Posts Tagged ‘MPAs’
First Time That 50 Largest US Marine Protected Areas Assessed for Effectiveness Using Rigorous Scientific Criteria; Almost 100% of US MPA ‘Eggs’ Are in One Basket in the Central Pacific
Effective Marine Conservation in US Is Not Representative; Most Regions Have Close to Zero Area Effectively Protected [Seattle, Washington, USA, May 18, 2022] One way humanity can harness the ocean to fight climate change and reverse the ongoing crisis in biodiversity and loss of species –though not the only way- is to establish effective marine…
Read MoreNewly released MPA Guide assessments of Canadian federal MPAs published on MPAtlas.org
This week, MPAtlas history was made, as the first regional application of The MPA Guide framework was released for 18 Canadian marine protected areas. Evaluating Canadian MPAs necessitates careful consideration of important Indigenous fishing rights which are closely entwined with marine protections in Canada. Little is known about the impacts—or even the possible biodiversity benefits—of…
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 MoreBeyond Seaspiracy: here’s what we know about fishing and what you can do about it
https://marine-conservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Bottom-Trawling-Blog.mp3 From pink nigiri pressed softly atop rice, to buttery seared salmon that melts in the mouth, seafood has long been a culinary pleasure, a lauded source of protein and Omega-3 fatty acids . . . and a problematic indulgence in a world imbalanced by destructive fishing practices, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Fish farms…
Read MoreMagnetic Signatures & Singing Stages: the mysterious connection between whales, sharks, and seamounts
By Morgane Bouvet, Seamounts Intern Many of our blogs are now available for listening! Tune in weekly for the audio experience. On the bottom of the deep ocean lie seamounts, massive underwater volcanoes that are largely unexplored, and generally absent of marine protections or management. Most seamounts are located in areas beyond national jurisdiction; also…
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 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 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…
Read MoreThe Role of Marine Protected Areas in the Fight Against Climate Change
Recently, Amazon CEO and the world’s wealthiest person, Jeff Bezos, pledged $10 billion to fight climate change, which he referred to as “the biggest threat to our planet,” via the creation of the Bezos Earth Fund. The vast opportunities created by such large philanthropic initiatives prompt thoughtful deliberation about the necessary actions to minimize and…
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