Oceans / Public News Service

Apalachicola Bay used to be the historic epicenter of the U.S. oyster industry, once producing 90% of Florida's oysters and 10% of the nation's supply. (Margaret Burlingham/Adobe Stock)

Friday, June 20, 2025

FL shellfish industry, communities push governor to ban Apalachicola drilling

A critical decision now rests with Gov. Ron DeSantis, as Florida coastal communities and shellfish farmers urge him to sign a bill permanently …

Shipping pollution also contributes to cardiovascular health issues and cancer in port communities. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, June 19, 2025

Advocate: Shore powered cargo ships help ocean, port community health

June is World Oceans Month, and advocates are warning that industrial shipping pollution hurts both oceans and port communities. At least 31 …

The Kickapoo River carries water to the Gulf of Mexico where contaminants like manure contribute to an oxygen-depleted area known as the

8-mile manure spill in Monroe County kills hundreds of fish

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service …

Sensitive areas such as San Diego's Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve are experiencing impacts from degraded water quality and sea level rise. (Nancy D. Regan/Flickr)

CA Ocean Protection Council adopts roadmap to protect 30% of waters by 2030

California took a big step Tuesday toward the goal of conserving 30% of land and waters by 2030. The Ocean Protection Council adopted a roadmap to …

Researchers estimate only one in 1,000 sea turtles reaches adulthood. (Adobe Stock)

Expert: Sea turtles in VA threatened by human activity

As World Sea Turtle Day approaches on Monday, an expert explains threats to sea turtles and their ecological importance along the coasts of the …

Compostable packaging made from seaweed or food waste is a more sustainable alternative to plastic wrappers and foam. (Sway)

CA makers of compostable packaging call for state, federal policy changes

California companies making compostable packaging materials said their products could make a huge dent in the problem of plastic pollution but only wi…

The E-Wolf is the state's first zero-emission ferry, operating out of San Diego. (Pacific Environment)

During World Oceans Month, California leads the way in clean shipping

June is World Oceans Month and California environmental groups are highlighting advances in zero-emission shipping. International shipping emits …

A study of living shorelines along Florida's Cedar Key found they reduced wave energy by 33% to 79% in typical conditions and by up to 28% during hurricanes, consistently outperforming armored shorelines. (Adobe Stock)

Study shows 'living shorelines' provide better protection from major storms

Research indicates living shorelines are more effective at protecting Florida's fragile coastal areas from the wave action of hurricanes and other maj…

Research indicates between 2003 and 2018, almost 90% of right whale deaths were due to vessel strikes and fishing gear entanglement. (Adobe Stock)

North Atlantic right whale highlighted on Endangered Species Day

Friday is Endangered Species Day and experts are reminding Rhode Islanders of the plight of the North Atlantic right whale. Right whales' habitat is …

Commercial fishing has become a $229 billion industry, with between 1.1 trillion and 2.2 trillion fish caught every year. (Wakr10/Adobe Stock)

Overfishing harms the environment: Is there a way out?

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabor…

The Trump administration is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a ruling ordering the rehiring of thousands of federal workers, including in the Environmental Protection Agency. (Adobe Stock)

EPA workers in Chicago protest cuts to agency

Nearly 100 probationary workers for the Environmental Protection Agency in Chicago have had their jobs cut and then reinstated in the last month…

Kayaker and artist Gabe Newton will show his artwork depicting the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales at

Coalition plans legislative push to support Columbia Basin Restoration

A coalition of conservationists and tribal nations is pushing for support of the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative by state officials in Olympia…

Plaintiffs in a pair of new lawsuits against the Trump administration noted leaders in both political parties, thousands of businesses and millions of Americans support permanently protecting our coasts from offshore drilling. (paxphongtrinh/Adobe Stock)

Trump administration faces lawsuits over oil and gas drilling

Several environmental groups concerned about increased offshore drilling have a filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The suit …

In January, President Joe Biden permanently protected more than 625 million acres of federal waters, including areas in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific and Alaska. (JT Jeeraphun/Adobe Stock)

Environmental groups challenge offshore protection rollbacks in AL, U.S.

Environmental groups are suing to stop plans to expand offshore drilling across 625 million acres of federal waters. Advocates argue President …

After years of collaboration among conservationists, scientists and policymakers, the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act was signed into law on June 29, 2021, with unanimous bipartisan support from the Florida Legislature. (Adobe Stock)

Protecting Florida’s Ocala-to-Osceola wildlife corridor

A 1,086-acre property in Putnam County has been secured as part of the ongoing effort to protect the Ocala to Osceola Wildlife Corridor, a critical …

There are currently 23 oil and gas facilities in federal waters off the coast of California, including one near Santa Barbara. (Oceana)

Conservation groups sue feds to protect coast from offshore drilling

A coalition of environmental groups is suing the Trump administration to reinstate protections against new offshore drilling. President Donald Trump …

