2014 - Page 2 of 51 - Oceana USA

Act: GrubHub, Take Shark Fin Off the Menu!

Shark and ocean lovers may want to think twice the next time they sit down with their computers or smartphones to order some takeout—shark fin could be on the menu. Every day, thousands of people in more than 600 cities order food from tens of thousands of restaurants on GrubHub and its subsidiaries—Seamless, All Menus, … Read more

Video: Drone Captures Amazing Humpback Whale Feeding Event on Camera

Apart from their massive size, humpback whales are most known for their extensive, complex “songs” that male humpbacks use for communication. But, humpback whales also have some fascinating feeding behaviors that are also worthy of attention—particularly bubble-netting. This form of feeding behavior occurs when groups of about four to twenty humpback whales concentrate their prey—like … Read more

Ocean Roundup: Deep Sea Sediments Act as Microplastic Sinks, Risso’s Dolphins Stranding in High Numbers, and More

– A federal report released this week found that temperatures in the Arctic are warming at twice the rate of those in lower latitudes. The report also discussed how these temperature and sea ice changes are negatively impacting polar bear populations and fish migrations. The Washington Post – An underwater robot, the Nereid, is helping … Read more

Ocean Roundup: Humpback Whales Communicate to Feed at Night, Bangladesh Oil Spill Threatening Sundarbans Mangroves, and More

– European Union fishery ministers reached agreements on commercial catch regulations for 2015, allowing for increased catches in cod, prawns, plaice, haddock, and more in certain areas. Many conservationists are criticizing the decision, saying it defied scientific advice to decrease many of these catches. The Guardian – An oil spill that occurred last week in … Read more

Presidential Task Force Releases Bold Recommendations for Tackling Seafood Fraud and Illegal Fishing

Today, President Obama’s Task Force on Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing and Seafood Fraud delivered its first recommendations for tackling this issue, which included domestic and international measures to help ensure that seafood sold in the United States is safe, legally caught, and honestly labeled.  Oceana commends the recommendations and says they are … Read more

Ocean Roundup: Task Force Releases Recommendations on Seafood Fraud, Sea Otters Critical to Healthy Marshes, and More

– Today, President Obama’s designated Task Force on tackling seafood fraud released  their first set of recommendations for eliminating the issue. While many conservationists are hailing the recommendations—such as instilling better enforcement and encouraging collaboration among organizations—as a positive first step, they say there is still much work to be done. National Geographic – After … Read more

Western Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Gain New Protections

Western Atlantic bluefin tuna are sleek, torpedo-like fish that can power through the ocean’s depths at over 40 miles per hour. They’re top ocean predators, preying on mackerel, herring, squid, eels, and crustaceans, but they’re also some of the most coveted fish in the world. In fact, western Atlantic bluefin tuna have declined by more than 80 percent … Read more

Ocean Roundup: Filefish Use Chemical Scent to Camouflage, Bangladesh Oil Spill Threatening Endangered Dolphins, and More

– Nicaragua’s Pearl Cays region has seen a large increase in hawksbill sea turtle nests since 2000, from about 154 nests in 2000 to 468 in 2014. Poaching has also significantly decreased in the area by about 80 percent. ScienceDaily – A new study found that Orange-spotted filefish have more than one trick up their … Read more

Recent Baltimore Sun Articles Highlight Issues with Federal Seafood Fraud Enforcement

The chances are that you’ve eaten seafood sometime recently—whether that be a fish fillet burger, a shrimp cocktail, sushi, or more. But, the seafood you consumed may not be what you think it is—and could be another species, or farmed when it was labeled as wild. This concept, known as seafood fraud, is widespread across … Read more

Ocean Roundup: UN Urges Mangrove Protection, Warming Pacific Waters Could Unlock Layer of Methane, and More

– Authorities are concerned that oil from a two-mile long oil slick in New Jersey’s Sandy Hook Bay could threaten an endangered population of seals that migrate through the area each winter. Officials are still investigating the cause of the spill. NBC – At the UN climate talks this week, experts discussed the benefits of … Read more