Conservation – Southern Fried Science

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” »

Is Academic Publishing is breaking conservation science?

August 10, 2026 Chris Parsons No Comments

Academic life, Blogging, Conservation, Policy, Science

Let’s be honest: if you are working in conservation, you have probably stared down a peer-review nightmare that made you want to throw your laptop into ocean. We’ve all been told the same myth since undergrad: do the science; write the paper; pass the peer-review gauntlet; and magically you’ve saved the planet. The peer-reviewed paper … Read More “Is Academic Publishing is breaking conservation science?” »

My Journey Into Researching Historical Erasure on Public Lands

July 31, 2026 Angelo Villagomez

Conservation, Education, Featured, Policy

Most people know me for my work on ocean conservation, Indigenous-led stewardship, and marine protected areas. Over the past year, however, I have found myself increasingly drawn into a different but deeply connected area of research: how public lands tell America’s story, and what happens when that story is deliberately altered or erased. This work … Read More “My Journey Into Researching Historical Erasure on Public Lands” »

The “Conservation Paywall”: why saving the planet has become a luxury sport

July 23, 2026 Chris Parsons

Academic life, Conservation

Let’s be honest. Most of us got into conservation science because we wanted to save something. We envisioned conducting science that would be serving as a shield, protecting a fragile ecosystem or an endangered species from the relentless march of human expansion. We expected long hours, muddy boots, and a few mosquito bites. What we … Read More “The “Conservation Paywall”: why saving the planet has become a luxury sport” »

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” »

What goes up must come down: the toxic hangover from the Freedom 250 fireworks

July 6, 2026 Chris Parsons

Conservation, News

The “Freedom 250” activities in Washington DC have been controversial for a number of reasons, but after the fireworks display in the early hours of July 5th, the environmental and health impacts of this event became a concern. In the aftermath of the fireworks display on the National Mall, Washington D.C.’s Air Quality Index went … Read More “What goes up must come down: the toxic hangover from the Freedom 250 fireworks” »

Some upcoming public talks on shark science and conservation

June 29, 2026June 29, 2026 David Shiffman

Blogging, Conservation, Education, Science

I will be giving some public talks on shark science and conservation this summer. Here’s how to find me! Tuesday, July 7th, Silver Spring, Maryland (Wheaton Library, 5:30 P.M.) This talk is kid friendly, and is an overview of shark science and conservation, as well as my own story. There will be plenty of time … Read More “Some upcoming public talks on shark science and conservation” »