Oceans / Public News Service

Measurements of electrical conductivity indicating elevated salinity is affecting the soil hundreds of meters from visible salt patches. (Rebecca Epanchin-Niell)

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Study: Thousands of acres of MD farmland facing saltwater intrusion

Researchers have found the amount of land affected by saltwater intrusion on the Delmarva Peninsula has dramatically increased in recent years…

The Human League says factory farming causes significant damage to rural communities, surrounding environments, and the farmed animals themselves. (zhang yongxin/Adobe Stock)

Rural Advocacy Groups: Corporate Farming Infringing on MO Family Farms

Despite the goal to unite Missourians around a common cause, rural advocacy groups have been pushing the EPA for more regulation from the Clean …

Fans of Popular Movies, Books Fuel Activism

By Britny Cordera for imagine5.com.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Publ…

As part of Maine's Offshore Wind Initiative, the state will develop a Floating Offshore Wind Research Array in the Gulf of Maine to foster research into floating offshore wind and how it interacts with the marine wildlife, fishing industry, shipping and navigation routes, and more. (Adobe Stock)<br />

ME Labor Groups Applaud New Offshore Wind Energy Industry Standards

Labor advocates are hailing Maine Governor Janet Mill's signing of a landmark bill creating a new offshore wind energy industry in the state…

Salmon from the Columbia and Snake Rivers are a crucial food source for Southern Resident orcas. (RKP/Adobe Stock)

WA Orca Births Good Sign but Population Still Threatened

There's good news for orcas off Washington's coast: Two new calves have been spotted among the endangered population. However, the births also …

A pilot program is being developed for Virginia's Security Corridor with the American Forest Program to grow the Family Forest Carbon Program in the region. It would help provide capacity to private landowners to improve carbon sequestration of their forests. (Adobe Stock)

VA Joins Sentinel Landscape Partnership Program

Virginia is the 12th state to join the nationwide Sentinel Landscape Partnership, which has goals of strengthening military readiness while advancing …

Wildlife officials say whale entanglement numbers are likely much higher than recorded. (Andy-Kim M�ller/Adobe Stock)

OR Should Do More to Protect Whales from Entanglement, Group Says

A conservation group is calling on Oregon to do more to protect whales from fishing gear. Ben Enticknap, Pacific campaign manager and senior …

ME Lawmaker Seeks Solution to 'Fast Fashion' Pollution

Democratic lawmakers are asking federal investigators to study the true cost of so-called fast fashion and its contribution to climate change…

The Chesapeake Legal Alliance sued in May to challenge the Virginia Marine Resources Commission's standards on menhaden harvesting. The proposed regulations would have pushed these operations away from the shores of Chesapeake Bay in the hopes of preventing net spills. (Adobe Stock)

Industrial Menhaden Operations Harm VA Ecosystems

Virginia fishermen want action to be taken to keep industrial menhaden operations in the state in check. Menhaden are a nutrient-rich fish and a key …

Photographic evidence from the 1930s suggests that seagrass like that in this contemporary photo may have covered between 200,000 and 600,000 acres along the Chesapeake Bay shoreline. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Seagrass Restoration Making Progress in Chesapeake Bay

A new report found some vital improvements in the Chesapeake Bay over the last few years. The Chesapeake Bay Program reported 76,000 acres of …

People can cut down on single-use plastics by avoiding bottled soft drinks and bottled water, and bringing reusable jugs instead. (Lazyllama/Adobe Stock)<br />

This Year, Declare Your Independence from Single-Use Plastics

This Fourth of July, ocean conservation groups want Americans to declare their independence from single-use plastics. A new report, "Charting a …

The Duckabush River is cut off from nearby floodplains and wetlands by roads on the Olympic peninsula. (Washington Department of Ecology)

Orca Action Month: WA Estuary Restoration Project Helps Whale Recovery

It's Orca Action Month and a restoration project in Puget Sound will help provide more salmon to the aquatic mammals. Highway development has …

