As a veteran of reporting on the marine environment, David Helvarg is encouraged by recent improvements in the quality of ocean journalism, but sees a pressing need for more hands on deck. Offering inspiration from his own career, he notes that the world’s rapidly changing oceans hold an abundance of stories and urges others to dive in and explore them.
"Strong Santa Ana winds that fueled a rash of wildfires in Southern California have abated, and crews were turning a corner Sunday on the blazes that closed highways, damaged a military base and destroyed multimillion-dollar homes. But an incoming storm system could pose new risks for the region as crews continue to brace for more wild weather this fall."
"Healthy ecosystems may give some of the world’s most vulnerable islands a better shot at survival, new research shows."
"New agreement cuts vaquita's protected area by 86%. Gov't says smaller area will help fishermen.
Only 7 to 10 vaquitas left in Gulf of California."
"A study of Maui survivors found high amounts of toxic metals in their bodies for as long as 18 months after the fire. Another study found the Eaton Fire’s smoke had lead concentrations up to 250 times higher than normal."
"Tens of thousands of people in California were without electricity Thursday as utilities tried to reduce the risks of hot, windy weather that could blow over power lines and spark wildfires."
"The USDA has received more applications for forest aid than it can pay out, leaving Michigan landowners in limbo after a historic ice storm."
"Loggers are finding it impossible to profitably harvest some federal forests. That leaves more fuel for fires to accumulate."
"The nation’s energy regulators have shot down a bid from a regional grid operator to cut power to some large data centers during a supply shortfall — leaving the issue largely in the hands of states."
