Coastal Blog — Ocean Ecosystems
November 01 2011
Renewable Ocean Energy Heats Up
The pace of proposed projects for offshore renewable ocean energy (wind, wave and tidal) is heating up. A large area off Virginia's coast is being considered for wind power development and a joint venture between two renewable-energy firms plans to build one of the first testing facilities for offshore wind…
October 10 2011
TransparentSea Shines Spotlight on Surfrider’s Save Gaviota Campaign
Coastal Preservation Ocean Ecosystems
TransparentSea is an ongoing awareness campaign aimed at highlighting coastal environmental issues with particular attention given to cetaceans (whales and dolphins) and the waters they inhabit. They're following the southern migration of the California Grey Whale whale throughout the month of October, joining them near Santa Barbara on October 1st,…
October 01 2011
West Coast EBM Network Meeting in Eureka, CA
Surfrider members recently joined over 50 managers, scientists, and advocates in Eureka, CA to grapple with a key question: How can we better protect our coastal ecosystems through community-based efforts?
September 06 2011
Ocean Energy Interview with Kurt Grossman of Genergy
The Surfrider Foundation is striving to support clean, renewable, low-impact sources of energy. As part of that effort, we are sharing stories about members who are actively working to develop low impact renewable ocean energy projects. We kick of the series with an interview with Kurt Grossman, the CTO &…
August 10 2011
California Dreaming. Parks of the Sea and Land…
People come to California for many reasons. One of the main attractions to our state is its natural beauty—on both land and in the water. According to a recent study, California receives nearly $52 billion dollars a year in “leisure and hospitality.” Much of that leisure and hospitality takes place…
July 14 2011
Surfrider Makes a Splash at the National Ocean Policy Sessions
Surfrider members recently attended a number of listening sessions held around the country on the new National Ocean Policy. At sessions in New Jersey, California, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, and elsewhere, Surfrider members expressed strong support for the National Ocean Policy, while also pushing federal officials to strengthen actions identified in…
July 01 2011
Surfrider Joins Global Protest Against Offshore Drilling
On June 25, Surfrider Foundation activists joined tens of thousands of people around the world in participating in Hands Across the Sand, a grassroots event in support of protecting our coasts from offshore drilling.
July 01 2011
It’s Official. South Coast MPAs Go Into Effect Oct 1, 2011
Ocean Ecosystems Marine Protected Areas
The Fish and Game Commission officially voted this week that October 1, 2011 will be the implementation date for the southern California Marine Protected Areas. For over two years the State, local stakeholders and other organizations have been working to create a network of MPAs that protect sea life and…
June 29 2011
New Rulemaking for Coastal Power Plants
Our Environmental Protection Agency is currently allowing coastal power plants to continue using a cooling system that sucks in and grinds fish, flattens them on screens - or, if they make it through that process, the fish still face boiling hot water through the entrainment process. Virtually no marine life…
June 24 2011
Update on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Southern California and New MPA Science
Ocean Ecosystems Marine Protected Areas
Last December, the California Fish and Game Commission approved a final plan for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in southern California. Next week (June 29), the Commission will meet to discuss the timeline for implementation of protected areas and review MPAs proposed for the far north coast. This week several reports…
June 01 2011
Listening Sessions: National Ocean Policy
The National Ocean Council (NOC) has announced a series of listening sessions to be held around the country on the new National Ocean Policy. These meetings are a great opportunity to provide input on action plans and to highlight Surfrider priorities that could benefit from federal support. See below for…
May 12 2011
Congress Opens Our Coasts for Drilling
The House of Representatives today passed HR 1231 "Reversing President Obama's Offshore Moratorium Act", the third in a trio of bills that would accelerate and expand offshore drilling in the United States. More than ever, now is a critical time to call your senator to ask him/ her to support…
May 08 2011
Blue Vision Summit: May 20-23
Registration is open for the Blue Vision Summit in Washington DC on May 20-23!
April 29 2011
Ocean/Wind Power Ecological Baseline Studies in New Jersey
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Office of Science recently collected baseline ecological/natural resource data for baseline studies in waters off New Jersey’s coast to determine the current distribution and usage of this area by ecological resources. The scope of work included the collection of data on the distribution,…
April 25 2011
Site off Newport, Oregon Chosen for Wave Energy Test Facility
A one-square-mile site off the coast near Newport has been selected for a new wave energy test program, the first of its kind in the United States and the closest one this side of Scotland. The siting decision was announced Wednesday by officials from the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy…
April 15 2011
Global Marine Renewable Energy Conference
On April 28th-29th, the fourth annual Global Marine Renewable Energy Conference will be held in Washington, D.C. This conference will explore how to create a more sustainable energy future with a diverse power generation portfolio including marine renewable energy technologies.
April 14 2011
Tidal Power Testing in Washington
This spring, the Snohomish Public Utility District in Washington will submit its final license application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to install two test turbines on the bottom of Admiralty Inlet. The turbines would look like large “donut-shaped” rings, spanning 33 feet across, positioned several feet above the…
March 30 2011
Tidal Energy Being Studied in Alaska
Ocean Renewable Power, a company which has conducted a pilot project in Maine and developed much of their technology there, is now evaluating the prospects of using tides in the Cook Inlet area of Alaska to spin a turbine to generate electricity. The company just received a permit to begin…