An attempt to open up the Arctic and Atlantic oceans to drilling was blocked by environmental groups during Donald Trump's first term as president. (paxphongtrinh/Adobe Stock)

Lawsuit aims to block Trump's plans for offshore drilling in WA

Environmental groups have sued to block President Donald Trump's offshore drilling plans following his order to open the entire West Coast, including …

Under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, President Joe Biden withdrew specific offshore areas from oil and gas leasing. (Adobe Stock)

Environmental groups sue Trump administration over offshore drilling policy

A coalition of environmental groups has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging its revocation of President Joe Biden's …

President Joe Biden used the authority granted by the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to withdraw specific offshore areas from oil and gas leasing. (wasi1370/Pixabay)

Trump administration sued over offshore drilling policy

A coalition has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration after it revoked protections for 625 million acres of federal waters…

Southern sea otters only inhabit about 13% of their former range and remain absent from the Oregon coast. (Dhayes/Adobe Stock)

Grant helps tribes, nonprofits plan to expand range of sea otters

The push to reintroduce southern sea otters to greater sections of the California and Oregon coast is getting a big boost from a $1.56 million grant f…

Farmed seafood products make up half of the world's seafood supply, but U.S. production lags, leading to a $16.9 billion seafood deficit in the United States in 2020, according to NOAA. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Industrial aquaculture poised to grow under second Trump administration

The Trump administration aims to increase domestic seafood production through industrial aquaculture but opponents said it puts Maine's coastal commun…

Researchers from the Center for a Livable Future at Maryland's Johns Hopkins University looked at fisheries in Alaska, Norway and Vietnam to explore sustainable practices for fish byproducts. (Adobe Stock)

Leftover fish parts could help keep industrial fishing waste low

About 20% of fish caught in the wild are not used to feed people across the world but a recent study found the unused portions of fish prepared for th…

Menhaden are a critical part of the diet of ospreys in the Chesapeake Bay region. A study showed when menhaden stocks are low, osprey chicks have a diminished chance of surviving to adulthood. (Adobe Stock)

Conservationists: Study of Atlantic menhaden critical to preserving species

A small forage fish near the bottom of the food chain has a significant effect on the survival of several iconic predators along the Atlantic Seaboard…

Osprey, bluefish, red drum and cobia rely on menhaden populations for food. (Adobe Stock)

MD menhaden conservation may benefit from VA bill

Atlantic menhaden weigh less than a pound and measure little more than a foot long but the small fish has big consequences for the Chesapeake Bay ecos…

The Outer Banks is a 200-mile stretch of barrier islands spanning three counties. (oldmn/Adobe Stock)

Outer Banks officials want to make tourism more sustainable

By Taylor Haelterman for Triple Pundit.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for North Carolina News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Netw…

Omega Protein, a Canadian company, removes an estimated 100 million Atlantic menhaden from the Chesapeake Bay each year. (Adobe Stock)

VA advocates push for study on Chesapeake menhaden

A critical fish species in the Chesapeake Bay, the Atlantic menhaden, could be declining rapidly. Or its numbers could be growing. There is no data …

No current offshore oil and gas drilling leases were affected by outgoing President Joe Biden's order to restrict new drilling, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior. (Garth Weals / Wikimedia Commons)

VA coastline protections: Are they safe in the Trump era?

Days before the end of his term, President Joe Biden announced sweeping protections for the nation's coastlines but President Donald Trump has …

Are MD coastline protections safe in the Trump era?

Days before the end of his term, President Joe Biden announced sweeping protections for the nation's coastlines. President Donald Trump has vowed …

Opponents of genetically engineered fish say if they escaped into the wild, they could bring disease and competition to the 25% of freshwater fish, including Atlantic salmon, already at risk of extinction. (Adobe Stock)

MA company ends production of genetically modified Atlantic salmon

Conservation groups are celebrating the end of a Massachusetts-based biotech company's pursuit of bringing genetically altered Atlantic salmon to mark…

According to ClimateCheck, heat risks are highest in Montgomery and lowest in Florence, while precipitation risks peak in Decatur and are lowest in Dothan. Birmingham faces the highest drought risk; Montgomery the lowest. (Adobe Stock)

How Alabama employees can drive climate action in 2025

By Ethan Brown for The Sweaty Penguin.Broadcast version by Shanteya Hudson for Alabama News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Pub…

The oysters planted by the foundation will filter more than 5 million gallons of water each day. (Adobe Stock)

Oyster outlook: Thousands grown in Chesapeake Bay this year

Chesapeake Bay has added more than six billion oysters since 2017 through the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance. And last year, the Chesapeake Bay …

The estimated carbon footprint of a week-long cruise is eight times higher than that of a land-based vacation, according to Friends of the Earth. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Cruise ships in Maine ports get failing environmental grade

