Published by Ocean Conservancy Some of my favorite early summer evenings were spent on the Puget Sound with the Olympic Mountains in view and the salty smell of the ocean nearby. My friends and I would get together at the local marina to grab beers and a bag of oysters from the dockside shop. Then at […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy On January 4, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke unveiled the Trump administration’s proposed new five-year offshore leasing program—and it’s not pretty. The proposed leasing program aims to open up almost all of America’s coastline to risky offshore drilling. Vast swaths of the Arctic—including areas in the Northern Bering Sea that haven’t […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Over the winter holidays, hundreds of thousands of foreign tourists flock to the beaches of Bali, eager to enjoy the Indonesian island’s breathtaking landscapes and iconic temples. This year, however, sightseers may have gotten more than they bargained for: mass amounts of marine debris. Last week, Bali declared a “garbage emergency” after […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Here at Ocean Conservancy, we get countless requests for all things sea-related—including our best book recommendations for ocean lovers. The beginning of January is the perfect time to curl up with a warm cup of coffee or hot chocolate and a start a new book (or three), and Ocean Conservancy’s staff has […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Less than a week after Governor Bill Walker appointed me to the Alaska Climate Action Leadership Team, I attended our first meeting in Anchorage. The participants reflected Governor Walker and Lt. Governor Mallot’s commitment to hearing from a rich diversity of other Alaskan voices from across our nation’s biggest state. Together, we […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy As 2017 winds down to a close, and as we all join our families to celebrate a season of togetherness, joy, and appreciation, we can’t help but appreciate the countless gifts our ocean offers us each and every day. Recently, we came across an adorable and quite seasonally-appropriate holiday: National Thank You […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Question: How many nautical vessels does the United States own that are dedicated to exploring the seabed and ocean crust? Answer: Just one! © NOAA Okeanos The Okeanos Explorer is operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This high-tech ship travels around the world to map the floor of our ocean […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy I am so thrilled that 2017 closed on a high note for ocean planning! One year milestones always seem to hold a special significance—whether it’s a first birthday, a one year wedding anniversary, or simply your first year in a new city. It exemplifies 365 days of first experiences, first challenges and […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy The Senate just took a bold step in the fight against ocean acidification by introducing legislation to help prepare our coastal communities for the impacts of this looming issue. Taking such a step requires political leadership – and elected officials from state legislatures to the halls of Congress are stepping up to […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Healthy fish populations shouldn’t be a partisan issue—more fish in the water means more fish that can be caught. Fishermen, fishing businesses and conservationists share a similar goal, and lawmakers from both parties have historically worked together to solve the challenges of overfishing and create a law that keeps commercial and recreational […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy December 17, 1903 in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Two brothers sat down to a meal of oysters. But these were not just any brothers, and this certainly was not your average meal. Their names were Orville and Wilbur Wright, and this was their final meal before they attempted what no one had […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy It seems like glitter is everywhere these days (and not just in our hair and on our clothes after a holiday celebration). The sparkly substance is making front page news for the dangers it poses to the environment: outlets from the New York Times to AlterNet have reported on calls from scientists […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Imagine yourself in New York City, yellow taxies zooming by you, cars endlessly blasting their horns, and a disarray of people, boundlessly marching through their concrete jungle like an army of ants. Suddenly from the corner of your eye you catch mist spraying into the air. You divert your focus away from […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Founded in 1623 by pioneers, the fate and fortune of Gloucester on the eastern tip of Cape Ann in Massachusetts has always been anchored to our ocean. Not only is it America’s oldest fishing port, Gloucester also boasts the oldest continuously operated fishing company in Gorton’s. For almost four centuries, fisherman have […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy We all know the feeling. You walk into your local department store or discount retailer, ready to purchase a few needed household items. And then it hits you—the bright sparkling lights, the elaborate wreaths, the hundreds of festive figurines all meticulously aligned in holiday splendor along the store’s entryway. With a season […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy In a deeply worrisome and unprecedented move, the Secretary of Interior just recommended that the Trump administration dismantle some of our nation’s national marine monuments. Three of our nation’s most culturally important marine areas could now have their boundaries modified and be opened up to commercial extraction. Interior Secretary Zinke is targeting […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy As we watch ships out on our ocean cruise across the sea, navigating with apparent ease, it’s tempting to think that piloting ships on our ocean is as simple as driving a car down a road. But the reality is much more complicated. Roads have a system of well-established tools like traffic […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Fishing is inexorably linked to coastal communities. And, here on the East Coast many of those have traditions dating back centuries. As the ocean becomes increasingly busy and fish stocks shift with warming waters, the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Ocean Plans are actively working to ensure fishermen’s livelihoods, coastal communities and the blue […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Flares of bright green with yellow streaks and intense spots of red and orange lights up a map of blue stretching out from the eastern shore. This data visualization captures one of the most ancient ways our species has traversed the planet—on ships that carry us across oceans to distant shores. Each […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy The 2017 holiday season is upon us, and no matter where we go, it seems we can’t escape the joyful music, vibrant light displays and perfectly wrapped gift displays alongside shop window setups. Every other commercial on television is about a special sale for this time of year, and Facebook is flooding […]