Hot Topics

Take a Pass on Chilean Sea Bass!

The National Environmental Trust launched this nationwide consumer education campaign four years ago to raise awareness of the illegal fishing that threatens this slow-growing, deep-sea species. It is not from Chile nor is it a sea bass--the scientific name is Patagonian Toothfish. It went from being virtually unknown in 1991 to a meteoric rise in popularity that left it at the brink of extinction. International laws to protect it from overfishing are ineffective, and estimates suggest it may be commercially extinct within five years. Read more at http://www.net.org/marine/csb/

Washington Watch

A bill presented by California Rep. Richard Pombo threatens our National Marine Sanctuaries and could roll back long-standing protection measures. Read more about it and other legislative issues on The Ocean Conservancy's site at http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=washingtonwatch

Marine Reserves

Established by the National Marine Sanctuary Act, Marine Reserves are protected ocean areas where fishing is prohibited. They have proven to be very effective in preserving and restoring diverse ecosystems. Read more at www.oceanconservancy.org/site/News2?abbr=bpm_&page=NewsArticle&id=7013