All About Gobies

There are more than 2,000 species of gobies (Gobiidae) known to science today, making them the largest family of fish in the ocean. But these small creatures are far more complex and essential to marine ecosystems than first meets the eye. Found all around the world in brackish, fresh and salt water in tropical and subtropical regions, they are an astonishingly diverse group of fish with several curious characteristics that set them apart. 

Most gobies are quite small and don’t usually measure more than six inches long. Measuring just about eight millimeters long, the dwarf pygmy goby (Trimmatom nanus) is not only the tiniest goby known to science but also one of the smallest of all fish species in the world. 

Primarily bottom-dwellers, gobies are known to be excellent foragers and have evolved expert burrowing behaviors over time. As they sift around looking for food like copepods, seaworms and tiny crustaceans, their movement helps to aerate sediment and keep algae in check. Some are even known to be “cleaner fish,” snacking on parasites they remove off larger creatures. It’s like a spa day for the animal being cleaned and a choose-your-own-adventure buffet for the gobies. Studies also show that cleaner goby activity is largely tied to the microbial health of coral reefs, showcasing that even the tiniest of species are essential to functioning marine ecosystems.

Gobies have some unique aspects to their anatomy, too. First, their fused pelvic fins are designed to help them form a strong suction cup to perch on coral reefs, rocks and other ocean terrain amidst turbulent currents. Some freshwater species are even known to use this suction to climb waterfalls. It may come as no surprise then that gobies are cousins to mudskippers, animals known to “walk” through mud. There are more species-specific features that set certain gobies apart. From the use of bioluminescence to symbiotic relationships with shrimp, the adaptations within the goby family are truly wide-ranging. Some species have even been found to use marine terrain memorization to navigate back to the tide pools where they were born. Isn’t nature mind-blowing sometimes?

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Gobies have equally complex and varied behaviors. Male gobies are infamous for being territorial protectors of their nests. Many larger males are known as “guarders;” these hopeful fish make careful nests to attract a mate, and once fertilization occurs, guarders will remain diligently near the nests to keep eggs safe. However, there’s another type of male goby that complicates this dynamic. These other males are known as “sneaker gobies” and are called that for one reason: They’re sneaky! If guarder gobies aren’t careful, sneakers can creep into the nest, fertilize some of the eggs and quickly escape. As if on an underwater episode of Maury, guarder males who aren’t careful could end up unknowingly babysitting little gobies that aren’t their actual offspring.

Gobies serve as indicators of ecological health and are essential to keeping delicate food webs in check. Unfortunately, many changes in our ocean threaten their ability to survive and thrive today. Coral bleaching and degradation endanger the health of one of their key habitats, and a combination of warming waters and coastal development can make it difficult for both juvenile and adult gobies to survive and thrive. 

Healthy gobies mean a healthy ocean. Their essential role in marine ecosystems demonstrates that even the tiniest creatures play a major role in helping hold together the beautiful yet fragile habitats that make up our beloved ocean. Visit Ocean Conservancy’s Action Center and join the movement to protect our blue planet today and for years to come—from the tiniest goby to the largest whales, our ocean is counting on us.

Amy Zamurut – Lemon Gobies

The post All About Gobies appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

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Do You Know the Difference Between El Niño and La Niña?

Recently, you may have heard about something called “El Niño.” But what exactly is El Niño and its sibling “La Niña”? Why do these terms seem to emerge from the depths of the scientific community and drop into popular vocabulary every few years? And how are they connected to extreme weather and our ocean?

What Are El Niño and La Niña?

El Niño and La Niña are part of a natural climate pattern in the tropical Pacific called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, or ENSO. These two phases are different sides of the same coin, creating equally extreme shifts in temperature and air pressure.

El Niño occurs when surface water in the equatorial Pacific becomes warmer than average and easterly winds weaken. La Niña is the opposite: cooler-than-normal sea surface temperatures and stronger easterly winds. ENSO cycles can last up to seven years. El Niño and La Niña significantly impact weather patterns in all corners of the globe, often leading to more extreme weather, storm frequency and intensity.

