This blog is best read with musical accompaniment. May we suggest, Barracuda by Heart? You’ll be glad you listened while you read. The great barracuda, Sphyraena barracuda, has a reputation for being fast, aggressive and a fish you should avoid. Their …
This blog was co-written by Natalia De Prisco. Natalia is an 11th grade student in Doral, Florida, who participated in Plastic Free Cities during the Fall 2023 semester. She aspires to pursue a career in business, speaks four languages and is passionate …
“Sea pickles,” “sea worms,” “fire bodies”— these are just a few of the wacky nicknames for one of our ocean’s most mysterious creatures: pyrosomes. Pyrosomes (Family Pyrosomatidae) may look like bizarre jellyfish at first glance, but these quirky critters …
With more than 90% of global trade moving by ocean transport, maritime shipping is a major driver of the world economy. However, shipping has a serious pollution problem that threatens our climate, communities and the marine environment. If we are to avert …
This blog was co-written by Vincent Leggett, the Admiral of the Chesapeake and founder and president of Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation, and Deedee Strum, the chief administrative officer of Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation, in collaboration with …
We are officially within the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season here in the United States, and just a couple weeks ago, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its forecast for this year’s season. The outlook will blow you away. …
Many beachgoers are familiar with the rolling, sandy landscape created by coastal dunes. But do you know about all the animals that inhabit the dunes? Let’s review some facts about dunes and dive into some of their most famous residents. Never miss an …
Mesmerizing crowns. Gorgeous colors. Alien-like appearances beneath our ocean’s surface. There’s no doubt about it that crown-of-thorns starfish are fascinating animals. But don’t be fooled by the beautiful hues and interesting spikes … too many of these …
The ocean is full of beautiful fish—the stargazer simply isn’t one of them. However, sometimes it’s the weird, wonderful, wacky fish that are the coolest, and the stargazer is no exception. Their wide, bugging eyes and perpetual frown will have you …
Did you know that scientists estimate there are trillions of fish alive in our ocean today? About 20,000 marine fish species are currently known to science, and sometimes it can be hard to tell them apart. Some fish, however, are so unique that you can …
When I think of worms, I think of going for a walk on a rainy day and seeing (and smelling) the earthworms on the sidewalk exploring their aboveground surroundings. Did you know that worms also live in our ocean? Yes, it’s true. Sometimes, I have a hard …
The 2023 Status of Stocks report illustrates the challenges of managing U.S. fisheries sustainably in an era where climate change is not down the road—it has already arrived. Overfishing remains a persistent issue, and rebuilding efforts continue to fall …
A mollusk swims up to a sea cucumber. The mollusk looks around at the reef and says (because in jokes everyone talks) to the sea cucumber, “I think we’re in hot water.” I’m no clownfish, but I think Marlin may have told this joke if Finding Nemo came out …
Our ocean is home to a diverse range of species that carry out their daily activities with little concern. Take the surgeonfish, which spends its days peacefully grazing on the green and brown algae of coral reefs. But, beneath this tranquility, ambush …
Gag grouper are reef fish that live in the waters off the Southeastern United States, with a range that extends south throughout the Caribbean and along the coast of Brazil. They primarily eat fish, crabs and shrimp and can live for more than 30 years. …
My favorite creatures in the ocean are the weird ones. Those blobby, slippery, bizarre, alien-looking things that make you wonder “How does that live on our planet with us?” They remind me that the slice of nature I get to see is just a small fraction of …
Nearly every night during our bedtime routine of reading countless books, my kids will ask me, “Why haven’t we met a dinosaur yet?” And, nearly every night, I begrudgingly admit that dinosaurs are extinct, and we probably won’t see one walking down the …
Our ocean’s beloved coral reefs are home to many vibrant, unique and important marine animals. One of these creatures is none other than the surgeonfish, a fish that plays an important role in promoting healthy coral reefs. Love ocean content? Enter your …
Hammerheads are some of the most recognizable fish in the sea—their iconic “hammer” head is unlike the head of any other shark out there. But did you know there are actually several species of hammerhead? Get the scoop on these spectacular sharks! See …
I love long walks on the beach. No, I’m not writing a dating profile here. I really do love strolling for miles on the sand. There’s something nice about exploring the coast, and whenever you get hot you can just pop into the ocean waves to cool down! …
