Oceans / Public News Service

Along with flooding, Virginia is experiencing sea level rise. Between 1950 and 2023, the state has seen a 14-inch rise in sea level rise, putting 45,000 homes at risk of tidal flooding. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Wetlands forming on VA surface mines, impacts uncertain

A recent report found wetlands forming on surface mines in Virginia can benefit the state. The wetlands form because surface mining flattens land…

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Backers of offshore wind tout good jobs, fossil fuel independence

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy wants the state's Board of Public Utilities to initiate more bids for offshore wind projects in the New Year. The move …

An endangered Pacific leatherback sea turtle swims off San Francisco, in September 2022. (Geoff Shester/Oceana)

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Endangered sea turtle killed by discarded fishing gear in CA

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife just announced a marine warden discovered an endangered Pacific leatherback sea turtle dead, drowned …

Extremes of hot and cold weather have taken their toll on a concrete barrier along Binghamton's Riverwalk. Concrete crumbles between the stones of the wall in upstate New York. (Chet Wiker/Adobe Stock)

Will big oil companies cover climate change costs in NY?

Some state and local lawmakers are on a long list calling on New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to require big oil companies to help offset the costs of …

In the three decades between 1980 and 2010, Virginia's York River lost more than 20% of marsh area. By 2050, the region is projected to lose 40,000 acres to sea-level rise. (Adobe Stock)

New plan outlines ways to conserve VA’s coastal wetlands

A new plan takes an interconnected approach to saving Virginia's coastal wetlands. The aim of Virginia's York River and Small Coastal Basin …

According to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission at UNESCO, plastic waste makes up 80% of all marine pollution, and around 8 to 10 million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year. (Flockine/Pixabay)

Community activists engage in hands-on beach cleanup initiative

Olympic swimmer turned environmental activist Merle Liivand has seen a rise in plastic waste while navigating the Intracoastal canals of South Florida…

According to Pacific Environment, wind-assist propulsion can reduce greenhouse gas emissions per cargo ship by 30% over the course of a voyage. (Cargill and BAR Technologies)

Southern CA ports lead the way for 'green' shipping

The importance of making ports and shipping more environmentally friendly was the topic of a town hall meeting on Tuesday. Three California members …

More than 6,000 blue economy businesses in Massachusetts employ a total of 100,000 individuals, who earn nearly $4 billion in annual wages. (Adobe Stock)

Lawmakers, scientists advocate for MA’s 'blue economy'

Lawmakers and scientists in Massachusetts are working to bolster the state's growing "blue economy." Several pieces of legislation aim to create a "b…

Climate change with rising seas is making it more dangerous, and much more expensive, to live on the subtropical islands at the southern tip of Florida. (Stingrea1/Pixabay)

In face of rising seas, Monroe County adapts, innovates

By Steve MacLaughlin for NBC Miami.Broadcast version by Trimmel Gomes for Florida News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Publi…

Climate Change meteorologist Lauren Casey said Halloween pumpkins may rot sooner in the warm October temperature. (climatecentral.org)

Some MI families rethink their Halloween due to climate extremes

Tropical Storm Tammy has sprung back to life over the weekend, sending spooky fears of high winds for trick or treaters along the Eastern Seaboard…

Some Missourians rethink Halloween due to climate extremes

Tropical Storm Tammy has sprung back to life over the weekend, sending spooky fears of high winds for trick or treaters along the Eastern Seaboard…

Climate extremes have some OH families rethinking their Halloween

Tropical Storm Tammy has sprung back to life over the weekend, sending spooky fears of high winds for trick or treaters along the Eastern Seaboard…

The Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint has set a deadline for watershed states to have pollution-reduction practices in place by 2025. (flownaksala/AdobeStock)

Halfmoon, Pequea Creek restoration project aims to restore watershed health

Pennsylvania has received more than $3 million in federal funding for watershed restoration projects. Conservation groups say it will help the state …

A mural project celebrates the Endangered Species Act and the smalltooth sawfish. (Kelly Quinn)

Mural raises awareness for FL's smalltooth sawfish

A vibrant installation at today's SHINE St. Petersburg Mural Festival is designed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act …

Climate change board games emphasize teamwork and group success. Either all players win together, or no one survives. (pathdoc/Adobe Stock)

Climate change: Better understood through board games?

