The spiny dogfish may go by many names, including piked dogfish, rock salmon and spiky dog, but only one truly represents this shark’s unique defense strategy. Using sharp, venomous spines in the front of each dorsal fin, the spiny dogfish is a small but mighty predator that isn’t afraid to take a jab at passing … Read more
Oceana in Europe campaigned with our colleagues in the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition for the prohibition of deep sea bottom trawling in the North East Atlantic waters. This victory provides increased protection for vulnerable marine ecosystems and deep-sea sharks. The European Parliament, Council and Commission reached an agreement that bans all trawling below 800m depth … Read more
For an ocean-lover, it was like a scene from a bad dream. “I remember very vividly diving on these little patch reefs in the Bahamas and just seeing them covered in lionfish,” said Stephanie Green, an ecologist at Oregon State University. “Some of these sites — just the size of a large truck — would … Read more
This World Oceans Day, don’t forget the little guys. Though they might be pint-sized, sardines and other “forage” fish play mammoth roles in marine ecosystems from Peru to the Philippines. Sardines are the basis for ocean food chains that support giants like whales, seals and sharks. They’re also a vital source of healthy, affordable protein for … Read more
Since last year’s World Oceans Day, Oceana has celebrated major victories in the fight to protect marine wildlife and coastal communities around the world. In the last twelve months, we’ve played a pivotal role in creating the largest marine park in the Americas, banning offshore oil drilling in Belize, protecting Portugal’s Gorringe Bank, getting shark fin products off GrubHub, and many more. In this video, … Read more
Scorpionfish are bottom-dwelling fish that have also been called rockfish or stonefish because of their tendency to live among rocks near the seafloor. There are more than 200 known species of scorpionfish in the ocean. Members of this fish family are commonly found in the Indian and South Pacific Oceans where water temperatures are temperate … Read more
A dazzling array of soft and hard corals, fish, algae, and sponges comprised some of the biological diversity documented by marine scientists from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, University of the Philippines, and Oceana during a week-long expedition to Benham Rise in May. Scientists observed one hundred percent coral cover in several sites, … Read more
Protected areas on coral reefs are often established in spots that already have lots of fish and high diversity, making it tough for scientists to tell how effective no-take zones really are at boosting the populations of commercially important species. But around Sumilon Island, a speck of land in the Central Philippines that hosted the … Read more
There’s a good reason why humans have been eating shellfish like clams and mussels for at least 165,000 years: these mollusks are nutritional powerhouses high in protein, minerals and healthy fats. They’re also great for the health of the oceans too. Bivalves like oysters, clams, mussels and scallops are filter-feeders that actually make the water … Read more
Today, a new bill was introduced in the Senate aimed at protecting the Atlantic Ocean from seismic airgun blasting, an extremely loud and dangerous process used to search for oil and gas deposits deep below the ocean floor. The Atlantic Seismic Airgun Protection (ASAP) Act, which is sponsored by New Jersey Sens. Cory Booker and Robert Menendez, … Read more
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We have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.