News and Updates
This section features stories that highlight how remarkable yet fragile the ocean is. It also speaks to the connection between humans and the ocean and our responsibility to protect it.
Stories, unless otherwise noted, are written by Pam Ferris-Olson, PhD. Pam has studied ocean creatures, worked in communication, and, as founder of Women Mind the Water, focuses on the relationship between humans and water. Her Wo(men) Mind the Water Artivist Series explores the work of artivists (artists +activists) and their impact in influencing change.
Maine Lobster takes on Monterey Bay Aquarium
I have written regularly about the ongoing conflict between Maine’s lobster fishing industry and conservationists concerned about the survival of the North Atlantic right whale. The latest actions is that the lobster industry has taken aim at California’s Monterey Bay Aquarium, more precisely the Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program, because they downgraded its rating for lobster caught in Canada and Maine to red, an indication that the seafood should be avoided. The Maine legislature is also targeting Whole Foods as they have chosen to follow Seafood Watch’s guidance. It is clear that the back and forth between lobster and North Atlantic right whale interests shows no signs of abatement with much at stake.
What is a National Marine Sanctuary?
One way the US protects our marine environment dates back to 1972, when Congress passed into law the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. A National Marine Sanctuary is an area within the territorial waters of the US that is afforded special protection for its recreational, ecological, historical, cultural, archeological, scientific, educational, or aesthetic qualities. The resources protected by the national marine sanctuary designation range from coral reef ecosystems to shipwrecks.