Tag: Ocean Conservancy

Fiji and Panama Lead Global Initiative to Protect the Ocean’s “Twilight Zone”

Stuart Mitchell

At the Our Ocean Conference last month, Fiji and Panama launched a new global commitment to protect one of the ocean’s most critical ecosystems. Spanning the area 200-1,000 meters (220-1,100 yards) beneath the ocean surface, the “twilight zone” is home to an abundance of marine life that serves a central role in the ocean’s food web and helps to regulate the world’s climate. The newly announced Mesopelagic Zone Conservation Challenge calls on countries to take concrete steps to protect the zone from emerging threats like fishing and deep sea mining…

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Planned Dismantling of Ocean Observational System is Devastating Blow to Science, American Economy and Disaster Readiness

Stuart Mitchell

The Trump administration has announced that it plans to dismantle the Ocean Observatories Initiative, a deep-ocean observation system that provides essential data to monitor coastal environments, marine ecosystems and powerful currents that shape the world’s climate. The move comes on the brink of what is expected to be one of the worst El Niño cycles in a century, which will require careful monitoring of ocean conditions to understand implications for marine wildlife, fisheries and coastal communities. Chris Robbins, Ocean Conservancy’s associate director of scientific initiatives, issued the following statement in response:…

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New Study Ranks Hawaiian Monk Seal As Marine Mammal Most at Risk of Extinction from Plastic Pollution

Stuart Mitchell

A new study released in Conservation Biology recently and co-authored by scientists at Ocean Conservancy, Arizona State University and Shaw Institute is the first to rank marine mammals based on their vulnerability to macroplastic pollution (any plastic piece larger than 5mm, roughly the width of a pencil eraser).  The study, A global ranking of the relative vulnerability of marine mammals to macroplastic pollution, found that Hawaiian monk seals, African manatees, Australian sea lions, vaquita porpoises, and Mediterranean monk seals are the five marine mammals most at risk of population declines…

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New Calculator Shows How Your Beach Cleanup Protects Wildlife

Stuart Mitchell

Ahead of Earth Month, Ocean Conservancy is launching a free, publicly available website, WildlifeImpactCalculator.org, to enable people who clean up beaches and waterways worldwide to determine how many marine animals they are helping protect with their efforts.  “Every piece of plastic cleaned up from our beaches and waterways is one less threat to the life of a marine animal,” said Ocean Conservancy’s Senior Director of Conservation Cleanups Allison Schutes. “Our calculator shows just how much of a difference a cleanup can make for these amazing creatures.” Wildlife Impact Calculator website…

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New Plastics Treaty Chief Means Negotiators ‘Can Get Back to Work’

Stuart Mitchell

On February 7, UN member states elected Julio Cordano as the next Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution chair. He replaces Luis Vayas Valdivieso (Ecuador) and will officially start his role on February 7. His first order of business will be resuming the plastic treaty negotiations, which came to a halt last year. Nicholas Mallos, vice president of Ocean Conservancy’s Ending Ocean Plastics program, issued the following statement in response: “We are encouraged by the election of the newest UN plastics treaty chair, an essential step toward reviving the stalled…

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