The deep sea is an extremely harsh environment. It is dark, below 200m the light levels are too low for photosynthesis (the twilight zone), and not a glimmer of sunlight remains beyond 1,000m (the midnight zone). The water is very cold (37-50oF/3-10oC) and consequently has low levels of oxygen. The pressure at a depth of … Read more
Tall Ships for Sustainability, featuring the Schooner Adventuress, explores the mission of tall ships dedicated to environmental education. From providing youth science stations to sustainably supporting a full-time crew, tall ships around the country are making a difference to conserve the marine environment.
Boat Cleaning The forgotten bottom! Probably the last thing on your mind as you enjoyed your cocktails at sunset on a warm summer evening. Once hauled out and sitting like a duck-out-of-water, cleaning is going to be one of your first tasks. Try to use natural cleaners, e.g. lime juice, borax or baking soda. If … Read more
The impacts of hurricanes on invertebrate marine life (e.g. coral reefs): Coral reefs are fragile biological structures, composed of the calcium carbonate skeletal remains of many generations of coral polyps. Corals species grow in different shapes and sizes and dominate in different areas of the reef. Corals harbor symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae, therefore they are … Read more
What is a Dead Zone? A dead zone is an area of an ocean (or lake) that has too little oxygen to support marine life; it is hypoxic. This is a natural phenomenon that has been increasing in shallow coastal and estuarine areas as a result of human activities. Why do Dead Zones Form? Eutrophication … Read more
Read an updated version of this article published February 2017: Eradicating Lionfish Unfortunate accidents in the early 90’s have led to their invasion and spread across much of the Caribbean Sea and as far north up the east coast to Rhode Island. Although, they do not live long in our cooler waters and are unable … Read more
It’s one thing to decide you want to take that step and reduce your impact, but another all together to figure out HOW to do it. What kind of a problem are we looking at anyway? It is estimated that, in the U.S. alone, we use between 30 and 50 billion disposable plastic water bottles every … Read more
Despite widespread concurrence on the subject, confusion remains, due to the fact that these gyres are not actually floating mats of garbage the size of entire states, an image fostered by some of the earlier, more publicized reports. They are, rather, concentrations of surface and sub-surface floating debris at the convergence of ocean currents. But … Read more
The treaty clearly defines its members’ rights to offshore fishing, deep sea mining and navigation, while sustaining ocean resources for future generations. The treaty also guarantees safe passage in international waters of military planes and ships for peaceable means and provides clearly defined laws for countries to follow in order to avoid international military incidents. … Read more
Though the name “king salmon” belongs to a fish from the Northwest United States, the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) once ruled the waters of Long Island Sound, stretched its influence into the rivers of Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, and was a well-known symbol of Maine’s fisheries. In the 21st century, the Atlantic salmon has … Read more
