Our oceans are under siege from a variety of threats, including the excessive extraction of wild fish. Most fisheries in the world are fished beyond their limits — indiscriminate bycatch is decimating populations of marine wildlife, and bottom trawling and other destructive practices are destroying nursery and spawning habitat. This results in rapidly declining fish stocks and … Read more
Every year, as people tune in to Shark Week on the Discovery Channel to catch up on their favorite oceanic superstars, they may not realize that these fish are not all true sharks. Collectively, these breathtaking visuals of manta rays gliding above coral reefs and great white sharks rocketing out of placid waters depict a … Read more
Update: May 30, 2017 Despite the importance and popularity of our national monuments, two new executive orders have instructed federal agencies to “review” monuments, placing the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument at risk! The Department of Commerce is accepting public comments on marine monuments through July 26th. Good news, you can help! Click here to post a comment … Read more
Stories of mysterious creatures lurking deep in the sea have long captivated our imaginations and stirred our curiosity. Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in East Boothbay, Maine, is on a mission to show that truth is stranger than fiction—in a big way. Tiny Giants: Marine Microbes Revealed on a Grand Scale is a photographic adventure … Read more
On August 17th, Sailors for the Sea Japan hosted the Blue Seafood Kids Summer Lunch at Yokohama Inter Continental Hotel with support from Nippon Foundation. Over 90 students, mothers and teachers came to the event to learn about sustainable seafood. In 2013, Minako Iue, president of Sailors for the Sea Japan, set out on an … Read more
These changes are due to variations in ocean temperatures that give rise to a complex cycle that occurs every several years. And this winter, these variations are the strongest since records have been kept. Have you noticed any changes in the temperature and precipitation patterns lately? In some locations, perhaps you experienced warmer than average … Read more
If you’ve sailed the Caribbean in recent years, you may have noticed massive amounts of brown seaweed washing up on beaches and clogging harbors. This influx of Sargassum has caused alarm, as ecological and economic costs outweigh the potential beach nourishment and stabilization benefits associated with modest amounts of the seaweed. For example, beached Sargassum … Read more
The World Bank is working with fishing communities and investors to protect and increase the value of the fish stocks upon which they depend for their livelihoods. Communities in Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa depend heavily on catch-and-release recreational fishing to “have their cake and eat it too” by using and at the same … Read more
Oceans are critical to planetary health and human survival. Though we depend on our seas for food, climate regulation and recreation, they are threatened by human activity. In particular, some fishing and fish farming practices worldwide are damaging these resources —depleting fish populations, destroying habitats and polluting the water. Seafood is one of the leading … Read more
At the age of 15, D’amy Steward set out on the adventure of a lifetime. She sailed from Sausalito, California, aboard the research vessel SSV Robert C. Seamans with the Sea Education Association (SEA). For seventeen days and nights, D’amy and the crew conducted net tows over the side and with every tow they found … Read more
