Issues: Oceans

In Depth Articles

Testing the Waters 2008: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches
Report

NRDC's annual survey of water quality and public notification at U.S. beaches finds that pollution caused the number of beach closings and advisories to hit their second-highest level in the 18-year history of the report. The number of 2007 closing and advisory days at ocean, bay, and Great Lakes beaches topped 20,000 for the third consecutive year, confirming that our nation's beaches continue to suffer from serious water pollution that puts swimmers at risk. This edition of Testing the Waters takes an especially close took at the nation's highest risk beaches -- those that are either very popular, very close to pollution sources or both. The 2008 survey is based on information reported for 2007.

Saving Jamaica Bay
Fact Sheet

New York City’s Jamaica Bay is plagued by an array of harms ranging from overdevelopment on its borders to water pollution to invasive plant and animal species. A unified effort on the part of government and residents is needed to restore this natural gem and to save one of the city’s last wild places.

Florida’s Coastal and Ocean Future
Issue Papers

Nothing defines Florida more than its coast. With tourism, fishing and recreational sport bringing billions of dollars into the state each year, the coast is also Florida's economic engine. But now the state's unique beaches are being threatened by pollution, unsustainable development and overfishing that are leading to plummeting fish catches, outbreaks of harmful algae, dying marine life and beach closures. This issue paper, originally published in September 2006 and updated in April 2007, provides a blueprint for how local leaders and decision makers can -- and must -- take action to protect Florida’s marine and coastal ecosystems. Since its original publication, 160 businesses and organizations have endorsed the Blueprint.

New York State's Strained Ocean Resources
Fact Sheet

Healthy, diverse ocean ecosystems are an important part of New York's coastal heritage and economic well-being. Yet these ocean systems are severely strained from pollution, destruction of productive marine habitat, and overfishing.

In Support of S. 360, the "Coastal Zone Enhancement Reauthorization Act of 2005"
Testimony

Testimony of Sarah Chasis, director of NRDC's water and coastal program, before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, May 25, 2005.

Medicines from the Deep
Issue Papers

Medical research suggests that novel compounds from the deep sea hold tremendous promise for treating human disease, highlighting the need to protect the fragile deep ocean bottom from destructive fishing practices like bottom trawling.

Keeping Oceans Wild
Report

Marine reserves are like national parks, and they are critical to keeping the world's oceans healthy and productive. This NRDC report demonstrates how placing important ocean areas off-limits is already reaping tremendous benefits, and shows how each of us can participate in protecting marine life and habitat for the future.

Priority Ocean Areas for Protection in the Mid-Atlantic: Findings of NRDC's Marine Habitat Workshop
Report

In September 2000, NRDC organized a workshop that brought scientists together to identify specific priority ocean areas in the mid-Atlantic for protection. This report summarizes the results of the scientific workshop in order to foster better understanding, management, and protection of marine species and habitat in federal waters of the mid-Atlantic. The report includes maps reflecting priority areas recommended by each participating scientist.