Sailors from around the world were looking forward to the warm weather, strong trade winds, and competitive sailing as part of the 2021 Caribbean racing circuit. However, the COVID-19 pandemic again thwarted the hopes of many sailors. Each Caribbean island nation has its own travel limitations, quarantine protocols and safety regulations to protect their respective … Read more
Cleaning products are necessary for dissolving and removing dirt, grime, allergens and germs. However, most cleaning products are not made to be directly released into our waterways. Ingredients in certain cleaners can damage fish tissues or persist in the environment and enter the food chain. Some products also contain phosphorous and nitrogen, which can put excess nutrients into the water causing algal blooms which can be harmful to coral reefs and coastal ecosystems. Instead, many cleaning products are created to go through wastewater treatment facilities, where the … Read more
Beneath your hull is an underwater world full of beautiful, crucial ecosystems, including seagrass meadows. Generally growing in shallow coastal waterways, seagrasses are found across the globe from the tropics to the Arctic. Healthy seagrass beds have a wide range of positive impacts for our waterways. The dense underwater meadows provide spawning and nursery habitats, areas of refuge, and feeding grounds for many fish and invertebrates. Marine animals, including green sea … Read more
Once a year, an underwater blizzard with billions of colorful flakes occurs in coral reef ecosystems. This natural phenomenon is called coral spawning. Corals are essential to our oceans, but they can’t move around the seafloor to find mates. Instead hard corals reproduce by releasing their eggs and sperm into the water. Based on cues from the lunar cycle and … Read more
Are you a parent with ocean-loving kids or a teacher looking to engage students with fun marine-science activities? To supplement STEM curriculum, Sailors for the Sea Powered by Oceana developed the Kids Environmental Lesson Plans (KELP) program, which features free, downloadable, educational activities that teach students the importance of preserving healthy and abundant oceans. The lessons require minimal … Read more
The weather is getting warmer in the northern hemisphere and it’s about that time of year to take boats out of storage. As we prepare for the boating season, we can all take steps to be eco-smart both on and off the water. Before you launch your boat, check out these simple tips that will … Read more