A strong El Niño can cause flooding in some regions and drought, heat waves and wildfires in others. It often causes crop losses, coral bleaching and marine die-offs due to unusually warm ocean temperatures. El Niño tends to suppress Atlantic hurricane activity, though it increases the risk of heavy precipitation and harm to fisheries elsewhere. In the Northern Hemisphere, El Niño typically builds between March and June, peaks in December, and weakens by February.

La Niña, by contrast, often fuels an active Atlantic hurricane season and increases tornado frequency across the southern United States. Like El Niño, it builds in spring and peaks around December.

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Predicting ENSO

In 1923, the physicist Sir Gilbert Walker discovered the “Southern Oscillation,” or large-scale changes in sea level pressure across the tropical Pacific. However, it wasn’t until the late 1960s that the metorologist Jacob Bjerknes found that the changes in the ocean and the atmosphere were connected, and the hybrid term “ENSO” was born. In 1974, researchers at Oregon State University attempted to predict ENSO for the first time.

Modeling has greatly advanced since the early days. Today, scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issue regular predictions about ENSO, which are now more accurate than ever.

NOAA gives a one-in-four chance that an El Niño could reach “very strong” intensity later in 2026, qualifying it as a “super El Niño.” This threshold has been crossed only a handful of times in recorded history, each triggering droughts, floods and record temperatures across multiple continents. NOAA’s data and models deliver life-saving early warning forecasts, like that of the predicted super El Niño, which allow communities to better prepare for and respond to extreme weather events.

Take Action

Every American, regardless of where they live, depends on NOAA’s scientists and professionals, whose work spans from the ocean floor to the far reaches of space. Unfortunately, NOAA is under threat. The Trump administration has proposed billions of dollars in cuts to the agency, which could weaken weather forecasting, disrupt fisheries management and stall critical ocean research, putting American lives and global scientific leadership at risk.

Ocean Conservancy is committed to working with NOAA to keep the public informed on climate and ocean science. We all benefit from a healthier ocean, and investing in research is the most effective way to restore ocean health and reduce the impact of severe  weather events caused by El Niño and La Niña. Our ocean is not partisan, and protecting it requires all hands on deck and all sides of the aisle. Now, it’s more important than ever to demand that members of Congress prioritize our ocean. Add your name now.

The post Do You Know the Difference Between El Niño and La Niña? appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

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Osprey: The Ocean’s Most Specialized Bird of Prey

Have you ever seen a sleek, brown-and-white bird hover above the ocean, fold its wings and drop into the water like a cannonball, only to surface seconds later with a fish in its grip? If so, you have probably seen an osprey.

A water-loving bird of prey

Ospreys are birds of prey, also known as raptors. Birds of prey are carnivorous predators that actively hunt and feed on other animals. However, unlike most birds of prey, the osprey’s diet consists of approximately 99% live fish, including catfish, trout and mackerel. Because of their feeding habits, ospreys, also called sea hawks, have unique traits that make them elite hunters of the sea.

Structure and hunting

When ospreys spot a fish, they dive from nearly 100 feet in the air. During the dive, they close their nostrils, called nares, to prevent water from entering.

Ospreys are the only birds of prey that can dive feet-first into water, allowing them to form a streamlined shape that helps them pierce the surface and protect their heads. Their dense, oily feathers act like a wetsuit, keeping them water-resistant during dives.

Once they make contact with prey, they use their reversible outer toes and barbed foot pads, called spicules, to grip the slippery scales of the fish.

After securing their catch, ospreys use their nearly six-foot wingspan to generate the lift needed to carry fish that can weigh nearly as much as they do out of the water.

Finally, once airborne, the osprey rotates the fish to point headfirst, an aerodynamic adjustment that reduces wind resistance on the flight back to the nest.

This specialized anatomy allows ospreys to catch a fish in approximately one out of every four dives.