A recent report gives the majority of cruise ships anchoring in Maine ports a failing environmental grade. The Cruise Ship Report Card from Friends …

Opah are often caught as incidental catch alongside tuna. (NOAA/Flickr)

When bycatch is on the menu

By Leilani Marie Labong for FoodPrint.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the FoodPrint-Public News Service …

Offshore wind energy in the Gulf of Maine has the potential to generate up to 156 gigawatts of power, which is more than 70 times the amount of electricity used by the entire state, according to Maine Audubon. (Adobe Stock)

Reports show ME clean energy projects can include wildlife protections

Wildlife advocates say it's possible to transition to renewable energy while protecting vital habitats and species. As Maine builds out its …

The impacts of offshore transmission on the seabed can be mitigated with micrositing and proactive planning, which is critical for protecting ocean species, according to a report from the National Wildlife Federation. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Federal regulators urged to consider wildlife in MA transmission plans

Wildlife advocates want federal regulators to consider habitats and migratory routes, when planning new transmission infrastructure in Massachusetts …

Since colonial times, settlers along the coast cut perennial marsh grasses into what they called salt hay. (Naya Na / Adobe Stock)

As saltwater encroaches on farms, solutions emerge from marshes

By Lisa Held for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for New Jersey News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News S…

Offshore wind turbines such as these in Maine are currently in the planning stages at sites off of the coast of Morro Bay and Humboldt. (Jack Shapiro/Natural Resources Council of Maine)

Reports: Transmission grid plans must take wildlife into account

The power grid will need to be dramatically upgraded and expanded in the coming years to handle the transition to renewable energy - and two new repor…

Florida manatees are found throughout coastal Florida and prefer waters above 70 degrees F. in temperature. (NOAA)

New push for protection for manatees, Florida’s 'gentle giants'

With manatee season in full swing, Florida's gentle marine mammals gather in warm waters to escape winter's chill. But these iconic creatures face …

Florida has numerous permitted oil and gas wells, but conservation groups, local leaders and public members oppose a proposed oil drilling project near the Apalachicola River for potential risks to the Apalachicola Bay ecosystem. (Pixabay)

Apalachicola River oil drilling proposal roils the water

A controversial oil drilling proposal near Florida's Apalachicola River is drawing sharp criticism ahead of a key administrative hearing next week…

A new study examined the true sustainability of fish farming. (Lilly Agustina/Act For Farmed Animals/We Animals)

Study: Fish farms consume far more wild fish than previously thought

By Sophie Kevany for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabora…

According to the Florida Department of Agriculture, Florida ranks 15th among states in the number of farms, and 29th for the amount of land farmed in the state. (Adobe Stock)

Farmers, aquaculturists unite to protect Florida's land, water

For decades, Florida's upstream farmers and downstream aquaculturists have been at odds over water quality and environmental impacts. Now, the new …

A 2020 estimate found the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico caused up to $2.4 billion in damages to fisheries and marine habitats each year since 1980. (Adobe Stock)

Growing Gulf 'dead zone' may affect shrimp harvest

Scientists are sounding the alarm about growing dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico and beyond. Dead zones are areas of water with hypoxia, or …

At Ocean Rainforest's Santa Barbara research farm, giant kelp grows at different depths on horizontal lines strung between buoys. (Ocean Rainforest)

Seaweed farming works toward a greener future

By Alexandra Talty for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Publi…

The Maine lobster industry employs nearly 6,000 independent lobster workers, harvesting roughly 100 million pounds of the iconic crustacean, according to the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative. (Adobe Stock) <br />

ME lobsters change habitats as climate change warms Atlantic

American lobsters along Maine's coast are relocating to new habitats as the Atlantic continues to warm. Researchers with the University of Maine …

In 2023, Shore to Shell recycled more than 72,000 pounds of oyster shells. (Adobe Stock)

GA oyster shell recycling turns restaurant waste into coastal protection

By Isabelle Atkins for Grady Newsource.Broadcast version by Shanteya Hudson for Georgia News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network…

Countries like Chile are major exporters of farmed salmon. (Ludmila/Adobe Stock)

National Seafood Month: Fish farming crowds out wild salmon

October is National Seafood Month and the fish on your plate might not be coming from where you think. The U.S. imports 90% of the seafood it …

Contents of a net fished in the North Atlantic mesopelagic are being sorted onboard the RV Celtic Explorer. (HulloThere/Wikimedia Commons)

A call for moratorium on catching deep-sea mesopelagic fish

By Shi En Kim for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboratio…

Their distinctive fins make oceanic whitetip Sharks especially desirable in the international shark fin trade. Fishermen often cut off the fins and sell them. (ThomasEhrensperger/WikiCommons)

Debunking the horror: To oceans, sharks are vital, not villains

As Halloween approaches, a spooky campaign aims to clear up the common misunderstandings about some of nature's most feared creatures. In …

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Oceans