Ali Gaster

Ten very bad, no good things the latest Trump Administration has done to the oceans

August 14, 2026 Ali Gaster No Comments

The last 18 months have been an absolute nightmare for U.S. ocean and conservation policy. But here are the top ten worst things (in no particular order) this administration has done to marine conservation. 1. Opening Papahānaumokuākea to fishing In June 2026, a sweeping executive proclamation tore down commercial fishing bans in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine … Read More “Ten very bad, no good things the latest Trump Administration has done to the oceans” »

Emergency room conservation: why waiting for the Endangered Species Act to save a species is a fiscal disaster

August 11, 2026 Ali Gaster No Comments

Conservation, Policy, Science

Let’s talk about a pervasive zombie idea (a disproven idea that refuses to die) that continues to shamble through the halls of resource management. This is the belief that we shouldn’t spend money on conservation until a species is officially, legally designated as Threatened or Endangered. The logic behind this delay usually wears a suit … Read More “Emergency room conservation: why waiting for the Endangered Species Act to save a species is a fiscal disaster” »

Zombie ideas in conservation: trophy hunting and conservation

August 6, 2026 Ali Gaster No Comments

Uncategorized

A “zombie idea” is a policy, belief, or theory that has been thoroughly disproven by facts and evidence, and continues to resurface again and again… it just won’t die. Somehow they continue to stagger through public discourse, dragging their rotting limbs into legislative chambers and conservation galas. One of the loudest, most persistent groans from … Read More “Zombie ideas in conservation: trophy hunting and conservation” »

When universities puts $$$ before science and ethics

August 3, 2026 Ali Gaster No Comments

Academic life, Policy

One thing the latest Trump regime has shown is which university administrators actually care about academic freedom, the pursuit of science, and diversity and equity, and which were just paying lip service for the sake of grant money. For years, universities have proudly proclaimed their commitment to scientific integrity, inclusion, open inquiry, and the idea … Read More “When universities puts $$$ before science and ethics” »

Save the seals. Congress is trying to shoot its way to salmon recovery

July 22, 2026August 3, 2026 Ali Gaster

Conservation, News, Policy, Science

Let’s not mince words: current federal ocean conservation policy is a cocktail of chaos and disaster, with a generous sprinkle of incompetence. Following a brutal stretch of legislative and regulatory rollbacks (including the completely indefensible bureaucratic magic trick of removing habitat destruction from the Endangered Species Act’s definition of “harm”) Capitol Hill decided to double … Read More “Save the seals. Congress is trying to shoot its way to salmon recovery” »

First, do no harm.

July 17, 2026August 3, 2026 Ali Gaster

Conservation, Policy, Science

How the Trump Administration has yet again hobbled the Endangered Species Act. The Trump administration has officially finalized a rule stripping habitat destruction from the definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In a joint announcement by the Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce, officials rolled back a 40-year conservation … Read More “First, do no harm. “ »

For when the madness ends: a 5-point plan for getting conservation back on track in the US

July 9, 2026August 3, 2026 Ali Gaster

Conservation

Let’s not mince words: the last eighteen months have been an absolute nightmare for federal ocean and conservation policy. Landmark environmental protections have been rolled back or severely hobbled, while agency budgets were slashed more than Janet Leigh when Norman Bates was in a particularly stabby mood. But looking towards the 2026 midterm elections, the … Read More “For when the madness ends: a 5-point plan for getting conservation back on track in the US” »

Rice’s whale and the curious case of the disappearing species.

June 25, 2026August 3, 2026 Ali Gaster

Conservation, Uncategorized

Another example of the Trump Administration ignoring science There are many ways to make an endangered species less inconvenient. You can weaken regulations. You can exempt industries from environmental review. You can convene the Endangered Species Committee—the infamous “God Squad”—to override protections. Or, apparently, you can simply question whether the species exists at all. The … Read More “Rice’s whale and the curious case of the disappearing species.” »

Isn’t ironic, don’t you think: dismantling the Ocean Observatories Initiative on World Oceans Day

June 9, 2026August 3, 2026 Ali Gaster

Climate change, Featured, Policy, Science

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is pulling the plug on the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), systematically dismantling one of the world’s most advanced deep-sea monitoring networks. This aggressive “descoping” plan means hundreds of high-tech instruments are actively being hauled out of the water. The timing of this infrastructure rollback carries a painful, bitter irony. The … Read More “Isn’t ironic, don’t you think: dismantling the Ocean Observatories Initiative on World Oceans Day” »

Oceans week 2026 – a lost hope

June 5, 2026August 3, 2026 Ali Gaster 1 Comment

Academic life, Climate change, Conservation, Science

This week is National Oceans week. One of the main events in Washington DC is Capitol Hill Ocean Week (or CHOW). This two-day event, sponsored by the U.S. Government, brought policymakers, scientists, and conservationists together for policy discussions, networking, and raising awareness about ocean issues. I went to the event two years ago, and at … Read More “Oceans week 2026 – a lost hope” »