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Habitat and breeding

Because of their dependence on fish, ospreys always live within sight of water. They typically build their nests atop dead trees or man-made structures along harbors and bays, such as channel markers, duck blinds and utility poles.

Both parents help construct the nest. These large structures, sometimes exceeding 300 pounds, are built with sticks and lined with materials like moss and seaweed.

Ospreys breed across every continent except Antarctica, inhabiting ocean coastlines, saltwater marshes, lagoons, estuaries, river mouths and even coral reefs.

Osprey pairs incubate an average of three eggs for roughly one month before they hatch. Chicks then remain in the nest for about 55 days before fledging, the stage in a bird’s life when it develops its feathers and wings enough to leave the nest and fly for the first time.

Why are ospreys important for our ocean?

Ospreys serve as living indicators of ocean health. Because they sit at the top of the marine food chain, they are highly sensitive to pollution and changes in fish populations. A decline in osprey nesting success can signal pollution, overfishing or habitat degradation.

That is why at Ocean Conservancy, we are working to address the ocean’s biggest threats, from plastic pollution to the climate crisis. But we cannot do this work alone. We need advocates like you to protect ospreys and all marine wildlife. Please take action and help us defend our ocean today.

The post Osprey: The Ocean’s Most Specialized Bird of Prey appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

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How to Have a Plastic-Free Picnic

As the weather begins to warm across the United States, people are taking to parks and beaches once again for picnics, barbecues and other celebrations with family and friends. And while we’re out enjoying nature, we can also protect the places we love from plastic pollution.

Not only are plastics left in a park or on a beach unsightly, they’re also highly dangerous to animals that might mistake it for food. A recent Ocean Conservancy-led study found that consuming less than two dice’s worth of plastic has a 90% chance of killing a seagull.

As you make your plans to head outdoors, here are some easy tips for having a plastic-free picnic and helping to protect animals along the way.

Avoid single-use plastics in food and drink

When planning a picnic, it’s best to avoid food and drinks packaged in plastics. In fact, according to data collected by Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup® (ICC) participants, plastic bottles, bottle caps, food wrappers, plastic grocery bags, food containers and plastic plates and cups are all among the top 10 most commonly found items polluting beaches and waterways worldwide. For example, in 2024 alone, over 4.4 million of these items commonly used at picnics were collected from beaches and waterways around the world.

But packing your picnic without these items is easier than you think! Instead of packing your picnic basket with single-use plastics, bring your food in reusable glass or metal containers or beeswax wraps, buy snacks in bulk, and use reusable or glass bottles or cups. Making your own food and bringing condiments in small reusable jars helps cut down on waste even more. When it comes to plates and cutlery, opt for reusable or compostable plates (like paper or bamboo), cloth napkins and metal silverware. And finally, avoid a foam cooler—use a reusable cooler or insulated bag instead.

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Use non-plastic decorations

Did you know that most confetti and glitter are technically microplastics? And that balloon fragments are one of the deadliest plastics to marine life? Instead of balloons and confetti, opt for fabric flags or recycled paper pennant flags and streamers. You can also use things from nature, like flowers or pinecones, to make your picnic pretty. Or make signs with cardboard or a small reusable chalkboard, which not only look cute but are easy to reuse for your next picnic.

Leave no trace

Don’t forget to pack up and remove everything you brought with you, and sort and dispose of any trash appropriately, aiming to compost or recycle as much as you can. And finally, leave your picnic spot even cleaner than you found it. Take a few minutes to pick up any trash in the area that may have been left by other picnic-goers. Find out the positive impact your cleanup efforts had on ocean wildlife by entering the trash you collect into the Wildlife Impact Calculator. And if you want to help contribute to Ocean Conservancy’s plastic pollution research, you can log what you find in our Clean Swell® app.

Thanks to ocean lovers like you, we’re calling on lawmakers to put our planet and people over plastics. Join Ocean Conservancy and tell Congress to pass the bipartisan Plastic Health Research Act, which would kickstart research into the effects of plastics on human health by directing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to carry out, expand and coordinate research programs to help understand the potential health effects from plastic exposure.

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