Oceans

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    Sand Dredging Is Unsustainable and Wiping Out Marine Life, UN Says

    Sand Dredging Is Unsustainable and Wiping Out Marine Life, UN Says

    Water is the most overused natural resource on Earth, but the second most might surprise you: sand. Approximately six billion tons of sand is extracted from the planet’s oceans annually, which the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says is unsustainable and poses a serious threat to marine life. “The amount of sand we are withdrawing […]

    CDC Issues Alert on Harmful Bacteria in Coastal Waters Amid High Sea Surface Temperatures

    CDC Issues Alert on Harmful Bacteria in Coastal Waters Amid High Sea Surface Temperatures

    The CDC has issued an emergency alert over a harmful bacteria, Vibrio vulnificus, in warming coastal waters. The center noted that with extreme weather, like heat waves, flooding and severe storms, people should be careful when participating in coastal water activities. “Amid increasing water temperatures and extreme weather events (e.g., heat waves, flooding, and severe […]

    Oil Spills 101: Everything You Need to Know

    Oil Spills 101: Everything You Need to Know

    Quick Key Facts What Is Oil? Crude oil or petroleum is a liquid fossil fuel. We use it to generate electricity, heat our homes, and fuel our cars. Petroleum products supply about 35% of energy in the U.S., with transportation accounting for the largest portion. Burning fossil fuels like oil releases greenhouse gases into the […]

    New Chumash Heritage Marine Sanctuary Proposed off California Coast

    New Chumash Heritage Marine Sanctuary Proposed off California Coast

    The first tribally nominated marine sanctuary has been proposed by the Biden administration in collaboration with the Chumash tribe. The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary would span 5,600 square miles off the coast of central California. The project is now undergoing a public comment period. The sanctuary would include an area off a 156-mile stretch […]

    China Bans All Japanese Seafood Imports as Fukushima Wastewater Is Released Into Pacific

    China Bans All Japanese Seafood Imports as Fukushima Wastewater Is Released Into Pacific

    Japan has begun discharging treated water containing radioactive tritium from the decommissioned Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean. The move led to China announcing an immediate ban on all aquatic products from the island nation. China’s customs bureau said in a statement that it was “highly concerned about the risk of radioactive […]