Oceans / Public News Service

Humpback whales sometimes get tangled up in ropes from discarded crab fishing gear. (Jenn Tackaberry/Kiirsten Flynn/National Marine Fisheries Service)

Partial shutdown of crab fishing season considered to protect whales

A working group convened by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife meets today to consider a partial closure of the commercial Dungeness crab …

Atlantic herring serve as valuable bait for fishermen and lobstermen in Massachusetts, making them vital to the health of the state's blue economy, which grew 38% between 2009 and 2019. (Adobe Stock)

New England anglers seek greater protections for Atlantic herring stock

Recreational fishermen in New England say commercial trawlers are threatening the survival of smaller businesses relying on a healthy stock of Atlanti…

The Atlantic herring is one of the most important fishery resources in Maine, supplying the primary bait used in its iconic lobster industry. It is also an important forage species for seabirds, marine mammals and a variety of larger fish species, according to the Maine Department of Marine Resources. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Anglers seek trawler buffer zone as Atlantic herring stock declines

Recreational fishermen in New England say commercial trawlers are threatening the survival of smaller businesses relying on a healthy stock of Atlanti…

Many species, including sea lions, are injured or killed by set gillnets, which target halibut and white sea bass. (Robert Schwemmer/NOAA)

CA bill aims to reduce marine mammal entanglements in set gillnets

A new bill aims to reduce the number of sea lions, sharks, rays, skates and giant sea bass dying off the coast of Southern California in huge set …

Chesapeake Bay Foundation educators, with students on a field trip, explore the Susquehanna River at City Island. The Capitol building is in the background. (Chesapeake Bay Foundation)

PA students gain hands-on experience in watershed conservation

It is almost time for some Pennsylvania students to get out of the classroom and into a canoe. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Pennsylvania Rivers …

Salmon populations have dwindled in the Northwest, hurting the orcas that rely on them for food. (Stanislav/Adobe Stock)

Next steps for recovery after endangered orca decision in OR

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission has decided to list Southern Resident orcas as an endangered species. With it comes guidelines for how the …

Local and federal resources for Mainers who have been affected by the damaging storms that hit Maine on December 18, 2023, and January 10, 2024, are available through the Maine Emergency Management Agency by calling 1-800-452-8735. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Climate change, development threaten Maine’s working waterfronts

Reintroduced federal legislation aims to preserve Maine's iconic, working waterfronts still recovering from recent powerful storms. Strong winds and …

Southern Resident orcas' habitat stretches from Canada to California. (CarloEmanuele/Adobe Stock)

OR to decide on added protections for decreasing orca population

Oregon officials are considering providing additional protections to orcas in the region. The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will decide on …

The Ports for People ordinance calls for more vessels like the Maersk ship Laura, which is the first low-emissions container ship powered by methanol. (Jens Dorhn/Creative Commons)

Conservation group promotes 'Ports for People' ordinance

Groups concerned about air pollution and public health are asking the city councils of Long Beach and Los Angeles and their respective Harbor Commissi…

Since 2017, right whales have been experiencing an Unusual Mortality Event, which has resulted in more than 20 percent of the population being sick, injured, or killed. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates call for action to save endangered North Atlantic right whales

Advocates are calling for action to save the North Atlantic right whale, a critically endangered species. The Biden administration has appropriated $…

Vessel strikes can lead to slow or quick deaths for right whales. The North Atlantic right whale population has been put in grave danger from both, according to Defenders of Wildlife. (Adobe Stock)

Right whale advocates call for vessel speed limits

Wildlife advocates are calling on the Biden administration to tighten regulations protecting right whales in the North Atlantic following a series of …

Virginia lawmakers approved a bill to design a study methodology for menhaden research. It estimates the study will take several years and cost $2.6 million. (Adobe Stock)

VA General Assembly nixes menhaden study bill

Virginia's General Assembly has killed legislation to address the declining menhaden population. The tiny forage fish are an important part of the …

An octopus hides out while a squat lobster stands guard beneath a vase sponge at a recently identified reef off Santa Barbara Island. (Oceana)

CA coral reefs protected as new fishing areas reopen

Good news for fishing crews and marine conservationists: Large fishing grounds are reopening, while other areas receive new protections. Some 4,500 …

More than 250 volunteers planted 500 trees on a Pennsylvania farm, helping to reduce the effects of climate change. (Chesapeake Bay Foundation)

