These are the findings from nearly forty years of shipboard observations made in the deep Sargasso Sea offshore of the verdant island and surrounding coral reefs of Bermuda. Fortuitously situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean subtropical gyre, in the Sargasso Sea, scientific discoveries in this region began more than one hundred and […]
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Monday, 19 October 2020
Ocean acidification: a [pH]ishy dilemma
A few years ago, I experienced the same predicament as any other kid in my 8th grade science class: What on Earth should I choose as the topic of my science fair project? While researching ideas for an experiment, I came across an interesting one. Its ingredients? Sea shells, vinegar, water, and salt. You can […]
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from Web sites and blogs – Ocean acidification https://ift.tt/35dANda https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
Friday, 16 October 2020
Democracy Takes Time
I’ve talked a lot about how the events of 2020 are “unprecedented”—so much so, that now the word fails to capture just how unusual this year is.
As we settle into the fall, I am reminded again of how the challenges we face are unlike anything we have ever seen before. We live in a historic time—for better or for worse—and we are all grappling with the emotional toll of a global pandemic, racial injustice, a contentious election—all of this on top of a growing climate and biodiversity crisis. It is a lot to contemplate.
Given the pandemic, this election season is already unusual—and it’s far from over. With each passing day, it seems more likely that a decisive outcome might not be apparent on November 3. This year there are expected to be more mail-in ballots than ever before. Counting those ballots takes time. We’ve also seen significant lines at early voting locations. Personally, I am preparing myself for uncertainty immediately following Election Day, and, I’m focused right now on encouraging everyone to make a plan to vote.
As much as we might want to close the book on the election season, it’s important that we don’t lose sight of democracy in the days or weeks following November 3. The most important thing is that every vote is counted. It’s our job as citizens and as part of civil society to hold our government accountable for a fair and democratic process. It is the foundation of our nation.
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The process of the 2020 election is simply different. With more absentee ballots than ever before, it will take longer than usual to count them all. Although this can be stressful, it also means people are balancing health, distance or other concerns, while still prioritizing their right to vote. We need to fight against voter suppression, misinformation and anything else that threatens to destabilize our democracy.
If you’ve submitted your ballot already—thank you. If you’re voting in the coming weeks, I encourage you to join me and figure out your voting plan. There are many online resources to look up your polling place and see what’s on your ballot.
At Ocean Conservancy, there are core beliefs that power our work. We know that more unites us than divides us. We put our trust in science. We believe that by sharing the wonders of our ocean with people, people will act to protect it. We also believe in the power of our democracy and our democratic institutions, and that by raising our voice in support of issues we care about, we can truly create change that is better for the ocean and better for all of us who depend on the ocean.
We believe in these things because we see them in action. Every day, I work with people who embody these core beliefs: communities who speak up to protect their coastlines, policymakers who enact legislation that conserves our natural resources and people like you who take action in their own backyards to help the environments they care about.
Although this is an unprecedented time in our history, I am inspired by the passion of individuals who are dedicated to making sure this election season is fair and democratic. I know we will get through this—together.
So remember, make a plan, VOTE, and stay with us through the uncertain weather ahead. Our ocean needs you.
The post Democracy Takes Time appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.
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No offspring for cod and herring
Scientists alerted: Fish stocks in the western Baltic Sea threatened by collapseScientists of the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, together with several professional fishermen, have conducted studies on the status and spawning success of cod and herring in the Kiel Fjord in spring 2020. The results are frightening and alarming.
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from "Future Ocean" – News https://ift.tt/31abUxy https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
Thursday, 15 October 2020
My Favorite Facts About Leatherbacks
Each year, October 15 is designated as Pacific Leatherback Conservation Day. It presents the perfect opportunity to celebrate this large, one-of-a-kind sea turtle—and I can’t wait to share some of my favorite leatherback turtle facts with you.
But first, we can’t talk about leatherback sea turtles without acknowledging that these incredible animals are in trouble. They’re considered Endangered under the Endangered Species Act, and face habitat loss, entanglement in marine debris and injuries from boat strikes. As if that wasn’t enough, they’re increasingly at risk from one of the biggest threats to our ocean: climate change.
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We must act now to protect leatherback sea turtles from extinction. Take the pledge today: promise to actively “E.V.O.L.V.E.” to help our oceans’ turtles!
Swim on for some sea–riously special facts about leatherback sea turtles.
- You may already know, when it comes to size, the leatherback sea turtle stands out among the rest. They are the largest sea turtle in the ocean: growing up to seven feet in length and weighing more than 2,000 pounds.
- Their size isn’t their only distinguishing trait. Leatherbacks get their name from their smooth, bluish-black leathery skin. Unlike other sea turtles who have hard outer shells, leatherbacks have soft, rubbery backs.
- Leatherback sea turtles go the distance: they are the most migratory and wide-ranging of all sea turtle species. They’re found in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans and have been known to swim more than 10,000 miles per year.
- During nesting season, female leatherbacks return to the beaches where they were born to lay their eggs. Each female will make up to five trips onshore and deposit between 60 to 120 eggs each time.
- Leatherbacks can dive deeper than any other turtle in the sea. They can swim to depths of 4,200 feet and hold their breath for almost an hour and a half.
- Although all leatherback sea turtle populations are listed as endangered, the Pacific populations are most at risk. Scientists estimate Pacific leatherbacks have declined by more than 80% in the last 40 years.
Today, our ocean’s sea turtles are facing more threats to their existence than ever before. From marine debris to light pollution to exposure to habitat destruction, these animals need our help.
If you’re, like me and can’t get enough of the leatherback sea turtle, be sure to check out our Wildlife Fact Sheets to learn even more about this large, loveable marine reptile.
The post My Favorite Facts About Leatherbacks appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.
