Ecosystems and Biodiversity Scientists are calling for fishing regulations to help save the Amazon forest. Why? Brazil’s Pantanal is a floodplain the size of Washington State, which spends half the year underwater. The Pantanal’s biodiversity is helped by large, fruit-eating fish, which spread undigested seeds to 95% of the region’s woody plants. These seeds are […]

As spring turns to summer here on the West Coast, talk of holiday travel and visitors has lately been giving way to the pressing environmental concern of plastic in our oceans. With the infamous Great Pacific Garbage Patch — also known as the Pacific Trash Vortex — now double the size of Texas, people are […]

Last week, the journal PLOS ONE published a study on the acoustic calls of narwhals, an elusive Arctic species whose day-to-day life we know very little about. Ocean Wise researcher Valeria Vergara, who spends her summers recording beluga whale acoustic communication, read over the study “Spatial and temporal patterns of sound production in East Greenland […]

Ecosystems and Biodiversity Researchers recently discovered why whale sharks tend to congregate in a small number of sites. It turns out that these congregation sites have a similar topography of shallower waters near a steep drop, which allows whale sharks to feed on upwelling currents, filled with plankton and small crustaceans, and spend time in […]

Today’s adoption of a global plastics charter by five G-7 countries, including Canada, to target single-use plastic waste reduction is a timely and significant step for protection of our world’s oceans. “As an organization dedicated to tackling ocean plastic pollution, Ocean Wise supports this global commitment, led by Canada with some of the world’s most […]

As the turtle nesting season began each year in Costa Rica, marine biologist Jimena Rodriguez and her team used to camp out on the beaches where  Olive Ridley turtles lay their eggs. One night, Rodriguez watched as a turtle tried and failed to stop her nest from collapsing. Using her flashlight, she discovered that the […]

This week on Ocean.org This Mother’s Day, we dove deep into the world of under-sea parenting: Parenting Tips from the Ocean: From keeping snacks handy to breaking up sibling rivalry, aquatic parenting is pretty relatable. Like Mother, Like Calf: Communication is key for Beluga mothers and their babies – but the connection is under threat. […]

Every week, Ocean Wise combs the headlines to bring you the most fascinating ocean news from around the world. Read on! This week on Ocean.org Discover some incredible birds and the challenges they face in nature: Bird Day 4 Astounding Seabird Facts – Glowing beaks, kinky rituals, and more reasons celebrate our feathered friends. Birds […]