Together with Mission Blue, we have issued the 1st-ever quantitative, scientifically rigorous national ranking of states’ protection of their ocean waters. SeaStates: How Well Does Your State Protect Your Coastal Waters? shows that most states and territories are failing to safeguard our nation’s marine life, seafood and coasts.

“Despite so many threats to their health, states are failing to protect our ocean waters,” said Dr. Lance Morgan, President of the Marine Conservation Institute. “No-take marine protected areas are the gold-standard for healthy oceans, but far too few states and territories are designating them.”

» Learn more at www.seastates.org

Deep Coral Areas Urgently Need Protection to Help Save Global Reefs

Marine Conservation Institute and Australia’s ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies just published a compelling paper in the respected journal Nature Climate Change, calling to urgently protect deeper (mesophotic) coral reefs as insurance against the widespread destruction of shallow reefs and their fish populations now taking place around the world.

Key points:

Deeper reefs (30-150 m): 1) Are relatively insulated from global warming and other threats. 2) Remain largely uncharted globally, but estimates indicate their total area is substantial. 3) Are likely refuge areas that could supply coral larvae and juvenile fish to degraded shallow reefs, helping them recover. 4) Are largely unprotected and should be included in marine protected area networks and ecosystem-based management plans.

Why is this important?

Despite large international efforts, global conservation policies have so far failed to prevent the widespread destruction of shallow coral reefs ecosystems. Climate change, ocean acidification, and other human pressures will continue to degrade shallow reefs over coming decades to potential collapse. Resource managers, conservation groups, and government agencies have put very little effort and/or financial resources into the study and protection of deeper reefs, many of which remain vibrant, and could prove to be refuges for many shallow coral and fish species. This paper calls for urgent protection while there is still time.

» Read the full press release here

Marine Conservation Institute Works to Save the Hawaiian Monk Seal

Readers across the nation, and around the world, are being introduced to the plight of the critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal, through a lengthy article in the New York Times Magazine entitled “Who would kill a monk seal?” 

Author Jon Mooallem delved deeply into the crisis of the monk seal, the only marine mammal found solely in the United States. With fewer than 1,100 animals remaining, the seal is one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world. 

Marine Conservation Institute has been fighting for the seal’s survival since 2006.  Most recently, Marine Conservation Institute has begun working directly with fishermen on Kaua`i to understand their perspectives and concerns, to provide accurate information about the seal’s needs and behavior, and to find practical ways for humans and seals to coexist. Find out more about our program here.