We Need NOAA to Keep Fishing Communities Strong

The United States has long recognized the link between our ocean and our economy. For nearly 50 years, bipartisan congressional leadership has designed and built a world-class science and management system with the goal of conserving our living marine resources for the good of the American people. Today, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) supports that vision by helping us better understand, predict and protect the ocean and coastal communities from threats that could upend our economy and our way of life. 

NOAA’s impact is especially felt in America’s fishing communities, which put billions of pounds of seafood on plates nationwide and provide millions of people with recreational opportunities. Through NOAA Fisheries’ essential science, enforcement and management, the United States has some of the most productive fisheries in the world—but that wasn’t always the case. 

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Just a few decades ago, overfishing was rampant and many fisheries faced devastating stock collapses. Congress and past administrations worked together with industry, scientists and the public to build a better system with NOAA at the helm. Thanks to NOAA’s sustainable management, our fisheries are healthier and our seafood supply is safe. Today, its role is more important than ever as pollution, warming waters and industrialization threaten to push American fisheries back to their limit. 

Read Our Fact Sheet on How NOAA Keeps Fishing Communities Strong

NOAA provides critical science and support to fishing businesses and communities. NOAA’s fishery surveys and data collection efforts form the basis of our science-based fishery management system. Without this information, managers would not have the latest information and would be flying blind when setting catch levels for important stocks like pollock, salmon, red snapper, cod, tuna and more.

Since fishing is a deeply local industry, NOAA Fisheries has a presence in coastal areas across the country in order to better support community needs. The fishery management system that NOAA supports is a uniquely collaborative effort that empowers state managers, fishermen and others to contribute to fishery management so that decisions are tailored to the needs of fisheries in each region. The expertise of NOAA’s scientists, managers, liaisons, communicators and more helps ensure that NOAA’s science and decisions meet the needs of the fishing industry and fishing communities around the nation.

All parts of NOAA support the business of fishing and the seafood industry. Fishermen rely on accurate weather forecasts to make decisions about whether and where to fish and how to do so safely. NOAA provides nautical charts and tide information that support safe maritime navigation for fishermen and for the vessels that transport seafood around the United States and the globe. Coastal communities also need to know about hazards in the marine environment. Through NOAA’s work to understand red tides, fishermen and coastal visitors can avoid affected areas to ensure safe waters. 

Congress has long invested in the safety, stability and future wellbeing of communities across the country by supporting NOAA so that it can provide life-saving weather forecasting and emergency preparedness services, conduct scientific research and restore and maintain our coasts and marine resources for the benefit of the American people. Now more than ever, we need Congress to support NOAA’s critical programs and services. 

For more than 35 years, Ocean Conservancy has worked to find practical solutions to the challenging problems facing our fisheries. We have seen the impact NOAA has on ensuring we have healthy fish populations and thriving fishing businesses in the United States. Disrupting the regular and timely provisioning of these science and service products, whether it be through loss of critical staff and capacity, closing programs and offices, ending science and surveys, or other such cuts, will result in direct and lasting harm to coastal communities, businesses and the American people. Take action now to stand up for NOAA.

Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it.

The post We Need NOAA to Keep Fishing Communities Strong appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

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Plastic Pollution’s Toll on Seabirds

This blog was co-written by Dan Berkson and Hannah De Frond. Hannah works with Ocean Conservancy and the University of Toronto Trash Team to manage the International Trash Trap Network (ITTN), a global network of local groups using trash traps to increase cleanup efforts, engage communities and inform upstream solutions. 

Plastic pollution devastates our ocean, and its impact on marine wildlife—especially seabirds—is severe and far-reaching. Seabirds breed on land but search for food at sea, bringing them into frequent contact with plastic pollution accumulating both along shores and in surface waters worldwide. Unfortunately, ingesting plastics can prove to be deadly for these amazing animals.

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Eating plastics for seabirds can obstruct their digestive systems, preventing them from eating actual food, and leading to starvation. Sometimes it takes only one piece of plastic to block the passage of food. Plastic ingestion has been found in every family of seabird. Below are details on how some species are uniquely impacted by plastic pollution.   

• Northern fulmar: Northern fulmars are surface feeders, diving into the ocean to snag prey. Unfortunately, their foraging habits bring them face to face with floating plastic fragments which they mistake for food. A 2015 study in the Arctic revealed a staggering 90% of northern fulmars studied had plastics in their stomachs. These creatures are so prone to eating plastics that both the Canadian government and OSPAR Commission (the mechanism through which the European Union and 15 other governments cooperate to protect the North East Atlantic marine environment) use this species in their monitoring programs to track long-term trends in ocean plastic pollution. 

• Short-tailed shearwater: Short-tailed shearwaters are also particularly vulnerable to plastic pollution, frequently consuming both rubber—such as balloons—and hard fragments. A 2014 study in Tasmania found plastic in the stomachs of 96% of short-tailed shearwater chicks studied.

