Featured – Southern Fried Science

Key takeaways from my Convention on Migratory Species report on fish aggregating devices in the Mediterranean Sea

September 3, 2026 David Shiffman No Comments

The United Nations Environment Programme hired me to produce a Convengtion on Migratory Species report on the environmental impacts associated with fish aggregating devices and how to mitigate those impacts. Here are some key takeaways. FADs very widely in design, and different designs have different environmental impacts. Because open-ocean fish tend to associate with any … Read More “Key takeaways from my Convention on Migratory Species report on fish aggregating devices in the Mediterranean Sea” »

Jabberwocks and Snallygasters: teaching environmental education with monsters, mayhem, and dice.

August 31, 2026September 1, 2026 Andrew Thaler No Comments

Conservation, Education, Exploration, Featured, Popular Culture

Did you see the Snallygaster? It was there, clear as day, rooting through the trash at Foxy’s Harbor Grille, its tentacles probing for scraps of fish and week-old oysters. More than a few people heard its horrifying caw as it took the the sky. Thus begins the Curse of the Snallygaster. The Snallygaster is an … Read More “Jabberwocks and Snallygasters: teaching environmental education with monsters, mayhem, and dice.” »

The conservation impacts of recreational fishing

August 25, 2026 David Shiffman 1 Comment

Conservation, Featured, Science

Fishing for fun, even “catch and release” fishing, can sometimes have a significant impact on fish species of conservation concern. When most environmentalists think about the impacts of fishing, they’re thinking about large-scale industrial commercial fisheries. These impacts are serious and absolutely deserve our attention, and indeed how to mitigate those impacts is the subject … Read More “The conservation impacts of recreational fishing” »

How to help protect the deep sea in the Marianas and American Samoa today

August 20, 2026 Angelo Villagomez

Conservation, Featured, News, Policy

Deep sea mining lease sales are scheduled to take place in American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands in November and December, respectively. The Trump administration has advanced a rushed and secretive process in both U.S. territories with limited public participation. Thankfully the United States is still a democracy and the First Amendment guarantees us … Read More “How to help protect the deep sea in the Marianas and American Samoa today” »

Trump Administration Advances Mariana Trench Offshore Mineral Leasing Process

August 19, 2026 Angelo Villagomez

Conservation, Featured, News, Policy

Yesterday the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management ignored the voices of 60,000 public comments and issued a proposed leasing notice for the seabed surrounding the Mariana Trench. This is a key step in selling off 69 million acres of the American seafloor to the mining industry, an area about the size of Nevada. A new … Read More “Trump Administration Advances Mariana Trench Offshore Mineral Leasing Process” »

Please Help This Little Dumbo Octopus Travel Across America

August 3, 2026August 3, 2026 Angelo Villagomez 1 Comment

Climate change, Education, Featured, Policy

A small, friendly Dumbo Octopus named Miss Abyss is currently traveling across the United States, and she needs your help. Miss Abyss carries a message of urgent importance for the future of our oceans. As she makes her journey, she is gathering allies from every corner of the country to oppose the looming threat of … Read More “Please Help This Little Dumbo Octopus Travel Across America” »

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 next OpenCTD is here!

June 22, 2026June 22, 2026 Andrew Thaler

Education, Exploration, Featured

Thirteen years ago, Kersey, Russell, and I set out on a quixotic quest to create a low-cost, open-source CTD for marine scientist and ocean knowledge seekers. The premise was simple: if the Ocean Belongs to Everyone, then the tools to study the ocean should be available to anyone. The OpenCTD was born. A CTD measures … Read More “The next OpenCTD is here!” »

The evolution of the International Whaling Commission – from whaling quotas to whale conservation

June 10, 2026June 10, 2026 Chris Parsons

Conservation, Featured, Science

For decades, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) was defined by a single, highly polarized debate: the battle between pro-whaling and anti-whaling nations over commercial catch quotas. Today, however, the landscape of the IWC has radically evolved. For the current IWC Commissioners, conservation-related topics (such as sustainable whalewatching, marine pollution, and protected areas) hold an equal, … Read More “The evolution of the International Whaling Commission – from whaling quotas to whale conservation” »

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” »