Picture this: you’re floating on the surface of Monterey Bay, looking down through crystal-clear water at what should be a vibrant underwater forest. Instead, all you see is barren rock covered in purple spiny orbs stretching as far as the eye can see. This devastating transformation has become all too common along California’s coast over ...
On a windless morning off Islamorada, the reef looks like it’s holding its breath. Fish still flicker through the water column, but the corals below have lost their color and, with it, their margin for error. ’s reefs are again riding the razor’s edge between survival and collapse, as ocean heat stacks up earlier and ...
The waters off Georgia’s coast are playing host to one of nature’s most precious spectacles this winter. North Atlantic right whales have returned to their vital calving grounds, bringing hope amidst struggle for one of the world’s most endangered large whales. These magnificent creatures, weighing up to sixty tons, are making their annual journey to ...
The crystal-clear waters of Florida’s natural are once again welcoming their beloved winter visitors. Manatees are making their annual journey to these warm-water refuges, creating one of nature’s most heartwarming spectacles. As temperatures drop across the Sunshine State, these gentle giants seek out the constant warmth that provide. This year’s return has been nothing short ...
Alaska’s marine ecosystem is witnessing something quite remarkable. Sea otters, those playful marine mammals that once faced near extinction, are making an impressive comeback across many regions of the Last Frontier. It’s a story that began centuries ago when fur traders hunted these animals to the brink of disappearance. Now, decades of protection and ...
Picture thousands of massive marine mammals scattered across pristine California beaches, their deep bellows echoing across the sand. These gentle giants weigh as much as small trucks yet they almost disappeared from our planet forever. Today, experiencing what scientists call one of the most remarkable conservation comebacks in modern history. These incredible animals were once ...
The “rainforests of the sea,” coral reefs are under crisis. Rising ocean temperatures, pollution, and acidification have driven these rich ecosystems to the brink; half of the coral cover lost since the 1950s. Conventional monitoring depends on visual polls, tracking fish numbers and coral bleaching. What if, however, the true narrative of reef health is ...
A growing movement of oyster populations in the Chesapeake Bay, reviving their natural ability to filter water and support marine ecosystems. Volunteers like Kimberly Price are raising thousands of oysters at their waterside homes before planting them in sanctuary reefs, where they contribute to environmental restoration. The success of this initiative underscores the critical role ...
In a marvelous twist of fate, a gigantic 302-pound loggerhead sea turtle nicknamed Pennywise survived a horrific boat strike on the Atlantic side of Florida, only to reveal an astonishing secret during her medical examination. Because of her unusual size, veterinary equipment couldn’t be used on her, so she had an atypical CT scan at ...
