

California’s kelp forests have struggled to recover since the 2013–2017 marine heat wave, despite major restoration efforts by scientists, fishermen, tribes, and volunteer divers. The decline reflects a global trend tied to ocean warming, as the sea absorbs roughly 90% of the excess heat generated by fossil fuel emissions. According to a 2023 study in…

Dramatic Comebacks & Current Scope of Biodiversity Thanks to landmark protections like the Marine Mammal Protection Act (1972) and the Endangered Species Act (1973), many of California’s marine mammals have staged impressive recoveries over the past 50 years. Species such as California sea lions, northern elephant seals, harbor seals, whales, dolphins, porpoises, and southern sea…

The next big land grab…under the sea? President Trump’s push for deep‑sea mining sparks fierce debate: strategic gains vs. ecological risks. This move bypasses the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which the United States has never ratified but has historically followed. By formally rejecting this international framework, the U.S. risks…

Our director, David Helvarg, recently contributed to the LA Times with an article detailing why Trump’s efforts to scale back NOAA could be potentially dangerous to the American public. Proposed Overhaul of NOAA and NWS The Trump administration, influenced by the conservative “Project 2025” plan, is considering significant changes to NOAA and the NWS. This…

Biden’s Offshore Drilling Ban and Its Implications for the Bering Sea In early January 2025, President Joe Biden enacted a permanent ban on offshore oil and gas drilling across more than 625 million acres of U.S. coastal waters, including the entire East and West Coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea.…
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Each episode navigates insightful discussions on marine life, and the critical issues affecting our seas. Informative, educational and humorous, it’s a valuable resource for anyone passionate about understanding and preserving our ocean world!