ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— After five years of delay, the federal government today finally proposed to protect more than 739 miles of critical habitat for threatened loggerhead sea turtles on their nesting beaches along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts. These sea turtles face serious threats to their long-term survival from drowning in fishing nets, loss … Read more
Juneau, AK—Today, the Department of the Interior (DOI) released the results of its 60-day review of the troubled 2012 Arctic Ocean oil exploration season. Shell’s efforts last year were beset by a series of mishaps, accidents, and near-disasters, and the company has announced it will not seek approvals to drill in 2013. Rather than only … Read more
In the Pacific Ocean off California, mile-long driftnets are used to capture swordfish and thresher sharks. But that’s not all they catch. When the nets are deployed in the evenings to soak overnight to ensnare their targeted catch, they also entangle large open ocean travelers, including whales, dolphins, seals, sea turtles, numerous shark species and … Read more
Oceana, the largest international advocacy group working solely to protect the world’s oceans, commends Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) today for introducing two bills aimed at strengthening efforts to fight pirate fishing and help keep illegally-caught fish out of U.S. markets. Oceana now calls on Congress to move this legislation forward and help protect American fishermen … Read more
WASHINGTON- Oceana, the largest conservation organization working solely to protect the world’s oceans, expressed disappointment that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) withdrew a proposed rule today that would have required Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) on all skimmer trawl shrimp boats in the southeastern United States. TEDs, which allow sea turtles to escape from trawl … Read more
WASHINGTON- Oceana, the largest conservation organization working solely to protect the world’s oceans, announced a major litigation victory today that will require stronger accountability through catch monitoring for the New England groundfish fishery. This win establishes the first full count, cap and control fishery in the Northeast and will help restore New England’s groundfish populations … Read more
BOSTON – Oceana, the largest international advocacy group working solely to protect the world’s oceans, applauds the Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure for introducing legislation (H.D. 3189) to address the growing problem of seafood fraud. If passed, the bill would levy harsher fines for selling some commonly mislabeled fish and … Read more
The State Land Conservation and Development Commission will meet next Thursday January 24 in Salem to make its final decision on a new Marine Spatial Plan designed to identify and designate areas suitable for marine renewable energy development. The plan identifies four areas totaling 22.3 square miles, or roughly 2% of Oregon’s Territorial Sea, as … Read more
SAN FRANCISCO— Conservation groups filed a lawsuit today against the National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the agencies’ failure to protect critical habitat areas for threatened and endangered loggerhead sea turtles on their nesting beaches and in Atlantic and Pacific waters, where they face threats from fisheries, climate change and … Read more
Yesterday afternoon the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council adopted a resolution recognizing the important role of forage species in the Sanctuary and supporting state and federal fishery managers for their recent commitments to afford additional protections for the ocean’s small, but critically important marine life. Oceana commends the diverse, 20-member Sanctuary Advisory Council … Read more
Sign up today to get weekly updates and action alerts from Oceana.
We have already protected over 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.