Earth Day April 22nd 2018!
April 18, 2018
Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22. Worldwide, various events are held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First celebrated in 1970, Earth Day events in more than 193 countries are now coordinated globally. How can I celebrate Earth Day? Please do your part – every small action makes a difference. Be the change you…
More »Aquaculture: A Solution to Overfishing?
March 12, 2018
As the demand for seafood has increased, technology has made it possible to grow food in coastal marine waters and the open ocean. Aquaculture is a method used to produce food and other commercial products, restore habitat and replenish wild stocks, and rebuild populations of threatened and endangered species. There are two main types of…
More »Overfishing: What is Bycatch?
February 16, 2018
Bycatch is the capture of non-target species such as dolphins, whales, marine turtles, fish, and seabirds by commercial fishing. Thousands of miles of nets and lines are set in the world’s oceans each day. Modern fishing gear, often undetectable by sight and extremely strong, is very efficient at catching the desired fish species—as well as…
More »Overfishing and Coral Reefs
January 19, 2018
Coral reef ecosystems support important commercial, recreational, and subsistence fishery resources around the world. Fishing also plays a central social and cultural role in many island and coastal communities, where it is often a critical source of food and income. The impacts from unsustainable fishing on coral reef areas can lead to the depletion of…
More »Ocean Issues: Overfishing
December 17, 2017
Billions of people rely on fish for protein, and fishing is the principal livelihood for millions of people around the world. For centuries, our seas and oceans have been considered a limitless bounty of food. However, increasing fishing efforts over the last 50 years as well as unsustainable fishing practices are pushing many fish stocks…
More »Land-Based Pollution in our Oceans and How You Can Help
November 16, 2017
Many serious coral reef ecosystem stressors originate from land-based sources, most notably toxins, sediments, and nutrients. These pollutants drain from our streams and rivers and eventually drain to our oceans. The source of these pollutants often comes from hundreds of miles away inland. So even if you don’t live near the ocean your actions directly affect coral reefs! …
More »Climate Change and Coral Reefs
October 20, 2017
Climate change is an existential threat to coral reefs. Climate Change = Ocean Change.
Warming Oceans = Coral Bleaching Sea Level Rise = Smothering of Coral Changes in Storm Patterns = Destruction of Reef Structure Changes in Precipitation = Algal Blooms and Reduced Light Altered Ocean Currents = Lack of Food and Dispersal…
More »What is Coral Bleaching?
September 18, 2017
When corals are stressed by changes in conditions such as temperature, light, or nutrients, they expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn completely white. How can I help fight coral bleaching? Help reduce pollution: Fossil fuel emissions from cars and industry raise lead to ocean warming which causes mass-bleaching of corals and…
More »5 Amazing Facts About Coral Reefs
August 11, 2017
Known as “rainforests of the sea,” coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean but are home to almost 25% of all known marine species! Corals are in fact animals, not plants. Coral reefs are the largest structures on earth of biological origin. Coral reefs are naturally colorful because of algae, which lives inside of the coral,…
More »Ten Ways You Can Protect Coral Reefs
July 17, 2017
Coral reefs are under severe stress and threat from climate change. However, there are everyday things you can do to help!
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