Published by Ocean Conservancy We’re a few weeks into our “new normal” with COVID-19, and I know it has been really, really hard for many of us. I keep reminding myself (and I hope you are too!) that this won’t be the normal forever. We are all in this together, and we will come out of […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy I don’t know about you, but as I’m adjusting to staying home and social distancing there are some days where I just want to do something good. While social distancing is by far the best action anyone can take right now, we can still help other causes we care about. One of […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy People look forward to the return of many things in spring: daffodils, asparagus, migrating birds, baseball. For me, spring signals the beginning of our season of trash cleanups. This year is certainly different, but it doesn’t mean our commitment to keep trash out of the ocean is taking a break. We are […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Today is the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. In 1970, the first Earth Day was celebrated on the first day of spring in the Western Hemisphere. It was a perfect time to celebrate the Earth as it was undergoing its annual rebirth. People went out and enjoyed the sunshine while raising awareness […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Nature is my happy place. When I am stressed or feeling on the verge of a panic attack, I close my eyes and imagine myself back at the Goshen Pass in Virginia. I am sitting down in the rocky river bed, allowing the river to rush over my shoulders, while I look […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy This blog post is co-authored by National Audubon Society, the National Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy and Ocean Conservancy. On April 20, 2010, the BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, killing 11 men and spewing an estimated 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico over the following 87 days. […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy This blog previously published by The Advocate on April 19, 2020. Exactly 10 years after the BP Deepwater Horizon tragedy changed the Gulf of Mexico, communities across the Gulf are reeling from the impacts of another emergency. On April 20, 2010, an oil well ruptured 5,000 meters under the ocean, causing a massive rig […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Next week we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Earth Day. Each year this holiday offers a time of celebration and focus on the environment. Earth Day looks a little different this year with the current challenges we all are facing as we work to #FlattentheCurve. It can be difficult in these times […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy One thing I enjoy most about Ocean Conservancy is that we work hard to ensure our advocacy for the ocean is driven by an understanding of science. Yes, we spend a lot of time giving testimony at public meetings and sitting in windowless conference rooms with government officials, but every now and […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy In many places around the United States, if you are healthy enough to continue grocery shopping during the coronavirus pandemic, you are probably noticing some changes at the checkout counter. From San Francisco to New York City, a growing number of officials and retailers are forbidding shoppers from bringing their own reusable […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy During these unprecedented times, many families are looking for more resources to keep kids engaged while hopefully learning something new. At Ocean Conservancy, we are constantly working to provide more resources to share the wonder of the ocean and the issues it’s facing. That’s why we’re excited to partner with the University […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Humans have tried to understand the mysteries of our ocean since the beginning of time. Ever since early humans turned to the sea for food, people across the ages have discovered and documented ocean life in stories, song and art. The first known academic descriptions of marine life were those of Aristotle, […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy I hope everyone is doing as well as they can, during these unprecedented and rapidly changing times. If you are like me, you are filling your day spending more time with your kids, trying to find ways to keep them simultaneously educated and entertained. One tool in my education toolbox has always […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, many people are dreaming of Florida as a retreat from long days of self-isolation. Hundreds of miles of beautiful beaches, azure skies, shimmering oceans, teeming wilderness including barrier reefs and the Everglades, and strands of picturesque keys and islets. But this paradise is staring down […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Animal names can be inspired by a wide range of things. Some are named after the place where they live, like the deep-sea catshark Apristurus spongiceps, who resides (unsurprisingly) in the deep sea. Others are named after a distinctive physical feature, like the red-lipped batfish Ogcocephalus darwini, who has vibrant red “lips”. […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Their fabulous feet are striking, and with a purpose too! Blue-footed boobies eat a whole lot of fish, and their diets are densely packed with something called carotenoid pigment. While there’s a lot that goes into the functionality of this pigmentation, the majority of this color ends up stored in the animal’s […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Sunlight sparkled off the water as it sluiced down my paddle. My canoe was cutting a path to a favorite spot in Bellingham Bay. I could hear the distant call of seabirds in the crisp salty air. Slowly, I felt my heart ease, the tension leached out of my shoulder and my […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy During these challenging times, we at Ocean Conservancy are fortunate to be able to continue working towards a healthy ocean and Gulf (albeit from a distance)—not only for wildlife but for all of us that depend on resilient, thriving coastlines. Now more than ever is the time to look out for one […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy With the entire D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area now under stay-at-home orders, our team at Ocean Conservancy is fortunate to be able to continue our conservation work by teleworking. You are all in our thoughts as we navigate these new and concerning waters. Besides “social distancing” you may be increasingly hearing the term “flattening the […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Like so many of you, I am juggling working from home with two school-aged kids. And while it has been hard to physically distance ourselves from friends, neighbors, coworkers and the community—we are all doing our part to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus. We are continuing to follow guidelines to […]