“Microbeads have only been around for the last decade. There’s significant indications that the L.A. River is affected and there’s evidence that it’s already finding their way to our aquifers,” says Bloom.
Rivers to the Sea
Concern Over “Sustained” Man-Made Hypoxia
The gulf dead zone is only one piece of a larger, environmental problem with U.S. agriculture and watershed issues, however. The gulf just happens to be one of the areas where effects of agricultural practices and pollution are more visible. These kind of problems, though, are far reaching, effect the whole country and are heavily tied to government and industry.
Gulf Oysters Impacted Since 2010 BP Oil Spill
Fisherman Randy Slavich drags a clunky metal net through an underwater oyster bed in Lake Machias, a brackish body opening into the Gulf of Mexico. For generations, this has been a bountiful lake for harvesting oysters, long before millions of… Read More ›
Acidification & Low-Oxygen Threatens Lowcountry Shellfish
That’s not a dire prediction linked to climate change. It’s already starting to happen as the ocean gets more acidic. And for the Lowcountry, ocean acidification might not even be the real threat. It might be what scientists call the one-two punch of acidification and low oxygen in the estuaries, the nursery for the shellfish we eat – shrimp, oysters, clams.
Plastic Waste Returns Home on Kelp
What seemed like a landfill of plastic in kelp, catapulted me into photographic obsession (about 200 frames shot). I lost track of time while I stooped and bent my body to find the right way to capture this polyester moment. Eventually several curious people asked “ What are you photographing?”
The Economist Discusses “The Tradgedy of the High Seas”
New management is needed for the planet’s most important common resource Feb 22nd 2014 | From the print edition The Economist IN 1968 an American ecologist, Garrett Hardin, published an article entitled “The Tragedy of the Commons”. He argued… Read More ›
$1Million Prize For Best Plan to Combat Dead Zones
edOrbit Staff & Wire Reports – Your Universe Online In response to President Obama’s call for institutions and philanthropists to help find solutions to the world’s most pressing issues, Tulane University announced Monday that it would offer a $1 million… Read More ›
Penobscot River Mercury Pollution Closes Lobster & Crab Harvest
Mercury contamination in Penobscot River lobsters was known for 8 years But consumers didn’t learn about the ‘hazardous’ levels until a state agency closed the fishing area. By Scott Dolan and Tom Bell , Portland Press Herald, Feb…. Read More ›
800 Manatees Die in Florida Waters in 2013
A manatee munching down on some sargassum. Credit: USGS – Sirenia Project View full size image It has been a bad year for Florida manatees. Very bad. As of Dec. 13, a total of 803 manatees had died in the… Read More ›
Stairway to Plastisphere
Also seen in SLO New Times By Charmaine Coimbra A new report from UCLA School of Law’s Emmett Center on Climate Change and the Environment and UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability Plastic states, “Plastic litter is one of… Read More ›