PA to plant 10 million trees to improve Chesapeake Bay water quality

The Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership is helping to get Pennsylvania on track for its 2025 Chesapeake Bay pollution reduction goals. So far…

In 2021, scientists determined Rice's whale was a unique species, genetically and morphologically distinct from Bryde's whales. (NOAA Fisheries)

Protecting Rice's whale, others, on 50th anniversary of Endangered Species Act

Wildlife experts are spotlighting the Rice's whale, which was classified as its own species in 2021, as one of many reasons to preserve the …

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, changing the climate is likely to increase the severity of both inland flooding and droughts. Since 1958, the amount of precipitation falling during heavy rainstorms has increased by 27% in the Southeast. (Adobe Stock)

Leaders address need for resilience planning in Georgia

Leaders across Georgia are joining forces to address the pressing need for resilience planning amid rising risks of severe storms. The Institute for …

A Spray underwater glider shortly after deployment in the Gulf Stream offshore of Miami, Fla., began one of the many glider-based surveys of the Gulf Stream completed by Associate Scientist Robert Todd's group at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution since 2015. (Robert Todd/WHOI)

Study confirms Gulf Stream warming, shifting toward Maine coast

The latest research finds the Gulf Stream has warmed faster than the global ocean over the past two decades, and has shifted toward the Atlantic …

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation's biennial State of the Bay report gave the bay's overall health a D+, the same grade it received in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Farm Bill funding impacts Chesapeake Bay conservation efforts

Virginia environmentalists are seeking Farm Bill funding to help Chesapeake Bay conservation efforts. The proposed Chesapeake Bay Conservation …

The Department of Energy is revoking $37 million previously awarded to Ohio's six-turbine Icebreaker wind project, which has been in the works since 2009. (Adobe Stock)

Michigan and Great Lakes slow offshore wind collection

Offshore wind development in the Great Lakes region has had a turbulent history and faced many challenges. Initially considered a promising location …

Eelgrass, pictured here at Joemma Beach State Park, provides food, shelter, and nursery habitat for a wide range of creatures, ranging from small invertebrates to commercially important fish species and wading birds. (WA DNR Nearshore Habitat Program)

WA kelp, eelgrass recovery plan tackles big losses in marine habitat

Bull Kelp in South and Central Puget Sound has declined more than 90% over the last 150 years - and eelgrass meadows severely declined as well…

Backers of offshore wind tout good jobs, fossil fuel independence

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy wants the state's Board of Public Utilities to initiate more bids for offshore wind projects in the New Year. The move …

An endangered Pacific leatherback sea turtle swims off San Francisco, in September 2022. (Geoff Shester/Oceana)

Endangered sea turtle killed by discarded fishing gear in CA

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife just announced a marine warden discovered an endangered Pacific leatherback sea turtle dead, drowned …

Along with flooding, Virginia is experiencing sea level rise. Between 1950 and 2023, the state has seen a 14-inch rise in sea level rise, putting 45,000 homes at risk of tidal flooding. (Adobe Stock)

Wetlands forming on VA surface mines, impacts uncertain

A recent report found wetlands forming on surface mines in Virginia can benefit the state. The wetlands form because surface mining flattens land…

Extremes of hot and cold weather have taken their toll on a concrete barrier along Binghamton's Riverwalk. Concrete crumbles between the stones of the wall in upstate New York. (Chet Wiker/Adobe Stock)

Will big oil companies cover climate change costs in NY?

Some state and local lawmakers are on a long list calling on New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to require big oil companies to help offset the costs of …

In the three decades between 1980 and 2010, Virginia's York River lost more than 20% of marsh area. By 2050, the region is projected to lose 40,000 acres to sea-level rise. (Adobe Stock)

New plan outlines ways to conserve VA’s coastal wetlands

A new plan takes an interconnected approach to saving Virginia's coastal wetlands. The aim of Virginia's York River and Small Coastal Basin …

According to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission at UNESCO, plastic waste makes up 80% of all marine pollution, and around 8 to 10 million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year. (Flockine/Pixabay)

Community activists engage in hands-on beach cleanup initiative

Olympic swimmer turned environmental activist Merle Liivand has seen a rise in plastic waste while navigating the Intracoastal canals of South Florida…

According to Pacific Environment, wind-assist propulsion can reduce greenhouse gas emissions per cargo ship by 30% over the course of a voyage. (Cargill and BAR Technologies)

Southern CA ports lead the way for 'green' shipping

The importance of making ports and shipping more environmentally friendly was the topic of a town hall meeting on Tuesday. Three California members …

