Liz Stebbins, one of two ORI spring interns, spent Spring Break in Bocas del Toro, Panama. I’ve invited Liz to be guest blogger and here’s her report: Each day we went to one of three types of sites: mangroves, sandy beaches, or coral reefs (usually finger corals or staghorn corals). My favorite were the mangroves…
In February, 40 to 50 lemon sharks were observed aggregating off the shores of Jupiter Florida. (Image above is a lemon shark education card by the Jupiter Dive Center.) Over the next week all those sharks were caught by longliners. This “incidental take” happened when longliners were fishing something else. Shark fishery regulations that may…
Ocean Enemy #1 (Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla.) is moving to block finalization of the government proposal to increase the number of streams and creeks that receive automatic protection under the federal Clean Water Act. The House measure (H.R. 5078) would prohibit the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers from drafting regulations and guidance needed…
The Volusia County Council has adopted a countywide fertilizer ordinance to protect water quality in the county’s springs, lakes and rivers, including the Indian River Lagoon – the full watershed. Volusia County followed Brevard County (2014), followed St. Lucie County (2014), followed Indian River (2013) and Martin County (2011). All counties of Indian River Lagoon…
Late Tuesday evening (6/17/14), the U.S. Congress passed the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control bill! The bill has gone to President Obama to be signed into final law – the first free-standing oceans bill to be passed by this Congress. This legislation is a significant step forward in recognizing and addressing the…