By Debra J. Rosenthal for The Conversation.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Michigan News Connection for the Public News Service-Conversation …

California sea lions off the coast of Santa Barbara. (Oceana)

Analysis: Crews only report 6% of marine mammals caught in set gillnets

A new analysis by Oceana found crews in the California set gillnet fishery have severely underreported the number of seals and sea lions caught and ki…

Climate change board games emphasize teamwork and group success. Either all players win together, or no one survives. (dvande/Adobe Stock)

Board games help players understand climate change

By Debra J. Rosenthal for The Conversation.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Missouri News Service for the Public News Service-Conversation …

The state established a 1-mile buffer zone off Elmers Island and Grand Terre Island, and a 3-mile buffer off of Grand Isle. (Adobe Stock)

Fish dumps bring calls for more regulations on commercial menhaden industry

With news of more large-scale fish dumps in coastal Louisiana waters in recent weeks, advocates are calling for more regulations on the menhaden …

Board games help players understand climate change

By Debra J. Rosenthal for The Conversation.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Ohio News Connection for the Public News Service-Conversation …

Measurements of electrical conductivity indicating elevated salinity is affecting the soil hundreds of meters from visible salt patches. (Rebecca Epanchin-Niell)

Study: Thousands of acres of MD farmland facing saltwater intrusion

Researchers have found the amount of land affected by saltwater intrusion on the Delmarva Peninsula has dramatically increased in recent years…

The Human League says factory farming causes significant damage to rural communities, surrounding environments, and the farmed animals themselves. (zhang yongxin/Adobe Stock)

Rural Advocacy Groups: Corporate Farming Infringing on MO Family Farms

Despite the goal to unite Missourians around a common cause, rural advocacy groups have been pushing the EPA for more regulation from the Clean …

Fans of Popular Movies, Books Fuel Activism

By Britny Cordera for imagine5.com.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Publ…

As part of Maine's Offshore Wind Initiative, the state will develop a Floating Offshore Wind Research Array in the Gulf of Maine to foster research into floating offshore wind and how it interacts with the marine wildlife, fishing industry, shipping and navigation routes, and more. (Adobe Stock)<br />

ME Labor Groups Applaud New Offshore Wind Energy Industry Standards

Labor advocates are hailing Maine Governor Janet Mill's signing of a landmark bill creating a new offshore wind energy industry in the state…

Salmon from the Columbia and Snake Rivers are a crucial food source for Southern Resident orcas. (RKP/Adobe Stock)

WA Orca Births Good Sign but Population Still Threatened

There's good news for orcas off Washington's coast: Two new calves have been spotted among the endangered population. However, the births also …

A pilot program is being developed for Virginia's Security Corridor with the American Forest Program to grow the Family Forest Carbon Program in the region. It would help provide capacity to private landowners to improve carbon sequestration of their forests. (Adobe Stock)

VA Joins Sentinel Landscape Partnership Program

Virginia is the 12th state to join the nationwide Sentinel Landscape Partnership, which has goals of strengthening military readiness while advancing …

Wildlife officials say whale entanglement numbers are likely much higher than recorded. (Andy-Kim M�ller/Adobe Stock)

OR Should Do More to Protect Whales from Entanglement, Group Says

A conservation group is calling on Oregon to do more to protect whales from fishing gear. Ben Enticknap, Pacific campaign manager and senior …

ME Lawmaker Seeks Solution to 'Fast Fashion' Pollution

Democratic lawmakers are asking federal investigators to study the true cost of so-called fast fashion and its contribution to climate change…

The Chesapeake Legal Alliance sued in May to challenge the Virginia Marine Resources Commission's standards on menhaden harvesting. The proposed regulations would have pushed these operations away from the shores of Chesapeake Bay in the hopes of preventing net spills. (Adobe Stock)

Industrial Menhaden Operations Harm VA Ecosystems

Virginia fishermen want action to be taken to keep industrial menhaden operations in the state in check. Menhaden are a nutrient-rich fish and a key …

Photographic evidence from the 1930s suggests that seagrass like that in this contemporary photo may have covered between 200,000 and 600,000 acres along the Chesapeake Bay shoreline. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Seagrass Restoration Making Progress in Chesapeake Bay

A new report found some vital improvements in the Chesapeake Bay over the last few years. The Chesapeake Bay Program reported 76,000 acres of …

People can cut down on single-use plastics by avoiding bottled soft drinks and bottled water, and bringing reusable jugs instead. (Lazyllama/Adobe Stock)<br />

This Year, Declare Your Independence from Single-Use Plastics

This Fourth of July, ocean conservation groups want Americans to declare their independence from single-use plastics. A new report, "Charting a …

