Last week I blogged about the International Year of the Earth and noted that one of the Year’s themes is oceans. Well, there are plenty of reasons to be concerned about our oceans and how they are faring, including their effects on human health, climate, and sealife. I recently read a posting on the GovGab blog called “Save the Fish, Save the World!,” with links to a number of federal government agencies that monitor oceans, and I’d like to share most of it with you here:
“Recently, two EPA staff members joined environmental scientists and the crew of EPA’s Ocean Survey Vessel (OSV) Bold to document science and research in action. Read their blog posts to get an in-depth look at what’s involved in protecting our waters.
The Ocean Observing System, is a network of people and technology from various federal, regional, and state organizations that work together to generate and distribute data on the nation’s coastal waters, Great Lakes and oceans.NOAA is not only responsible for daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings and climate monitoring, but they are also responsible for fisheries management, coastal monitoring and supporting aquaculture.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a Coastal Program that provides incentives for voluntary protection of threatened, endangered and other species on private and public lands alike.
How can you help? Check out Fish Watch when buying fish to find out which fish populations are listed as sustainable. You can also follow these suggestions to help protect coral reefs. If you are considering a conservation career, check out Careers: Conserving the Nature of America.
So, do you think we are doing enough to keep our oceans viable and to prevent environmental disaster?”
Another interesting site is the United Nations Atlas of the Oceans, which provides lots of information about oceans and the issues related to them.
Your University Library also has material (books, articles, reference works) if you’d like to do research on ocean issues, such as Oceans: an illustrated reference (2nd-floor Reference Collection GC11.2 .S76 2006). So dive in! Contact a reference librarian if you’d like assistance.
The University Library is a federal depository with many federal, state, local, and international documents on a variety of current and relevant issues available to you in print, microfiche, CD-ROM, and electronically. Come check out your government at the University Library!
