Published by Ocean Conservancy We are more likely to get sick when we are stressed. The same logic applies to other animals. Stress leads to weakened system defenses, and this is true for Florida’s coral reefs. © NOAA Florida’s coral reefs are currently experiencing a multi-year outbreak of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD), a coral disease […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Driving from Savannah, Georgia to Saint Helena Island, South Carolina I see large houses and mobile homes, egrets standing in wetlands, and miles and miles of trees draped with Spanish moss. As we head to the 5th Gullah/Geechee Seafood Festival, I anticipate good company and good food—particularly the seafood and rice for […]
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 Talking about water quality isn’t most people’s idea of the ideal ice breaker. In the Lowcountry (loosely defined as coastal South Carolina and Georgia), folks typically find common ground discussing the region’s warm weather, great food, vibrant culture and remarkable history. But water quality is quickly becoming the talk of the town […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy As the Casco Baykeeper, Frignoca sums up her job as the “eyes, ears and voice of the bay.” When I ask her how she started on the path to becoming a marine advocate, she tells me that she just knew it was her calling, “I’ve always been a water person. I’ve just […]
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 As I eagerly prepare my Thanksgiving oyster stuffing to cap off Virginia’s Oyster Month, I am particularly thankful for the hardworking men and women who raise my oysters. Virginia is now the East Coast leader for shellfish production, and that’s because of a persevering industry. Playing a foundational, behind-the-scenes role are the […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Late Sunday night, just before the midnight deadline, Governor Jerry Brown continued his and California’s leadership on the ocean and climate by signing Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de Leon’s parks and water bond, SB 5. This is a key step toward protecting our ocean, as the governor’s signature means that the […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy This piece was written by Mike Martinsen, Co-founder and Co-president of Montauk Shellfish Company Inc. For forty years, I have worked as a bayman in New York’s rich waters. You could find me bullraking hard clams, sail dredging oysters, dredging bay scallops and potting lobster. I have earned a living from these […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy What do eelgrass, the California state legislature, crabbers, and Ocean Conservancy have in common? They are all part of the solution in California’s remarkable actions this past week to address the threats that ocean acidification presents to California’s healthy fisheries, marine habitat and coastal jobs. Governor Jerry Brown just signed into law […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Can you imagine a family in the same business for eight generations? Talk about dedication and deep expertise! That is what struck me when I met the Haward family, who has been farming oysters since the 1700s. Last month in West Mersea, England, I had the privilege of visiting Richard Haward’s Oysters. […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy I don’t always drink beer. But when I do, I drink it while eating oysters. Or at least that’s what I did in London a few weeks ago, with oyster farmers shucking local oysters right on the pub tables. One of the perks of my job is to talk with oyster farmers, […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy As the state representative for the Florida Keys and South Miami-Dade County, there are few things more important to our well-being than the health of our unique marine environment. We are home to the Everglades, the 3rd largest barrier reef in the world and the only living barrier reef in the continental […]