salmon – Southern Fried Science

Save the seals. Congress is trying to shoot its way to salmon recovery

July 22, 2026August 3, 2026 Ali Gaster

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” »

5000 dives under the sea, plastic nomming fungi, scanning Belize’s Blue Hole, the thawing Northwest Passage, and more! Monday Morning Salvage: December 3, 2018.

December 3, 2018 Andrew Thaler

Weekly Salvage

Foghorn (A Call to Action!)

With ice melting in Canada’s Northwest Passage, the area will soon be a new route for international shipping. Follow Life Under the Ice on OpenExplorer!

Flotsam (what we’re obsessed with right now)

Legendary submarine pilot Erika Bergman is exploring Belize’s Blue Hole using state-of-the-art SONAR scanning tools and ROVs. A couple floppy-haired dudes are going too.
DSV Alvin made its 5000th dive. Way to go, little submarine!

A boon to ocean conservation? Certain fungi can degrade marine plastics.
I missed this over the summer, but Nash was an incredible guide and touring ancient Chamorro caves with him was the highlight of my time in Guam. He will be missed by many: Traditional seafarer Ignacio ‘Nash’ Camacho dies.

Ignacio R. "Nash" Camacho, a Traditions About Seafaring Islands member, and codesigner of the Chamoru Sakman outrigger replica canoe "Tasi," talks about his creation during a ceremony at the Guam Museum on June 29, 2017. — Ignacio R. “Nash” Camacho, a Traditions About Seafaring Islands member, and codesigner of the Chamoru Sakman outrigger replica canoe “Tasi,” talks about his creation during a ceremony at the Guam Museum on June 29, 2017.

Ancient fish farming and popular invasive species: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, October 18th 2018

October 18, 2018 David Shiffman

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Cuttings (short and sweet): Follow everyone in this amazing thread of twitter wildlife biologists started by David Steen. Ancient Egyptians farmed fish thousands of years ago. By the New Arab. This is a neat story about a new archaeological study, which tells us about ancient humans’ relationship with the sea. Fun fish festivals around the … Read More “Ancient fish farming and popular invasive species: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, October 18th 2018” »

Pirates, conch, and surfing scientists: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, July 19th, 2018

July 19, 2018 David Shiffman

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Cuttings (short and sweet): Follow Erin Meyer, the director of conservation programs for the Seattle Aquarium, on twitter! Piracy Incident Reported in First Half of 2018 at Lowest Level in 10 Years. From GCaptain news alerts. She said she didn’t know it was illegal to take conchs. She’s heading to jail anyway. By Gwen Filosa, for … Read More “Pirates, conch, and surfing scientists: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, July 19th, 2018” »

Plastic Free Fish, Chainsaw Lobsters, and Artificial Horseshoe Crab Blood: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, May 17th 2018

May 17, 2018May 17, 2018 David Shiffman

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Cuttings (short and sweet): Follow the Pacific salmon network on twitter! Looking for plastic free fish? Here’s one to put on the menu! By Maggie Gillis, for CBC news Scientists find new deep sea species off Java. BBC slideshow. Unexpected walruses crowd Alaska beach. By the Associated Press. The bigger the mother fish, the more babies … Read More “Plastic Free Fish, Chainsaw Lobsters, and Artificial Horseshoe Crab Blood: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, May 17th 2018” »

Seafaring neanderthals and switchblade fish: A mega Thursday Afternoon Dredging, May 10th, 2018

May 10, 2018May 9, 2018 David Shiffman

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After two weeks off, we’re back and bigger than ever! Cuttings (short and sweet): Follow Archaeologist makes case for seafaring Neanderthals. By Christopher Ingraham, for Scientific American. Larson Creek trout may have been wiped out. By Randy Shore, for the Vancouver Sun. US Coast Guard steps up efforts to protect right whales. From GCaptain. The US … Read More “Seafaring neanderthals and switchblade fish: A mega Thursday Afternoon Dredging, May 10th, 2018” »

Meet me in Borneo, exploitation on the high seas, navy sonars, creature reports, and more! Monday Morning Salvage: March 12, 2018.

March 12, 2018March 12, 2018 Andrew Thaler

Weekly Salvage

Happy Monday-est Monday!

Foghorn (A Call to Action!)

This is the final week to get you abstracts in for the International Marine Conservation Congress, the premier ocean conservation conference, coming to you from Kuching, Malaysia this June! We got a cracking good symposium on human impacts in the deep sea and plenty of travel grants available for researchers in need. And, for the first time, we’ll be hosting Make for the Planet, Borneo!

Flotsam (what we’re obsessed with right now)

An outstanding piece on exploitation in the high seas by Jeff Marlow. The High Seas Are Being Exploited. Exploration Must Keep Pace.
This is a thing that happened:

Insect-eating salmon and cloned crayfish: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, February 8th, 2018

February 8, 2018 David Shiffman

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Cuttings (short and sweet): Follow wildlife illustrator Marc Dando on twitter! The rise of fishing apps. By the Fisheries Blog. Misled penguins swim to fishing grounds that no longer have food. By Katie Peek, for Scientific American Spoils (long reads and deep dives): A pet crayfish is cloning itself and spreading around the world. By Sarah … Read More “Insect-eating salmon and cloned crayfish: Thursday Afternoon Dredging, February 8th, 2018” »

Chasing Genius, aquatic brain blobs, hurricanes, bats, and more! Monday Morning Salvage: September 4, 2017

September 4, 2017September 3, 2017 Andrew Thaler

Weekly Salvage

Fog Horn (A Call to Action)

Hurricane Harvey has passed, but its impacts will continue to be felt for years to come. There’s lots of great organizations to donate to, but in the immediate aftermath,it’s often best to donate to local relief programs that already have a ground team in place, rather than national groups that will take weeks to build up their infrastructure. I’m a fan of the Texas Diaper Bank and Portlight Inclusive Disaster Strategies, both of which serve communities that tend to be particularly vulnerable during natural disasters.
Gratuitous self promotion! The OpenCTD and Oceanography for Everyone has been selected as a finalist in National Geographic’s Chasing Genius Challenge! Please help me win the People’s Choice award by voting for the OpenCTD. Visit http://www.natgeochasinggenius.com/video/776, create or sign into your Chasing Genius account, and click the yellow star to vote on my video. Thank you!

Flotsam (what we’re obsessed with right now)

It will take months, if not years, to fully understand the impacts of Hurricane Harvey, which already looks to be the costliest storm in US history. These drone videos give you some idea of the sheer scale of the damage. The Washington Post has an interactive map to help visualize what the equivalent deluge would look like around the world: What the Harvey deluge would look like where you live.

Introducing the Southern Fried Science Class of 2013!

January 30, 2013January 30, 2013 Andrew Thaler 2 Comments

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I am thrilled beyond measure to announce that, after 3 years blogging as a trio, we are welcoming four new authors to the ranks of Southern Fried Science. You will, know doubt recognize these familiar faces from around our humble corner of the ocean blogosphere. The incredible Southern Fried Science Class of 2013 includes: Chuck Bangley Chuck is … Read More “Introducing the Southern Fried Science Class of 2013!” »