Blog
Calling on Marine Scientists to Support Protecting at least 30% of the Ocean by 2030 (30×30)
By Lance Morgan, President at Marine Conservation Institute There is growing scientific evidence and support for protecting at least 30% of the planet. The 2019 report from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) highlights the dire future of biodiversity on our planet if we do not act decisively now. Seagrass beds,…
Read MoreExplore California’s Seamounts Using Our Interactive Story Map
By Samuel Georgian, Marine Biogeographer at Marine Conservation Institute We invite you to take a trip with us to the unusual, deep underwater mountains off California’s coasts called seamounts. You will tour the California Seamounts, as they are called, using a Story Map (from Esri) that allows viewers to take a virtual, interactive look at a…
Read MorePerverse Incentives
By Sebastian Nicholls, Blue Parks Ambassador. This year, the global community faces a deadline to correct a perverse dynamic in an industry that reaches into the world’s most remote and untouched frontiers—the far reaches of the ocean. Fishing subsidies that benefit the largest ships, fleets and companies are leaving the livelihoods and food security…
Read MoreAnnouncing our first-ever Ocean Photo Contest!
For the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, we’re celebrating our blue planet through a contest that highlights people’s connections to, and experiences of, the ocean, the blue heart of our planet. Marine Conservation Institute invites you to enter our Ocean Photo Contest to celebrate our deep connection to our blue planet! When Earth Day…
Read MoreMeet our 2020 Blue Park Award nominees, and help us evaluate them!
By Alyssa Tylor, Marine Conservation Institute Blue Parks Intern. Do you need some positive news? We realize your primary focus these days is the health and safety of yourself and your loved ones in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and our goal is not to diminish those concerns. But if a little ocean…
Read MoreThe Seychelles’ Giant Step in Ocean Conservation: A Cautious Hope for the Ocean
By Sebastian Nicholls, Blue Parks Ambassador. On March 26th, President Danny Faure of the Republic of Seychelles formalized a marine spatial plan for the entire exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Seychelles, touting “the legal designation of one-third of [the Seychelles’] ocean territory, as a marine protected area.”[1] As governments work to make good on…
Read MoreMystery in The Deep: How Models Can Help Us Understand the Full Impact of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Featured Picture: A host of squat lobsters and brittle stars adorn a large pair of Paramuricea corals at a depth of 3,200 feet in the Gulf of Mexico. Photo courtesy of Ocean Exploration Trust and ECOGIG. By Samuel Georgian, Marine Biogeographer at Marine Conservation Institute Given the depth of the spill, it should not be surprising…
Read MoreWho Needs the Deep-Sea, Anyway?
Featured Picture: Life is both weird and beautiful in the deep ocean. Here, a Schaefer’s Anglerfish (Sladenia shaefersi) uses modified fins to walk along the seafloor in search of prey. Photo courtesy of NOAA. By Samuel Georgian, Marine Biogeographer at Marine Conservation Institute The deep sea is so remote that many people are completely unaware of…
Read MoreFun Online Ocean Activities while Staying Home
Like you, many of our staff are sheltering at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We sincerely hope that you and your loved ones stay healthy! While we all deal with these very challenging times, we asked our staff to recommend ocean related activities that everyone in the house can participate in. Whether…
Read MoreMalpelo: A Blue Park Exploding with Life
Featured Picture: Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary. Photo courtesy of Ramón Pulido. By Sebastian Nicholls, Blue Parks Ambassador. Surrounded by mangroves that grow on low-lying islands and the mainland coast, the Port of Buenaventura bustles with activity—it’s a gateway to that largest of oceans, the Pacific, and the diverse wildlife that calls the Colombian Pacific…
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