News
Channel Island Park Foundation Flower Sale
Drop by the Channel Island Park Foundation's Flower Sale Date: September 17th, 2016 Time: 9am to 1pm At least 10 varieties of plants, among others, ‘Lemonade berry’ (pictured), ‘Coastal sagebrush’, ‘Bush sunflower’, ‘Santa Barbara Island buckwheat’, and ‘Santa Cruz Island ironwood’ will be on sale. The sale is supported by volunteers from the Ventura County Master Gardeners. (Cash or checks only! ) Location: Channel Islands National Park – Visitor Center 1901 Spinnaker Dr. Ventura, CA 93003
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The Oceana Foundation's Guide to Sustainable Seafood
It's hard to know what fish are okay to eat these days. But fear not, we have resources to help. Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch guides provide at-a-glance info on which fish is relatively abundant (okay to eat) and which species are overfished (need to avoid). They also flag types of seafood that contain levels of mercury or PCBs that pose a health risk. Choose your region below, print it out and stick it in your wallet! You can also use their handy iPhone app to get seafood recommendations. Visit Oceana and Learn More about sustainable sea foods and all their good work. http://oceana.org/living-blue/sustainable-seafood-guide
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THE WDC's PLEDGE NEVER TO PLUNGE
Swimming with captive dolphins and having "close" encounters may seem like fun, but the harsh reality is kept well hidden. Dolphins and whales in captive settings suffer from their confinement, have high levels of stress, and often have dramatically shortened lives. http://us.whales.org/pledge-never-to-plunge WDC is raising awareness about the dark side of these programs. Take the pledge and help us end captivity for ALL whales and dolphins. Please sign the pledge and share on your Facebook, Instagram and Twitter account: I #pledgenevertoplunge with the #forgottenwhales and dolphins. http://us.whales.org/pledge-never-to-plunge
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The Ocean Cleanup Project
Boyan Slat, a 21-year-old who gained worldwide recognition two years ago for his ambitious plan to rid the oceans of plastics, is one step closer to making his idea a reality. His foundation just raised the 1.5 million euros they needed to test their technology in real-life conditions, which will take place in the North Sea this summer. Learn More about The Ocean Clean Up Project https://youtu.be/xO1vVAb7BKk Slat is founder and president of the Ocean Cleanup, a foundation dedicated to developing advanced technologies to rid the oceans of plastic. For the past three years, he’s been working on creating a massive underwater barrier that would collect and remove trash from the Pacific ocean. The idea works like this: The V-shaped underwater wall would corral trash passing through into one concentrated area, to then be more easily removed and recycled.
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Did you Know The National Marine Sanctuary Needs Volunteers
From seabird counts to shipwreck reconnaissance to inspiring the next generation of citizens, the national marine sanctuaries offer exciting, meaningful hands-on volunteer opportunities for all ages Many sanctuaries enable volunteers to join in citizen science projects, heritage and culture restoration work, family learning programs and other activities. While local communities are critical to the success of these programs, there are also great voluntourism opportunities for visitors to these destinations. What can you do? Collect data on whale and seabird populations Lead tours Patrol sanctuary waters to inform boaters and spot illegal activity Join in beach clean-ups, recognizing and removing marine debris Help discover shipwrecks and other maritime heritage history Produce learning resources and programs for students These and many more opportunities are available at the sanctuaries listed below. WEST COAST REGION Channel Islands Cordell Bank Greater Farallones Monterey Bay Olympic Coast PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION American Samoa Hawaii Humpback Whale Papahānaumokuākea NORTHEAST AND GREAT LAKES REGION Monitor Stellwagen Bank Thunder Bay SOUTHEAST REGION Florida Keys Flower Garden Banks Gray’s Reef
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Support the expansion of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
Please help support the expansion of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument as part of the National Marine Sanctuary System. http://www.marinesanctuary.org/act/advocate/3118/ Our National Marine Sanctuary System – encompassing 14 National Marine Sanctuaries and Marine National Monuments – brings ecological, heritage, cultural, recreation, education and economic benefits to communities. The science, research and conservation work conducted at these sites under NMSS auspices advance learning and inform the world. The System model emphasizes community participation and partnerships in the sites’ management, preservation and outreach. Papahānaumokuākea is home to critical habitats and marine life including monk seals, sea turtles, whales, dolphins, seabirds, sharks, billfish and tuna. Some of these species are found nowhere else on the planet; and, the oldest living animals on Earth, black corals (Leiopathes sp.) as old as 4000 years, are living in the deep sea habitat in the proposed expansion area. These environments are protected through monitoring and conservation activities, while serving as the destination for cutting-edge research and exploration. With an expansion as proposed, the potential is endless. This special place also has a critical role in Hawaiian identity and culture. With the highest density of sacred sites in the Hawaiian Archipelago, Papahānaumokuākea has spiritual significance in the story of creation of the Hawaiian peoples and the islands themselves. It serves as a reminder of humans’ connections to the environment and our shared responsibility to take care of our planet. I urge you to expand Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument to provide the greatest possible benefits to marine life, protect heritage and leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
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