2013 - Oceana

Andrew Sharpless Speaks at the New England Aquarium

Last month, Oceana CEO Andy Sharpless visited the New England Aquarium to talk about his new book, The Perfect Protein: A Fish Lover’s Guide to Saving the Oceans and Feeding the World. Co-authored with Suzannah Evans, the book explains how seafood will be key to solving the coming global hunger crisis. Wild fish populations in decline because of … Read more

Gulf Dolphins Are Still Sick After the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

This morning NOAA released a report from its dolphin health assessment following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Their investigation shows the effects of the spill on dolphins in Barataria Bay, including a higher prevalence of lung disease and adrenal effects. One of the worst sights I’ve ever seen was the Gulf Oil Spill, but the … Read more

CEO Note: Conservation Needs Strong International Trade Laws

Conservation is an international challenge, especially when it comes to our oceans. Earlier this month the presidents and CEOs of 24 leading conservation organizations, including Oceana, send a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman urging him to incorporate fisheries subsidies reform into the Trans-Pacific Partnership. I partnered with actor and ocean activist Ted Danson … Read more

Rashida Jones Talks Up Oceana and Belize on Jimmy Fallon

Last week, Oceana traveled to Belize with actresses Rashida Jones and Angela Kinsey. They spent four days visiting the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef in the entire western hemisphere, and learning about ocean conservation in Belize. After returning from the trip, Jones talked about Oceana and her experience snorkeling with nurse sharks on … Read more

CEO Note: NOAA Could Undermine State Shark Fin Bans

You might not have heard, but sharks are in trouble from an unlikely source—our own federal government. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the government agency tasked with managing our nation’s fisheries, is taking steps to undermine state laws that protect sharks. Recently I partnered with actor and activist January Jones to write an editorial … Read more

CEO Note: Don’t Ignore the Science

Last month, the International Whaling Commission released a report that, for the very first time, established a firm connection between a sonar mapping tool used for offshore oil and gas exploration and the deaths of marine animals. In 2008, about 100 “melon-headed whales” stranded in a shallow lagoon in northwestern Madagascar. Despite their name, melon-headed whales are actually … Read more

Oceana Pacific Expedition Featured on Portland News

On our recent Pacific expedition, Oceana took a camera where none has gone before — to the ocean depths off the Oregon coast. Our Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) captured rare seafloor habitat — tiny rockfish hiding in barrel sponges, corals, and giant glass sponges up to two hundred years old. The footage surprised even the … Read more

Pacific Expedition Featured on Local Oregon News

Great news from our Pacific expedition team! On September 3 the local Portland station KGW featured the expedition on the evening news. This August, Oceana set sail to document deep sea corals and sponges off the rugged Oregon Coast using a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) outfitted with high-definition underwater cameras. The areas they explored are … Read more

Notes from the Pacific Expedition — August 27, 2013

August 27, 2013 Stonewall Bank Today was the final day of our Pacific research expedition off the Oregon coast. We left Newport before daybreak bound for Stonewall Bank, more than 15 miles west. The seas calmed overnight and we had perfect conditions for conducting our research dives. We completed four dives today: two in an … Read more