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Monday, 12 October 2020
What’s Next for NOAA Funding?
The beginning of October typically signifies the beginning of fall. Leaves change, the nights get cold, carved pumpkins begin to show up on doorsteps. But October also marks the beginning of a new fiscal year for our federal government, which has big implications for our ocean and the agency tasked with researching, understanding and protecting it: the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Congress needed to pass funding legislation to keep our federal government—including NOAA—up and running by October 1. This means providing the necessary funds to combat marine debris, protect our shorelines from sea level rise and invest in our blue economy. It also means funds to provide the science needed to ensure our fisheries are harvested sustainably, vessels have up-to-date maps of our ocean and marine mammals get the care they need when they’re in danger.
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However, when Congress cannot agree on full-year appropriations bills, they pass what is called a Continuing Resolution (CR), which carries forward current federal funding levels and averts a government shutdown. Earlier this month, Congress did just that and passed a CR that keeps the government funded at current levels through December 11, 2020. This means that Congress has additional time to negotiate the final fiscal year 2021 budget for NOAA. But how did we get here, what does a CR mean for NOAA and how can you get involved?
Earlier this year, President Trump released his budget for NOAA, which made millions of dollars’ worth of sweeping cuts to the agency, including the removal of some of the most successful and needed programs. Coastal management grants, the National Sea Grant program, and the Ocean and Coastal Security Fund would all be eliminated under the Trump administration’s budget.
When progress came to a halt in the Senate, Congress was left two options: passing a CR or shutting down the government. As we’ve seen in the past, government shutdowns have had significant consequences for our oceans, blue economy and scientific research. In no way is a government shutdown beneficial for our ocean, and the passage of a CR is a welcome relief. Despite this, there are drawbacks to a CR when compared with full-year funding. These include:
- New Programs: NOAA cannot start any new programs and must operate entirely under the programs of the last fiscal year.
- Grant Funding: Because a CR was passed, Sea Grant—NOAA’s program for supporting coastal and Great Lakes communities through research, education and project assistance—may not be able to process and start projects.
- A Slowed Agency: CR’s often result in uncertainty in funding levels and can delay hiring and contracts, and burdens the agency with increased paperwork.
- No Funding Increases: A CR simply continues the funding of the last passed appropriations bill. No new funds are available to help the agency meet the needs of our ocean and coastal communities.
Luckily, it’s not too late to get involved. Tell your Senator to pass a full-year funding bill at the levels passed by the House earlier this year!
The post What’s Next for NOAA Funding? appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.
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Friday, 9 October 2020
Taking Action on Single-Use Plastics from New Jersey to California
A lot of people think my home state of New Jersey is … well, kind of trashy. From the hard partying featured on MTV’s “Jersey Shore,” to our collective affinity for diner food, to the assumption that everyone is a character from “The Sopranos,” New Jersey doesn’t have the best reputation—I’ve heard it called “the armpit of America” more times than I can count.
Hurtful nicknames aside, I love the state and have always sought to defend it from the naysayers. Diner food is delicious, “The Sopranos” remains one of the best shows to ever grace television screens and the actual Jersey Shore is beautiful and diverse, featuring everything from bustling boardwalks to sleepy inlets.
If you need one more reason not to call us trashy, here it is: New Jersey just passed the nation’s most sweeping single-use plastics ban. As reported in NorthJersey.com (the superior part of New Jersey, in my opinion), the bill, which will go into effect 18 months after it is signed into law, bans plastic bags, paper bags at supermarkets more than 2,500 square feet, polystyrene (foam) clamshell food containers and other plastic products like plates, cups, food trays and utensils. It will also make plastic straws available upon request only.
While we are pleased that our neighbor/frenemy, New York, will start enforcing its own plastic bag ban later this month, I will point out that New Jersey’s ban is stronger. And while this change may take some getting used to when visiting your local ShopRite or Wawa, The Newark Star Ledger’s editorial board has it right: the cosmetic, health, and of course, environmental benefits to banning these superfluous single-use plastic items are well worth the small disruption. Considering that New Jersey boasts roughly 130 miles of ocean coastline, this is a huge win in the fight against ocean plastic pollution.
At the 2019 International Coastal Cleanup, volunteers in New Jersey collected more than 232,000 items from beaches and waterways across the state. Totaling 8,913 pounds (roughly the weight of 52 Bruce Springsteens), most of these items were made of plastic, with food containers and plastic bags making the list of top ten most commonly found items. I’ve seen the scourge of plastic on Jersey’s shores first hand: on a recent trip to Asbury Park, I collected dozens upon dozens of mini plastic wine bottles and food wrappers. While we know that trash travels, and that ocean plastic pollution is a global problem, local solutions like these will go a long way.
New Jersey is not alone in its efforts to curb ocean plastic. On the West Coast, California is also taking action on a state level. Recently, Governor Gavin Newsom signed the nation’s first mandatory recycled content bill. The law will require all plastic beverage manufacturers in the state to ensure that their products are made from at least 15% recycled content by 2022, and reach 50% by 2030. This surpasses even the European Union’s stringent mandatory recycled content standards.
This is big news, in part, because of California’s huge population and market share. Plastic bottles are among the most commonly found items at the International Coastal Cleanup each year, and in California, more than 21,000 plastic bottles were collected off of the state’s beaches and waterways. To boot, Ocean Conservancy research shows that recycled content standards are one of the most effective ways of reducing our plastics footprint and keeping plastics out of our ocean.
While there might be some debate about whether the West Coast or East Coast is better (and I know where I stand on that), we can all agree that state action on unnecessary single-use plastics, wherever you may be, is critical. Here’s to hoping that Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio hears our call on that.
The post Taking Action on Single-Use Plastics from New Jersey to California appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.
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