Oregon, where I am attending the 2018 Ocean Sciences Meeting (OSM), a gathering for scientific exchange on ocean issues across a range of disciplines. Sarah Cooley, Ocean Conservancy’s Director of Ocean Acidification shared an overview of the conference with us on Monday. As she noted, the range of disciplines […]