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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…

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Newly 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…

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The 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…

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Hope 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…

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Can 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…

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International Climate Organization’s Stark Warnings Require Urgent Action

The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report builds on 30 years of warnings from climate and marine scientists who conclude that the ocean is beginning to crumble under an onslaught of needless stressors from overfishing to pollution, compounded by climate breakdown. The atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere (the ice-covered areas of the planet) and biosphere…

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How 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…

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Are 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…

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Scientists call partially protected areas the “Red Herrings” of marine conservation

New Studies Explore the Effectiveness, or rather Ineffectiveness, of Partially Protected Marine Areas By Eleri Griffiths, Blue Parks Intern Marine protected areas (MPAs) are vital tools for protecting, conserving, and restoring marine ecosystems. Leading experts in marine science and conservation across the globe are advocating for protection of 30% of the global ocean by 2030…

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