The Duckabush River is cut off from nearby floodplains and wetlands by roads on the Olympic peninsula. (Washington Department of Ecology)

Orca Action Month: WA Estuary Restoration Project Helps Whale Recovery

It's Orca Action Month and a restoration project in Puget Sound will help provide more salmon to the aquatic mammals. Highway development has …

Research indicates the marshes provide an estimated protective value of more than $7,000 per acre, annually, from storm surge and flooding alone. (Davide Bonaldo/Adobe Stock)

New Plan Aims to Preserve NC Coastal Landscapes

North Carolina's 220,000 acres of salt marsh are in danger of being drowned out or washed away, but groups around the state are banning together to …

An aerial view shows the salt marsh adjacent to the runway at Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Florida. (Mark Bias)

How Salt Marshes Are Preserving Life Along FL Coast

Florida's nearly 500,000 acres of salt marshes are under threat from rising seas, polluted runoff, and an abundance of urban development that's been …

A 2022 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service assessment found that reintroduction of sea otters is biologically feasible in California, and may have significant benefits for a variety of species in the marine ecosystem. (Lilian Carswell/USFWS)

Feds Seek Public Input on Whether to Help Sea Otters Expand Range

The public can weigh in on the possibility of reintroducing sea otters to stretches of the California and Oregon coasts at a series of open houses thi…

The Yaquina Bay area is home to about 15,000 Oregonians. (Bobby Hayden)

Yaquina Bay Estuary Management Gets First Update Since 1982

The management plan for a coastal Oregon estuary is getting its first update in four decades. The public can comment on the draft of the Yaquina Bay …

Salt marshes, mangroves and seagrass beds absorb large quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it, thus decreasing the effects of global warming. (Joanne Dale/Adobe Stock)

Salt Marsh Initiative: Preserving GA's Coastal Landscapes

Georgia's nearly 370,000 acres of salt marshes are in danger, due to rising sea levels and levels of development that conservation groups say are …

Researchers reported coal-tar sealant runoff is lethal to juvenile Coho salmon and causes a wide spectrum of abnormalities in zebrafish embryos. (B.J. Small/Chesapeake Bay Foundation)

Some Driveway Sealants Have Health, Environment Risks

Sealing driveways and parking lots may seem like routine maintenance for homeowners, but recent studies raise concerns about the potential health …

Barry Walton, a Ph.D. student at Florida State University, is studying how two popular recreational fish species, red drum and spotted seatrout, share resources in the Apalachicola Bay System. (Barry Walton)

FL Research Highlights Importance of Fish Communities, Environment

Two Florida graduate students are part of a Forage Fish Research Program. They are looking at how altering water flows in coastal estuaries affect …

Oyster reefs provide habitat for hundreds of species, including mussels, barnacles and sea anemones, which settle on reefs and provide food for many other species. Crabs and fish also hide from predators within reef crevices. (Adobe Stock)

Oyster Reef Restoration Benefits Farmers, Coastal Communities

By Lynn Fantom for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for New Hampshire News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Pub…

A 2019 report from the New York State Comptroller's Office found almost 85% of green jobs were in increased demand. A 2022 report found there are 35,700 workers in New Jersey's green economy. (Adobe Stock)

NY/NJ Offshore Wind Farms Grow Job Opportunities

Offshore wind in New York and New Jersey is becoming a large contributor to job growth. New York's offshore wind investments are slated to create …

Wet Spring Soaks Iowa Drought

For the first time in nearly three years, the widespread drought that has had Iowa in its grip is predicted to end. The latest drought outlook says …

Cape Foulweather is in Lincoln County south of Depoe Bay. (Mitch Meseke-Wirestock Creators/Adobe Stock)

OR Coast Conservation Areas Opportunity for 'Bottom Up' Management

Locals will help steward two iconic locations on Oregon's coast. The Cape Foulweather Complex and Cape Lookout Marine Conservation areas were …

Volunteers with the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary place numbered tags on freshwater mussels so they can be tracked in the Delaware River. (Photo courtesy Partnership for the Delaware Estuary)

Restoring Freshwater Mussels to Improve Delaware River

By Katherine Rapin for Yale Environment 360.Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Keystone State News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journal…

A new law in Washington state creates a single buffer zone around orcas of 1,000 yards for small vessels. (Scott Bufkin/Adobe Stock)