Research indicates the marshes provide an estimated protective value of more than $7,000 per acre, annually, from storm surge and flooding alone. (Davide Bonaldo/Adobe Stock)

New Plan Aims to Preserve NC Coastal Landscapes

North Carolina's 220,000 acres of salt marsh are in danger of being drowned out or washed away, but groups around the state are banning together to …

An aerial view shows the salt marsh adjacent to the runway at Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Florida. (Mark Bias)

How Salt Marshes Are Preserving Life Along FL Coast

Florida's nearly 500,000 acres of salt marshes are under threat from rising seas, polluted runoff, and an abundance of urban development that's been …

A 2022 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service assessment found that reintroduction of sea otters is biologically feasible in California, and may have significant benefits for a variety of species in the marine ecosystem. (Lilian Carswell/USFWS)

Feds Seek Public Input on Whether to Help Sea Otters Expand Range

The public can weigh in on the possibility of reintroducing sea otters to stretches of the California and Oregon coasts at a series of open houses thi…

The Yaquina Bay area is home to about 15,000 Oregonians. (Bobby Hayden)

Yaquina Bay Estuary Management Gets First Update Since 1982

The management plan for a coastal Oregon estuary is getting its first update in four decades. The public can comment on the draft of the Yaquina Bay …

Salt marshes, mangroves and seagrass beds absorb large quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it, thus decreasing the effects of global warming. (Joanne Dale/Adobe Stock)

Salt Marsh Initiative: Preserving GA's Coastal Landscapes

Georgia's nearly 370,000 acres of salt marshes are in danger, due to rising sea levels and levels of development that conservation groups say are …

Researchers reported coal-tar sealant runoff is lethal to juvenile Coho salmon and causes a wide spectrum of abnormalities in zebrafish embryos. (B.J. Small/Chesapeake Bay Foundation)

Some Driveway Sealants Have Health, Environment Risks

Sealing driveways and parking lots may seem like routine maintenance for homeowners, but recent studies raise concerns about the potential health …

Barry Walton, a Ph.D. student at Florida State University, is studying how two popular recreational fish species, red drum and spotted seatrout, share resources in the Apalachicola Bay System. (Barry Walton)

FL Research Highlights Importance of Fish Communities, Environment

Two Florida graduate students are part of a Forage Fish Research Program. They are looking at how altering water flows in coastal estuaries affect …

Oyster reefs provide habitat for hundreds of species, including mussels, barnacles and sea anemones, which settle on reefs and provide food for many other species. Crabs and fish also hide from predators within reef crevices. (Adobe Stock)

Oyster Reef Restoration Benefits Farmers, Coastal Communities

By Lynn Fantom for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for New Hampshire News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Pub…

A 2019 report from the New York State Comptroller's Office found almost 85% of green jobs were in increased demand. A 2022 report found there are 35,700 workers in New Jersey's green economy. (Adobe Stock)

NY/NJ Offshore Wind Farms Grow Job Opportunities

Offshore wind in New York and New Jersey is becoming a large contributor to job growth. New York's offshore wind investments are slated to create …

Wet Spring Soaks Iowa Drought

For the first time in nearly three years, the widespread drought that has had Iowa in its grip is predicted to end. The latest drought outlook says …

Cape Foulweather is in Lincoln County south of Depoe Bay. (Mitch Meseke-Wirestock Creators/Adobe Stock)

OR Coast Conservation Areas Opportunity for 'Bottom Up' Management

Locals will help steward two iconic locations on Oregon's coast. The Cape Foulweather Complex and Cape Lookout Marine Conservation areas were …

Volunteers with the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary place numbered tags on freshwater mussels so they can be tracked in the Delaware River. (Photo courtesy Partnership for the Delaware Estuary)

Restoring Freshwater Mussels to Improve Delaware River

By Katherine Rapin for Yale Environment 360.Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Keystone State News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journal…

A new law in Washington state creates a single buffer zone around orcas of 1,000 yards for small vessels. (Scott Bufkin/Adobe Stock)

