Conservation – Page 2 – Southern Fried Science

Walking Backwards Into the Future: Applying Indigenous Knowledge to Deep Sea Mining

February 5, 2026 Angelo Villagomez

The Trump administration argues that opening America’s seafloor to deep sea mining is essential for strengthening our economy and securing our energy future. But from a Pacific Islander perspective, this rush to extract metals from the ocean – especially near the Mariana Trench and American Samoa – ignores hard-earned lessons and risks repeating past mistakes. … Read More “Walking Backwards Into the Future: Applying Indigenous Knowledge to Deep Sea Mining” »

Smart Buoys, Deep-sea Mining, Marine Careers, and Dungeons & Dragons: 2025 in Ocean Science Podcasts

January 25, 2026 Andrew Thaler

Conservation, Education, Exploration

2025. Holy Mola was that a long year. I made a concerted effort to appear on more podcasts last year across more topics than I usually do. Excepting the weekly ocean science podcast I’m a part of, I hit a little more than 1 podcast a month throughout the year. If you need an expert … Read More “Smart Buoys, Deep-sea Mining, Marine Careers, and Dungeons & Dragons: 2025 in Ocean Science Podcasts” »

Bipartisan Concern Expressed Over Deep Sea Mining at Congressional Hearing

January 23, 2026 Angelo Villagomez

Conservation, Featured, News, Policy

On January 22, 2026 the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held an oversight hearing titled “Deep Dive: Examining the Regulatory and Statutory Barriers to Deep Sea Mining.” The hearing revealed significant bipartisan resistance to deep-sea mining in the US Pacific territories, including a unified position from Republican members Radewagen of American … Read More “Bipartisan Concern Expressed Over Deep Sea Mining at Congressional Hearing” »

I’m getting married! Want to honor us? Here are some great charities you can donate to.

January 23, 2026January 27, 2026 David Shiffman

Conservation, Education

Some, as they say, personal news: I’m getting married! I’d love to use this happy occassion to spread good news around. To that end, if you’re so inclined to make a donation “in honor of David and Eileen getting married,” here is a list of some great charities I love, and some instructions on how … Read More “I’m getting married! Want to honor us? Here are some great charities you can donate to.” »

Here’s how to help identify Important Shark and Ray Areas in North America!

January 19, 2026January 19, 2026 David Shiffman

Conservation, Science

The Important Shark and Ray Areas project is coming to North America! Colleagues, if you think your data suggests that you’ve identified an Important Shark and Ray Area in your study site, here’s how to submit your data and participate. So what exactly is an Important Shark and Ray Area? In short, an Important Shark … Read More “Here’s how to help identify Important Shark and Ray Areas in North America!” »

Norway and Cook Islands put their deep-sea mining plans on pause.

December 3, 2025 Andrew Thaler

Conservation, Exploration, Featured, Policy

In the last month, two major players in the development of the deep-sea mining industry have put their plans on pause, calling for more research and less urgency in the race to the bottom. In November, the Cook Islands opted to extend their current exploration programs for an another five years, giving contractors and scientists … Read More “Norway and Cook Islands put their deep-sea mining plans on pause.” »

How tiny satellites are tracking marine wildlife

December 1, 2025 Andrew Thaler

Conservation, Education, Exploration

Long time friend of the blog, Dr. Jake Levenson, delivers a talk twenty years in the making, about how space technology and open data standards can help protect the ocean.

Shark scientists want their research to help save threatened species, but don’t know how. Our new paper can help.

December 1, 2025 David Shiffman

Conservation, Education, Science

Sharks are some of the most threatened animals on Earth, and accordingly many scientists who study sharks want their research to be useful for conservation. However, most scientific training does not include a detailed explanation of the policymaking process, resulting in lots of shark research being positioned as relevant to conservation and policy when it … Read More “Shark scientists want their research to help save threatened species, but don’t know how. Our new paper can help.” »

What we know we don’t know: impacts of deep-sea mining on whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles, and other migratory species.

November 20, 2025December 5, 2025 Andrew Thaler

Conservation, Exploration, Featured, Science

Migratory species depend on a vast, interconnected ocean. Disturbance in the deep-sea isn’t localized, it ripples across a globally-connected ocean and impacts made today may persist long after our species fades. Deep-sea mining is an industry in its infancy. As it has slowly matured towards commercial production, the major focus on the impacts of deep-sea … Read More “What we know we don’t know: impacts of deep-sea mining on whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles, and other migratory species.” »

The Science, Policy, and Cultural Implications of Deep Sea Mining

November 17, 2025 Andrew Thaler

Conservation

I was invited by the Sierra Club National Marine Team to talk about the science and policy of deep-sea mining. Watch the panel, above!