Tag Archives: corals
Seamounts ARE Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems
The concept of a vulnerable marine ecosystem, commonly referred to by its acronym VME, in high seas marine conservation management is about a decade old. United Nations General Assembly resolution 61/105 called “upon States to take action immediately, individually and through regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, and consistent with the precautionary approach and ecosystem … Continue reading Seamounts ARE Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems
Hope Remains for Deep-Sea Ecosystems along the Atlantic Coast Despite Declining Protections
The June proposal by the New England Fisheries Management Council (NEFMC) to re-open areas to destructive fishing practices represents a serious blow to conservation efforts on the US Atlantic coast. However, hope is not lost for Atlantic deep-sea marine life, as the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council (MAFMC) has proposed to protect a large area of … Continue reading Hope Remains for Deep-Sea Ecosystems along the Atlantic Coast Despite Declining Protections
The 29th U.S. Coral Reef Task Force
Source: NOAA On Thursday, February 21, 2013 Mike Gravitz, Rachel Keylon, and I attended the 29th U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Meeting at the Department of Interior. This was an opportunity for concerned citizens and conservation groups to offer public comment on the federal government’s efforts to preserve coral reefs and their associated marine … Continue reading The 29th U.S. Coral Reef Task Force
News of Discoveries from the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster
Researchers aboard the NOAA research vessel Nancy Foster, under the direction of Dr. Sandra Brooke, Marine Conservation Institute’s Director of Coral Conservation and Dr. Steve Ross (UNCW), reported today that they have rediscovered a methane seep off America’s East Coast that has not been seen for the last 30 years! Mussels at a methane seep … Continue reading News of Discoveries from the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster
Exploring America’s Unknown Grand Canyons
For most of us, guiding the pilots of submersibles or underwater robots to explore the deep sea is something we only hope to have the chance to experience in our lifetime. For Sandra Brooke, Marine Conservation Institute’s Director of Coral Conservation, it’s a core part of her work. On August 15, Sandra set sail on … Continue reading Exploring America’s Unknown Grand Canyons
As Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Reaches Milestone, Continued Inaction Could Spell Disaster for Our Oceans
Earlier this week, we reached a troubling milestone as carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the Arctic atmosphere exceeded 400 parts per million (ppm). Increased atmospheric CO2 has a devastating effect on our ocean ecosystems. As the chief regulator of climate, the ocean acts as a “carbon sink,” absorbing more than a quarter of the CO2humans … Continue reading As Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Reaches Milestone, Continued Inaction Could Spell Disaster for Our Oceans
This Week’s News Highlights!
Here are some of the news articles that we think are interesting, intriguing, and important! Take a look at them, and tell us what you think. We want to hear from YOU! $3M center planned for Hawaiian monk seals AP (via Mercury News): A California center is planning to build a $3 million rehabilitation center … Continue reading This Week’s News Highlights!
World’s Coral Reefs Facing Serious Threats
photo credit: J Maragos, USFWS World’s Coral Reefs Facing Serious Threats A new survey of the world’s coral reefs finds that they very much in trouble. Current human activities like overfishing and pollution continue to grow as threats. Also, coral reefs’ future existence is not certain because the world’s oceans are getting warmer and more … Continue reading World’s Coral Reefs Facing Serious Threats