WA Lawmakers Pass Legislative Wins for Ocean, Marine Wildlife

Advocates for ocean wildlife are touting wins from Olympia this legislative session. Nora Nickum - senior ocean policy manager with the Seattle …

The Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint calls for Pennsylvania to reduce nitrogen runoff by 40% by 2025. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Agrees to Settlement in Chesapeake Bay Pollution Lawsuit

The Environmental Protection Agency has reached a tentative settlement in a lawsuit over the agency's failure to make Pennsylvania abide by the same c…

The bat ray is one of the species often caught, killed and thrown overboard as bycatch by fishing crews using gillnets. (Jami Feldman/Underwater Paparazzi)

CA Considers Regulating “Wasteful” Set Gillnet Fishing Offshore

Massive mile-long gillnets weighted to the seafloor three miles off the California coast are set to catch halibut or sea bass - but end up entangling …

William Toney is a fourth-generation fishing guide and Homosassa native who lobbied local and state elected officials to protect the Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve. (Charlie Shoemaker/The Pew Charitable Trusts)

Grassroots Effort Protects Gulf of Mexico’s Largest Seagrass Bed

Florida's newest aquatic preserve is officially set to move forward, with a management plan aimed at protecting some 350,000 acres of sea grass…

Student leaders learn about the estuary near Morro Rock, which is part of the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. (Kai Monge)

Latino Advocacy Week Promotes Environmental Justice

This week, Hispanic environmental advocates are heading to Washington, D.C., from around the country to engage lawmakers on issues affecting us all…

Kelp beds in Puget Sound are important habitat for marine life. (knelson20/Adobe Stock)

WA DNR Seeks Input on Kelp, Eelgrass Conservation

Kelp and eelgrass are in trouble, and Washington state wants help from the public identifying where these marine plant species should be saved…

Almost 95% of the 51 million tons of wrappers, bottles and bags discarded by Americans in 2021 ended up in landfills, according to research conducted by Greenpeace in 2022. (patpitchaya/Adobe Stock)

New Mexico May Be Next State to Ban Plastic Shopping Bags

New Mexico may be the next state to ban plastic shopping bags. Both supporters and detractors addressed a legislative committee this week about why …

Whale-watching vehicles in Puget Sound are required to stay 1,000 yards away from Southern Resident orcas. (ronnybas/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill Supports Orcas' Need for More Space from Boaters

Whales are disturbed by vessel noise, but a measure in Olympia would provide a greater buffer for the endangered orcas in Puget Sound. The …

As of late 2022, there were more than 40,083 megawatts of offshore wind projects in various stages of development. (Ian Dyball/Adobe Stock)

NY/NJ Offshore Wind Farms Hit by Misinformation

Misinformation about the effects of offshore wind turbines on marine life could derail offshore wind farm projects in New York and New Jersey…

The San Francisco-San Joaquin Delta is the heart of California's water system. (Steve Martarano/USFWS)

Conservation Groups Criticize State Water Board's Side Deals for Delta Water

The State Water Board now says it will take another two years to finalize the San Francisco-San Joaquin Delta water management plan, and it is …

Today, 10% of land area on Earth is covered with glacial ice, including glaciers, ice caps and the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica. These glacierized areas cover nearly 6 million square miles. (Adobe Stock)

UNE Researcher: Most Glaciers Gone by 2100

A study co-authored by a University of New England researcher finds the majority of the world's glaciers could disappear by the end of the century…

The Susquehanna River begins in upstate New York and flows 284 miles through Pennsylvania, before reaching Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay. (Christian Hinkle/Adobe Stock)

Report: PA Actions Key to Chesapeake Bay Restoration

A new report says there's hope for restoring the Chesapeake Bay - if Pennsylvania does more to meet its clean-water commitments. The 2022 State of …

According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, five species of sea turtles are found on the Georgia coast, but only the loggerhead nests regularly on Jekyll, Ossabaw, Sapelo, Sea and other barrier islands. (JEANNE/Adobe Stock)