More than 6,000 blue economy businesses in Massachusetts employ a total of 100,000 individuals, who earn nearly $4 billion in annual wages. (Adobe Stock)

Lawmakers, scientists advocate for MA’s 'blue economy'

Lawmakers and scientists in Massachusetts are working to bolster the state's growing "blue economy." Several pieces of legislation aim to create a "b…

Climate change with rising seas is making it more dangerous, and much more expensive, to live on the subtropical islands at the southern tip of Florida. (Stingrea1/Pixabay)

In face of rising seas, Monroe County adapts, innovates

By Steve MacLaughlin for NBC Miami.Broadcast version by Trimmel Gomes for Florida News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Publi…

Climate Change meteorologist Lauren Casey said Halloween pumpkins may rot sooner in the warm October temperature. (climatecentral.org)

Some MI families rethink their Halloween due to climate extremes

Tropical Storm Tammy has sprung back to life over the weekend, sending spooky fears of high winds for trick or treaters along the Eastern Seaboard…

Some Missourians rethink Halloween due to climate extremes

Tropical Storm Tammy has sprung back to life over the weekend, sending spooky fears of high winds for trick or treaters along the Eastern Seaboard…

Climate extremes have some OH families rethinking their Halloween

Tropical Storm Tammy has sprung back to life over the weekend, sending spooky fears of high winds for trick or treaters along the Eastern Seaboard…

The Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint has set a deadline for watershed states to have pollution-reduction practices in place by 2025. (flownaksala/AdobeStock)

Halfmoon, Pequea Creek restoration project aims to restore watershed health

Pennsylvania has received more than $3 million in federal funding for watershed restoration projects. Conservation groups say it will help the state …

A mural project celebrates the Endangered Species Act and the smalltooth sawfish. (Kelly Quinn)

Mural raises awareness for FL's smalltooth sawfish

A vibrant installation at today's SHINE St. Petersburg Mural Festival is designed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act …

Climate change board games emphasize teamwork and group success. Either all players win together, or no one survives. (pathdoc/Adobe Stock)

Climate change: Better understood through board games?

By Debra J. Rosenthal for The Conversation.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Michigan News Connection for the Public News Service-Conversation …

California sea lions off the coast of Santa Barbara. (Oceana)

Analysis: Crews only report 6% of marine mammals caught in set gillnets

A new analysis by Oceana found crews in the California set gillnet fishery have severely underreported the number of seals and sea lions caught and ki…

Climate change board games emphasize teamwork and group success. Either all players win together, or no one survives. (dvande/Adobe Stock)

Board games help players understand climate change

By Debra J. Rosenthal for The Conversation.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Missouri News Service for the Public News Service-Conversation …

The state established a 1-mile buffer zone off Elmers Island and Grand Terre Island, and a 3-mile buffer off of Grand Isle. (Adobe Stock)

Fish dumps bring calls for more regulations on commercial menhaden industry

With news of more large-scale fish dumps in coastal Louisiana waters in recent weeks, advocates are calling for more regulations on the menhaden …

Board games help players understand climate change

By Debra J. Rosenthal for The Conversation.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Ohio News Connection for the Public News Service-Conversation …

Measurements of electrical conductivity indicating elevated salinity is affecting the soil hundreds of meters from visible salt patches. (Rebecca Epanchin-Niell)

Study: Thousands of acres of MD farmland facing saltwater intrusion

Researchers have found the amount of land affected by saltwater intrusion on the Delmarva Peninsula has dramatically increased in recent years…

The Human League says factory farming causes significant damage to rural communities, surrounding environments, and the farmed animals themselves. (zhang yongxin/Adobe Stock)

Rural Advocacy Groups: Corporate Farming Infringing on MO Family Farms

Despite the goal to unite Missourians around a common cause, rural advocacy groups have been pushing the EPA for more regulation from the Clean …

Fans of Popular Movies, Books Fuel Activism

By Britny Cordera for imagine5.com.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Publ…

As part of Maine's Offshore Wind Initiative, the state will develop a Floating Offshore Wind Research Array in the Gulf of Maine to foster research into floating offshore wind and how it interacts with the marine wildlife, fishing industry, shipping and navigation routes, and more. (Adobe Stock)<br />

ME Labor Groups Applaud New Offshore Wind Energy Industry Standards

Labor advocates are hailing Maine Governor Janet Mill's signing of a landmark bill creating a new offshore wind energy industry in the state…

