After Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Puerto Rico’s fishing communities didn’t just rebuild, they transformed. With support from marine conservation non-profit Conservación ConCiencia, fishers are leading efforts to restore fisheries, protect endangered species, and strengthen their communities through collaboration, trust, and resilience.
At the O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory at Oregon State University, scientists and engineers recreate ocean waves to test artificial breakwaters and underwater energy converters. This increased understanding allows engineers to better help protect coastal communities and advance renewable power.
Each winter, Sable Island transforms into the planet’s largest gray seal breeding colony. The Canadian government has studied this seal population since the 1960s, and now experts from the U.S. are conducting a unique physiological study on mom and pup pairs to better understand how iron transferred during lactation influences a pup’s survival.
As shark populations are slowly recovering along the southeastern U.S., recreational fishers are reporting more depredation – instances of sharks eating their catch before they can reel it in. With frustrations mounting among anglers, researchers are testing “repellent” devices in the search for a solution that will keep fishers happy and sharks thriving.