GA Group Challenges Elimination of Coastal Dredging Protections

The new year brings a new legal challenge to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, asking it to reconsider its decision to dredge year-round on the …

According to a report, New York has the potential to generate 295.2 terawatt hours of electricity from offshore wind. A terawatt is a unit of power equivalent to one trillion watts. (Adobe Stock)">

NY Offshore-Wind Experts Look Ahead to 2023

New York has seen growth in offshore wind investments, which advocates hope will continue into the new year. In 2022, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a $…

Some 80% of lobster in the U.S. come from Maine's adjacent waters while the lobster industry is estimated to create over 35,000 jobs in addition to state licensed lobstermen, lobster dealers and processors, and seasonal restaurant workers. (Adobe Stock)

U of Maine Lobster Study Aims to Protect State’s Vital Fishing Industry

Researchers at the University of Maine are studying how warming Arctic waters flowing into the Gulf of Maine are affecting the region's lobster popula…

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee established the Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery Task Force in 2018. (Scott Bufkin/Adobe Stock)

Ships Slow Down for Puget 'Quiet Sound' Program to Aid Orcas

Ships are getting on board with a program to make Puget Sound quieter for the region's endangered orca population. Sixty-one percent of vessels …

This offshore floating wind turbine was the first of its kind in the country to provide power to the grid. (University of Maine)

Offshore Wind Leases Kick Off Race to Build Renewable Energy of the Future

California's first-ever auction for offshore wind leases just brought in more than $757 million in bids. The Department of the Interior announced …

According to the Connecticut Audubon Society, American oystercatchers are making a strong comeback in the state. In the 2022 breeding season, they produced 61 fledglings, the highest number recorded since 2012. (Adobe Stock)

New CT Audubon Society Report Showcases Conservation

As its 125th anniversary nears, the Connecticut Audubon Society has released a report detailing the effectiveness of conservation efforts in the …

The City of Corpus Christi says seawater desalination plants would create a new water source with a low impact to ratepayers, but a lawsuit and the EPA could be obstacles to getting them built. (wikipedia)

Groups Charge Desalination Plants Are Wrong for Corpus Christi

A Texas environmental group is sounding the alarm about seawater desalination plants proposed for Corpus Christi Bay, warning they could have …

A new report showed fully funding the pollution-reduction efforts needed to restore the bay would add $655 million annually to the regional economy. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Maryland Could See Economic Benefit from Farm Conservation Practices

A new study out this week reports Maryland could realize economic benefits from agricultural conservation efforts in the Chesapeake Bay region…

Wildlife populations across the world declined an average of 69% between 1970 and 2018, according to the 2020 World Wildlife Fund. (Geschenkpanda/Pixabay)

Report: Declining Wildlife Suggests Planet's Deteriorating Health

The world's wildlife populations are dwindling, according to a new survey, which encourages urgent action to reverse the loss. Dr. Rebecca Shaw…

Two major rivers in Pennsylvania are part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: the Susquehanna, with a watershed of 21,000 square miles, and the Potomac, with 1,600 square miles. (Michael/Adobe Stock)

Report: PA Lags in Chesapeake Bay Restoration Goals

The Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint has deadlines for Pennsylvania, and other states in the watershed, to implement practices to reduce water-…

The state of Massachusetts is soliciting proposals for 5,600 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2027, a vast increase from the 1,600 megawatt goal in the 2016 Act to Promote Energy Diversity.(Adobe Stock)

MA Working Through Fishing Industry Concerns About Offshore Wind

With many states working on becoming more carbon-neutral, Massachusetts is looking to offshore wind for its sustainable future. According to a 2021 …

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Biden Administration's goal of 30,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy could create more than 77,000 jobs nationwide. (Adobe Stock)

Elected Officials Seeking More Offshore Wind Farms

Offshore wind is becoming an increasingly popular way for coastal communities to hit their carbon-neutral goals. According to a report from the U.S…

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Oceans