Southern Fried Science

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

June 25, 2026August 3, 2026 Ali Gaster

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.” »

Undermining the Law of the Sea. Some additional thoughts following my OpEd in the Hill.

June 22, 2026 Andrew Thaler

Policy

Last week, I published an OpEd at The Hill arguing that the Trump Administration has fundamentally altered the United States’ relationship to the international maritime community and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. It’s tough to capture everything I wanted to say in a few brief paragraphs. Here are some of my … Read More “Undermining the Law of the Sea. Some additional thoughts following my OpEd in the Hill.” »

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!” »

Ageism in the conservation job market

June 19, 2026 Chris Parsons

Uncategorized

Logan’s Run is a sci-fi movie from the 1970s, in which humans live in domes protected from a ravaged world outside. In these domes they live lives of pleasure and luxury. Until they reach the age of thirty, when they go to the Carousel and “renew” (in truth, they get vaporized). Anyone who tries to escape … Read More “Ageism in the conservation job market” »

Screaming into the void – Why your scientific paper doesn’t matter

June 18, 2026 Chris Parsons

Uncategorized

Let’s be honest. Most of us got into conservation science because we wanted to save something. We envisioned our data serving as a shield, protecting a fragile ecosystem or an endangered species from the relentless march of human expansion. We write our papers, carefully craft our “Management Implications” sections, and wait for the policy world … Read More “Screaming into the void – Why your scientific paper doesn’t matter” »

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” »

Tackling the least important debate in deep-sea mining: the desultory hyphen

June 8, 2026June 8, 2026 Andrew Thaler

Education

Is deep-sea mining inevitable? Can deep-sea mining be sustainable? Will the deep-sea mining community ever agree on a payment regime under the common heritage principle? Can the United States issue deep-sea mining licenses in the high seas without ISA approval? Will deep-sea mining awaken eldritch horrors vast and unknowable, from their millennia of slumber? These … Read More “Tackling the least important debate in deep-sea mining: the desultory hyphen” »

“Why Sustainable Seafood Matters” is now available for preorder! Here’s what it’s about, and why I decided to write it.

June 8, 2026 David Shiffman

Conservation, Education, Featured

I am thrilled to announce that “Why Sustainable Seafood Matters,” my second book, is now available for preorder through my publisher Johns Hopkins University Press! Use code HWSSM for 30% off your preorder! Preorders are important because they help signal to booksellers how much interest there is in a book, so please consider ordering a … Read More ““Why Sustainable Seafood Matters” is now available for preorder! Here’s what it’s about, and why I decided to write it.” »

Deep-sea Mining, Domestic Cats, Star Trek, and Ocean Exploration: Andrew’s mid-year podcast round-up.

June 6, 2026 Andrew Thaler

Policy, Popular Culture, Science

The first six months of 2026 have been busy. Between writing for my OpEd fellowship, working on congressional testimony, drafting my upcoming book on the use and misuse of the deep sea, and, well, working an actual job because I still have to keep my family fed and my daughter has developed a taste for … Read More “Deep-sea Mining, Domestic Cats, Star Trek, and Ocean Exploration: Andrew’s mid-year podcast round-up.” »