Posts Tagged ‘fish’
5 Ways Aquarium Keepers Can Be Conservationists
From dazzling multi-story tanks in aquariums and marine labs to carefully curated displays in classrooms and private homes, fishkeeping can offer windows into the colorful and complex interrelationships under the ocean’s surface. But can captive fish be managed in a way that synchs with conservation values? Our guest blogger this week is David Thomas from Everything…
Read MoreThe Geographic Range of Sea Otters and The Future of Populations Along the California Coast
Blog by: Annette Lee, Development and Communications Intern Featured Image: Morgan Rector Brief Overview of the Sea Otter Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are a charismatic marine species that are among some of the smallest marine mammals but have a larger body size when compared to their fresh-water dwelling relatives, the river otters. Sea otters are known for their incredibly dense…
Read MoreHope on the Horizon in the High Seas
Blog by: Emily Nocito, MS – Blue Parks Intern In September 2019 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate, painting a picture of calamity on the horizon. This report, composed of over 100 scientists from 30+ countries, tackled a variety of issues…
Read MoreCan Divers be Conservationists? This SCUBA instructor is on a mission to bridge ocean protection and recreation
Blog by: Caitlin McCall, Blue Parks Ambassador Blue Parks Ambassadors are ocean champions across the world and diverse spheres who care deeply about safeguarding life in the sea. They help us build support for Blue Parks by communicating the value of these special places for revitalizing the health of the ocean. Here, ambassador Caitlin McCall…
Read MoreHow Fishing Communities Use Locally Managed Marine Areas to Combat the Effects of Climate Change
Blog by: Arianna Trapp, Blue Parks Science Intern Featured Image: Fishing in Fiji by Tom Vierus Most large, well-known marine protected areas (MPAs) are located in developed, financially stable countries where central governance and ample budgets for management are common. However, the top-down, centrally managed structure of many of these MPAs doesn’t work everywhere, particularly…
Read MoreAre Fish Aggregating Devices just a FAD?
Blog by: Lindsay Brubaker, Blue Parks Science Intern Featured Image: A view from below of a fish aggregating device (FAD). Wade Fairey Fish Aggregating Devices—called FADs—result in five times more bycatch than other fishing methods, and lost FADs become ghost gear, costing millions of dollars in cleanup efforts in fragile ecosystems. These floating ocean objects…
Read MoreFish Habitat—a Safety Net for Ocean Fisheries—Needs Stronger Protections
Guest blog: New NRDC report examines “essential fish habitat” in U.S. fisheries management. Written by Molly Masterton and Brad Sewell Featured Picture: Kelp bass swim through eelgrass habitat in the Pacific Ocean ©Adam Obaza/NOAA Fisheries West Coast From time to time, we see reports or blogs from other organizations that are so important for our marine…
Read MoreZombie Worms and Friendly Stars: How Deep-Sea Symbiosis (Friends with Benefits) Allows Species to Thrive in a Challenging Environment
Featured Image: Octopus Cluster, Davidson Seamount. Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. The deep sea is a harsh place to live. Lacking the sunlight-fueled productivity that drives shallow-water food webs, the deep sea is extremely limited by available food, leading to slow growth rates, low reproduction, and a reduced ability to recover from disturbances.…
Read MoreNorth Atlantic Right Whales Move One Step Closer to Extinction as Trump Dismantles Protections
Earlier this month, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) announced that the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) was moved from Endangered to Critically Endangered status on the IUCN Red List.[1] Less than 250 mature whales remain after a decade of continual population decline, with particularly elevated deaths since 2017. These extra…
Read MoreSafeguarding California Seamounts for Generations and Generations to Come
In episode 2 of our California Seamounts Series, viewers experience the rough topography of the seamounts and the incredible marine life that lives there. Like the Sierra Mountains, the seamounts have steep cliffs, valleys, deep gorges, and broad plateaus. These seamounts are havens for life from their base to summit. Scientists believe that seamount…
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