• Laysan albatross: The Laysan albatross skims the ocean surface with its beak to hunt for prey. This hunting behavior makes it likely that the albatross will accidentally consume plastic debris like consumer products (e.g., hard fragments, lighters, buttons) or fishing lines. Adult albatrosses also feed their chicks by regurgitating food, unknowingly passing plastics on to their young. A heartbreaking 1997 study on Midway Atoll, a remote Pacific island, found 97.5% of Laysan albatross chicks had plastic in their stomachs.

• Petrel: More than 50% of petrel species are listed as “threatened” or “near threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Petrels often inhabit areas with high concentrations of plastic pollution such as the high seas and mid-ocean gyres. Unlike other seabirds, they struggle to regurgitate plastic. This means the plastics they ingest tend to remain in their bodies for extended periods. 

What can you do?

If we fail to take action, studies predict that 99% of seabird species will ingest plastic by 2050, which is devasting given how vulnerable seabirds are to even the smallest amount of plastic. Ocean Conservancy is committed to protecting our ocean, wildlife and communities from plastic pollution. But we can’t do it alone. Here is how you can join the fight: 

• Reduce plastic use: To tackle our plastic pollution crisis, we need to use less plastic. We can each do our part by avoiding single-use plastics where possible in our daily lives from carrying a reusable water bottle and bag to skipping a straw. These small actions add up and collectively reduce the amount of plastic waste we create, while sending a clear signal to plastic producers that we are fed up with single-use plastics. 

• Clean up plastic pollution before it enters the ocean: Cleaning up plastic waste, whether on the beach, along a river, or in your neighborhood park, helps eliminate the likelihood that it will later be consumed by seabirds or other marine life. One of the best ways to do this is by joining the International Coastal Cleanup^® (ICC). Use our map to find a coordinator planning a cleanup in your region. Want something closer to home? Team up with friends and family to clean up your favorite beach or beloved park. If you see plastic on beaches, shores or elsewhere, remember to clean it up—it could save a seabird’s life.

• Push for policy change: Advocate for legislation to address plastic pollution by holding corporations accountable for the waste they create, expanding support for reuse and refill systems and much more. Visit Ocean Conservancy’s Action Center to see how you can get involved.

The post Plastic Pollution’s Toll on Seabirds appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

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Learnings from the National Working Waterfronts Networks Conference

I recently represented Ocean Conservancy at the National Working Waterfronts Network Conference in San Diego. The conference brought together maritime industry leaders, policymakers and community advocates, all working toward a shared vision for the future of our waterfronts.

As an engineer, former mariner and ocean conservationist I know that decarbonizing our ports requires cross-sector partnerships. The discussions throughout the National Working Waterfronts Network Conference reinforced how essential it is to bring together experts from engineering, policy and workforce development to drive meaningful change towards port decarbonization.

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Throughout the conference, I discussed the need for a comprehensive, systems-level approach that integrates infrastructure investment, regulatory alignment and workforce development. Preparing the workforce for decarbonization is just as crucial as deploying zero-emission technologies. Investments in training programs and workforce development initiatives will equip maritime professionals with the expertise needed for the next generation of sustainable shipping. Collaboration among industry, government and educational institutions should also be used to create comprehensive training programs that align with emerging port technologies and regulatory requirements.

Another highlight of the conference was seeing the eWolf. Designed by the marine company Cowley, the eWolf is the first fully electric tug in the United States. This cutting-edge vessel is 82 feet long and has a 70-ton bollard pull. It is powered by a 6-megawatt-hour battery system that eliminates emissions, equipped with onboard energy management systems to optimize power use and fitted with azimuth thrusters for enhanced maneuverability. This vessel drastically reduces harmful pollutants like nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides and particulate matter, improving air quality for nearby communities while maintaining the performance required for commercial operations. It takes bold industry players like Crowley to lead the way toward port decarbonization—and, let’s be honest, eWolf is just a cool name.

I left the National Working Waterfronts Network Conference with a deeper appreciation for the professionals working to ensure our waterfronts remain vibrant, resilient and sustainable. The challenge ahead is clear: How do we scale these innovations while maintaining the economic viability of our ports and coastal industries? 

The answer lies in open collaboration among industry leaders, policymakers and communities, accelerated adoption of zero-emission technologies, strategic investments in clean-energy infrastructure and bold decision-making prioritizing sustainability and economic growth. That’s why Ocean Conservancy is spearheading projects like the Green Ports Interactive Funding Tracker—an innovative resource that aims to empower port authorities, environmental managers and sustainability experts by providing real-time updates and comprehensive insights into available funding.

Now is the time to turn conversations into action. Ocean Conservancy is committed to working alongside partners across the maritime industry to drive a cleaner, more sustainable future. Take action now to help Ocean Conservancy address today’s biggest threats to our ocean, including the climate crisis and plastic pollution.

The post Learnings from the National Working Waterfronts Networks Conference appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

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