WA Lawmakers Pass Legislative Wins for Ocean, Marine Wildlife

Advocates for ocean wildlife are touting wins from Olympia this legislative session. Nora Nickum - senior ocean policy manager with the Seattle …

The Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint calls for Pennsylvania to reduce nitrogen runoff by 40% by 2025. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Agrees to Settlement in Chesapeake Bay Pollution Lawsuit

The Environmental Protection Agency has reached a tentative settlement in a lawsuit over the agency's failure to make Pennsylvania abide by the same c…

The bat ray is one of the species often caught, killed and thrown overboard as bycatch by fishing crews using gillnets. (Jami Feldman/Underwater Paparazzi)

CA Considers Regulating “Wasteful” Set Gillnet Fishing Offshore

Massive mile-long gillnets weighted to the seafloor three miles off the California coast are set to catch halibut or sea bass - but end up entangling …

William Toney is a fourth-generation fishing guide and Homosassa native who lobbied local and state elected officials to protect the Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve. (Charlie Shoemaker/The Pew Charitable Trusts)

Grassroots Effort Protects Gulf of Mexico’s Largest Seagrass Bed

Florida's newest aquatic preserve is officially set to move forward, with a management plan aimed at protecting some 350,000 acres of sea grass…

Student leaders learn about the estuary near Morro Rock, which is part of the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. (Kai Monge)

Latino Advocacy Week Promotes Environmental Justice

This week, Hispanic environmental advocates are heading to Washington, D.C., from around the country to engage lawmakers on issues affecting us all…

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PNS Daily Newscast - December 8, 2023

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Oceans

Wetlands forming on VA surface mines, impacts uncertain

Backers of offshore wind tout good jobs, fossil fuel independence

Endangered sea turtle killed by discarded fishing gear in CA

Will big oil companies cover climate change costs in NY?

New plan outlines ways to conserve VA’s coastal wetlands

Community activists engage in hands-on beach cleanup initiative

Southern CA ports lead the way for 'green' shipping

Lawmakers, scientists advocate for MA’s 'blue economy'

In face of rising seas, Monroe County adapts, innovates

Some MI families rethink their Halloween due to climate extremes

Some Missourians rethink Halloween due to climate extremes

Climate extremes have some OH families rethinking their Halloween

Halfmoon, Pequea Creek restoration project aims to restore watershed health

Mural raises awareness for FL's smalltooth sawfish

Climate change: Better understood through board games?

Analysis: Crews only report 6% of marine mammals caught in set gillnets

Board games help players understand climate change

Fish dumps bring calls for more regulations on commercial menhaden industry

Board games help players understand climate change

Study: Thousands of acres of MD farmland facing saltwater intrusion

Rural Advocacy Groups: Corporate Farming Infringing on MO Family Farms

Fans of Popular Movies, Books Fuel Activism

ME Labor Groups Applaud New Offshore Wind Energy Industry Standards

WA Orca Births Good Sign but Population Still Threatened

VA Joins Sentinel Landscape Partnership Program

OR Should Do More to Protect Whales from Entanglement, Group Says

ME Lawmaker Seeks Solution to 'Fast Fashion' Pollution

Industrial Menhaden Operations Harm VA Ecosystems

Report: Seagrass Restoration Making Progress in Chesapeake Bay

This Year, Declare Your Independence from Single-Use Plastics

Orca Action Month: WA Estuary Restoration Project Helps Whale Recovery

New Plan Aims to Preserve NC Coastal Landscapes

How Salt Marshes Are Preserving Life Along FL Coast

Feds Seek Public Input on Whether to Help Sea Otters Expand Range

Yaquina Bay Estuary Management Gets First Update Since 1982

Salt Marsh Initiative: Preserving GA's Coastal Landscapes

Some Driveway Sealants Have Health, Environment Risks

FL Research Highlights Importance of Fish Communities, Environment

Oyster Reef Restoration Benefits Farmers, Coastal Communities

NY/NJ Offshore Wind Farms Grow Job Opportunities

Wet Spring Soaks Iowa Drought

OR Coast Conservation Areas Opportunity for 'Bottom Up' Management

Restoring Freshwater Mussels to Improve Delaware River

WA Lawmakers Pass Legislative Wins for Ocean, Marine Wildlife

EPA Agrees to Settlement in Chesapeake Bay Pollution Lawsuit

CA Considers Regulating “Wasteful” Set Gillnet Fishing Offshore

Grassroots Effort Protects Gulf of Mexico’s Largest Seagrass Bed

Latino Advocacy Week Promotes Environmental Justice