Author: Southern Fried Science

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

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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

Posted on By Southern Fried Science 1 Comment on Oceans week 2026 – a lost hope
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” »

Earth Day 2026: We paved paradise and put up a parking lot

Posted on By Southern Fried Science
Conservation, Uncategorized

Earth Day used to be about the environment. In 2026, it’s about traffic. The Trump administration marked April 22 with a mix of infrastructure announcements, deregulation, and a heavy dose of branding … while environmental protection took a noticeable back seat. Freedom to Drive… Over Everything The headline initiative? A “Freedom to Drive” push from … Read More “Earth Day 2026: We paved paradise and put up a parking lot” »

Loot, pillage and ransack the oceans: unpacking the 2026 Trump Administration ocean science budget

Posted on By Southern Fried Science
Policy

The 2026 budget proposal from the Trump administration just dropped, and if you’re a fan of having a functional ocean, breathable air … or whales, you might want to sit down. We’ve seen “lean” budgets before, but this isn’t a haircut; it’s a lobotomy of U.S. marine science that shifts our entire blue backyard from … Read More “Loot, pillage and ransack the oceans: unpacking the 2026 Trump Administration ocean science budget” »

Playing God – How the ESA “God Squad” just voted for the extinction of a uniquely American whale

Posted on By Southern Fried Science
Conservation, News, Science

On March 31, 2026, the federal Endangered Species Committee (previously dubbed the “God Squad”) met for the first time in three decades to do exactly what their name suggests: deciding the fate of an entire species. In a record-breaking 15-minute meeting (barely enough time to order a latte), the committee voted unanimously the committee granted a … Read More “Playing God – How the ESA “God Squad” just voted for the extinction of a uniquely American whale” »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Experts respond to concerns over the relative risks of electric boats and shark encounters

Posted on By Southern Fried Science 1 Comment on FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Experts respond to concerns over the relative risks of electric boats and shark encounters
News, Science

A joint statement from David Shiffman Consulting, Inc and Blackbeard Biologic: Science and Environmental Advisors A 2024 presidential hopeful recently expressed concerns regarding the relative risks of electric boats and shark attacks, stating that: “What would happen if the boat sank from its weight, and you have this tremendously powerful battery, and the battery is … Read More “FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Experts respond to concerns over the relative risks of electric boats and shark encounters” »

Of all the things that haven’t happened, these are the things that haven’t happened in the Ocean so far this year

Posted on By Southern Fried Science
Blogging, Climate change, Conservation, Exploration, Featured, Science

In the past, we’ve done a little write up whenever some exaggerated of fabricated piece of ocean news crosses our desk. This year, we’re going to try something new. A one-stop, periodically updated clearinghouse for all the things that did not happen in the ocean this year. A shark did not impregnate a stingray Some … Read More “Of all the things that haven’t happened, these are the things that haven’t happened in the Ocean so far this year” »