Salmon from the Columbia and Snake Rivers are a crucial food source for Southern Resident orcas. (RKP/Adobe Stock)

WA Orca Births Good Sign but Population Still Threatened

There's good news for orcas off Washington's coast: Two new calves have been spotted among the endangered population. However, the births also …

A pilot program is being developed for Virginia's Security Corridor with the American Forest Program to grow the Family Forest Carbon Program in the region. It would help provide capacity to private landowners to improve carbon sequestration of their forests. (Adobe Stock)

VA Joins Sentinel Landscape Partnership Program

Virginia is the 12th state to join the nationwide Sentinel Landscape Partnership, which has goals of strengthening military readiness while advancing …

Wildlife officials say whale entanglement numbers are likely much higher than recorded. (Andy-Kim M�ller/Adobe Stock)

OR Should Do More to Protect Whales from Entanglement, Group Says

A conservation group is calling on Oregon to do more to protect whales from fishing gear. Ben Enticknap, Pacific campaign manager and senior …

ME Lawmaker Seeks Solution to 'Fast Fashion' Pollution

Democratic lawmakers are asking federal investigators to study the true cost of so-called fast fashion and its contribution to climate change…

The Chesapeake Legal Alliance sued in May to challenge the Virginia Marine Resources Commission's standards on menhaden harvesting. The proposed regulations would have pushed these operations away from the shores of Chesapeake Bay in the hopes of preventing net spills. (Adobe Stock)

Industrial Menhaden Operations Harm VA Ecosystems

Virginia fishermen want action to be taken to keep industrial menhaden operations in the state in check. Menhaden are a nutrient-rich fish and a key …

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Oceans

Partial shutdown of crab fishing season considered to protect whales

New England anglers seek greater protections for Atlantic herring stock

Anglers seek trawler buffer zone as Atlantic herring stock declines

CA bill aims to reduce marine mammal entanglements in set gillnets

PA students gain hands-on experience in watershed conservation

Next steps for recovery after endangered orca decision in OR

Climate change, development threaten Maine’s working waterfronts

OR to decide on added protections for decreasing orca population

Conservation group promotes 'Ports for People' ordinance

Advocates call for action to save endangered North Atlantic right whales

Right whale advocates call for vessel speed limits

VA General Assembly nixes menhaden study bill

CA coral reefs protected as new fishing areas reopen

PA to plant 10 million trees to improve Chesapeake Bay water quality

Protecting Rice's whale, others, on 50th anniversary of Endangered Species Act

Leaders address need for resilience planning in Georgia

Study confirms Gulf Stream warming, shifting toward Maine coast

Farm Bill funding impacts Chesapeake Bay conservation efforts

Michigan and Great Lakes slow offshore wind collection

WA kelp, eelgrass recovery plan tackles big losses in marine habitat

Backers of offshore wind tout good jobs, fossil fuel independence

Endangered sea turtle killed by discarded fishing gear in CA

Wetlands forming on VA surface mines, impacts uncertain

Will big oil companies cover climate change costs in NY?

New plan outlines ways to conserve VA’s coastal wetlands

Community activists engage in hands-on beach cleanup initiative

Southern CA ports lead the way for 'green' shipping

Lawmakers, scientists advocate for MA’s 'blue economy'

In face of rising seas, Monroe County adapts, innovates

Some MI families rethink their Halloween due to climate extremes

Some Missourians rethink Halloween due to climate extremes

Climate extremes have some OH families rethinking their Halloween

Halfmoon, Pequea Creek restoration project aims to restore watershed health

Mural raises awareness for FL's smalltooth sawfish

Climate change: Better understood through board games?

Analysis: Crews only report 6% of marine mammals caught in set gillnets

Board games help players understand climate change

Fish dumps bring calls for more regulations on commercial menhaden industry

Board games help players understand climate change

Study: Thousands of acres of MD farmland facing saltwater intrusion

Rural Advocacy Groups: Corporate Farming Infringing on MO Family Farms

Fans of Popular Movies, Books Fuel Activism

ME Labor Groups Applaud New Offshore Wind Energy Industry Standards

WA Orca Births Good Sign but Population Still Threatened

VA Joins Sentinel Landscape Partnership Program

OR Should Do More to Protect Whales from Entanglement, Group Says

ME Lawmaker Seeks Solution to 'Fast Fashion' Pollution

Industrial Menhaden Operations Harm VA Ecosystems