Best of 2012: Ocean Edition

Written By
Guest Blogger

As we approach the end of 2012, we’re reflecting on our exciting victories of the past year. From helping pass the RESTORE Act (which guarantees funding for Gulf of Mexico restoration) to pushing for a time-out on oil and gas activity in the Arctic, 2012 was an important year for ocean conservation. It was also the year we launched The Blog Aquatic, and now we’re celebrating by counting down our most popular posts since our April debut. Let us know your favorite in the comments section.

And don’t forget–you can help us continue to fight for a healthy ocean in 2013 with a tax-deductible donation to Ocean Conservancy. Please consider giving today.


Say No To Shell’s Arctic Drilling Plans
The potential for disaster in the Arctic should be obvious, even to Shell: Since 2000, there have been no tests of skimming and booming in U.S. Arctic waters. And the tests that were conducted 12 years ago were considered a “failure.” No evidence exists that Shell is capable of effectively cleaning up an oil spill in the Arctic. So why are we turning a blind eye to this and allowing them to drill anyway? Read More »

The Last Straw: Reduce Your Plastic Footprint and Hydrate Trash-Free

Over the past quarter century, straws have routinely been one of the top ten items found on beaches around the world during the International Coastal Cleanup. How many? Ocean Conservancy volunteers have picked up so many straws from beaches and waterways that when laid end-to-end; they would span a distance equal to California’s 840 miles of coastline. And last year alone, enough disposable plastic straws were found to pop one into your beverage every day for the next 1,250 years. Don’t think it’s a problem? Some communities have actually banned straws entirely to reduce trash on the nearby beaches. Read More »

Do Your Clean Clothes Make the Ocean Dirty?

Did you know that while clean clothes make you look and feel better, they could actually have the opposite effect on the ocean? By changing your laundry habits even slightly, you may be able to save money, save water and protect the ocean from pollutants. Here are 6 tips for ensuring you’re washing in ways that keep the ocean in mind. Read More »

Five Things More Dangerous Than Sharks

Are you more afraid of sharks or toilets?  What about sand?  Or fireworks? Turns out, sharks are the least dangerous out of the bunch.  Even this kayaker in Cape Cod last weekend came away unscathed.  Of course, that didn’t quell the media attention. Read More »

Rare Blue Whales Abundant Off California Coast

For those visiting or living in California, this summer offers some of the best whale watching in recent history – what some are calling a once-in-a-lifetime chance. While gray whales are regular commuters along the West Coast during their fall and spring migrations, this summer’s marvel is the high proportion of blue whales. Normally feeding too far off the coast to be seen, the blues have been drawn closer to shore due to the abundance of the shrimp-like krill they love to eat. Read More »

High-flying Balloons Pose a Definite Downside for Ocean Wildlife

Alas, balloons eventually fall back to Earth. That’s when the dark side of their existence begins. When balloons and their ribbons or strings fall or blow into the ocean and waterways, wildlife can suffer and die. Here are a few alternatives to celebrate without threatening animals. Read More »

Our 7 Favorite Ocean Quotes for World Ocean Day

“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” —Jacques Cousteau. Read More »

Four Things the Election Tells us about the Ocean’s Future

As the dust begins to settle after what felt like a never-ending election season, Ocean Conservancy is gearing up for our policy work to begin again in earnest. Our approach isn’t about which party is in charge, it’s about finding solutions for a healthy ocean, wherever they may come from. Here are a few initial reactions and issues to be on the lookout for following the 2012 election. Read More »

Shark Bites: How Dangerous Are They?

While sharks maintain their status at the top of the food chain as the oceans’ greatest predator, humans are not on their preferred menu. There are many objects and activities that we encounter much more regularly that are more likely to kill us than the bite of a shark, outlined in our latest graphic. Read More »

TEDed Explains Why Sea Turtles Are Legitimate Miracles

As this video from TEDed so elegantly explains, sea turtles are under siege from many of the threats Ocean Conservancy works so hard to address every day. Their nesting grounds are threatened by marine debris and habitat loss or degradation, their lives at sea are further threatened by unsustainable fishing practices, floating waste and toxins, including oil spills. According to the video, sea turtles are under such pressure that their survival rate now stands at 1 percent or less between each nesting cycle. Read More »

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