Chesapeake Ospreys are in Danger—They Need More Fish
Better fisheries management is needed to improve the health of Ospreys in Chesapeake Bay.
Seabirds have declined by 70 percent since 1950.
From overfishing of prey, to climate change, and pollution, seabirds are threatened at every part of their life cycle. That's why Audubon is working to reverse the seabird crisis by focusing on sustainable fisheries management, marine protected areas, and our Seabird Institute.
Fisheries Management
Audubon protects seabirds and the small, schooling fish they rely on. By defending the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, our nation’s only federal fisheries law, we are protecting the long-term sustainability of our fisheries, for the benefit of seabirds and other wildlife that need a healthy ocean. This law has successfully helped recover 44 fish species from overfishing, and it supports a number of commercial and recreational fishing industries across the United States.
We are also working to improve the way that states and federal governments manage forage fish, the small, schooling fish that seabirds, dolphins, whales, and other large fish rely on. Forage fish, like sardines and herring, are the base of the ocean food web, and they are threatened by overfishing and the effects of climate change. We’re working to advance policies that take into account the importance of forage fish for seabirds and other marine wildlife when making decisions about how many fish can be taken out of the ocean.
Fisheries News
The Push to Save Horseshoe Crabs Is Gaining Momentum
Conservationists hope new restrictions on harvesting and synthetic alternatives to a crab-blood compound used in biomedical testing can turn the tide for the ancient arthropods, whose eggs are a vital food source for Red Knots.
Researchers Sound the Alarm Over the Chesapeake Bay’s Ospreys
In the world’s largest population of the fish-eating raptors, reproductive rates have fallen below DDT-era lows. Scientists say overfishing by one company is to blame.
Fifth-annual Seabird Fly-in Helps Advocates Find Their Voice in Washington
Students from chapters across the U.S. traveled to DC to speak on behalf of birds. What they took back home will serve them for years to come.
What I Learned on Capitol Hill
Audubon campus chapter leader Michael Kerrigan recalls what it was like to meet with legislators and advocate on behalf of birds.
Long-Awaited Fisheries Bills Advance as Rough Year for Seabirds Comes to a Close
Seabirds need better fisheries policies to raise their chicks in the face of climate change.
Getting the Low-Down on Advocacy from Sally Puent
It’s all about practice, and knowing what your goals are.
Largest-ever Seabird Action Week Demonstrates the Power of the Audubon Network
Audubon’s third annual advocacy week brings activists together from around the country to speak up for seabirds.
More Food on the Table for New England's Puffins and Terns
Federal fishery managers took decisive action to protect Atlantic herring, a fish many seabirds eat.
Atlantic Fishery Commission Misses the Mark on Menhaden
A new decision by an Atlantic Coast fishing regulator may put coastal birds like Ospreys at risk of not having enough to eat.
A Big Day for the Little Fish that Seabirds Rely On
A unanimous vote today recognizes the important role menhaden play for birds, fish, and other wildlife on the Atlantic Coast.
Seabirds and Fisheries Get a Virtual Lift in Congress from Audubon Advocates
Grassroots members attend Audubon's annual forage fish fly-in and speak to legislators about the importance of healthy fisheries.
Celebrating the First-ever World Albatross Day
A chance to highlight these magnificent, globe-trotting birds and learn what we can do to protect them.
Saving Red Knots One Crab at a Time
Learn what you can do to help shorebirds and the food they rely on.
California Pioneers a New Way to Manage Fish for Birds
The Golden State enacted a new policy this month to ensure there are plenty of Pacific herring in the sea.
Great News for Atlantic Seabirds
A small fish called menhaden will be better managed in Virginia.
A Tale of Two Fish
Atlantic fisheries managers move to protect the little fish seabirds rely on.
A New Wave of Advocates Arrives in Washington
At a recent fly-in event, Audubon volunteers challenge Congress to save seabirds.
Marine Protected Areas
We are working to establish marine protected areas at key locations throughout the Western Hemisphere, including in the U.S., Bahamas, and Chile. Marine protected areas are key to providing habitats for seabirds, fish, and other marine life that benefit coastal communities and economies. For example, the new Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, which Audubon and others helped establish through advocacy and education encompasses crucial wintering grounds for Atlantic Puffins that nest in Maine. Its designation as a national monument limits fishing, drilling, and mining within this nearly 5,000-square-mile region. In addition, in the Bahamas, our scientific data was factored into the establishment of the 92,000-acre Joulter Cays Marine Protected Area, which is the wintering home for thousands of shorebirds, including 10% of the Atlantic population of Piping Plovers. Such protections uphold rich habitats that grow commercial fish populations, while providing a refuge for birds and other wildlife. In coalition with our partners, Audubon will advocate for continued and new protections for these marine protected areas.
Marine Protected Areas News
The Challenges Our Oceans Face, And the Actions We Can Take
Birds need healthy oceans to thrive. Here are some of the things we're thinking about for World Ocean's Day.
Our Connection to a Great Inland Sea
ᑲᓇᓇᑲᑕᐧᐁᓂᑕᒪᐠ ᑭᒋᑲᒥᔾ
Gulf of Mexico Marine Sanctuary Nearly Triples in Size
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary is one of the only safe havens for Gulf seabirds.
Creating Safe Havens for Seabirds
The Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act will help seabirds and coastal communities persevere in the face of climate change.
Protections Removed for Atlantic Puffins’ Winter Home
Pres. Trump to allow commercial fishing in the Atlantic Coast’s only marine national monument.
A New Sanctuary in Chile Will Protect the Red Knot’s Winter Home
Important Bird Area Bahía Lomas is now a protected nature sanctuary.
Seabird Institute
Over the last 40 years, Audubon's Seabird Institute (formerly known as Project Puffin) has accumulated significant data on seabirds and their diets, restored seabird nesting colonies in Maine for approximately 42,000 seabirds and exported these techniques to seventeen countries, and inspired hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. and internationally to support seabird conservation. Audubon’s network of seven actively managed seabird nesting islands and the Hog Island headquarters and educational facility are located in the coastal waters of the Gulf of Maine, one of the fastest-warming regions of the global ocean. This network serves as a living laboratory to study and teach about climate change impacts on seabirds and the fish and marine ecosystems on which they depend.
Seabird Institute News
Finding My Footing in the Seabird Community
A newcomer dives into the world of Pacific seabird science to help Tufted Puffins.
Tufted Puffins are Getting a Boost in the Pacific Northwest
Audubon and partners are launching new efforts to save this declining seabird.
50 Years of Project Puffin: An Oral History of an Incredibly Audacious Idea
In 1973 a young biologist hatched a plan to bring a charismatic seabird back to Maine. It was the start of a five-decade scientific adventure that would ultimately revolutionize seabird restoration.
This Art Show Captures the Magic of the World’s First Restored Seabird Colony
An immersive exhibit in Maine transports viewers to Eastern Egg Rock, where Project Puffin began.
After a Climate Disaster Last Year, Maine’s Seabirds Get a Reprieve
Audubon researchers say seabirds across the state successfully raised chicks at double the rate of last year.
This World Oceans Day, Explore the Secrets of Seabirds
Our video series dives into the lives of seabirds and the threats they face.
A Conversation with Derrick Jackson for #BlackBirdersWeek
The Hog Island instructor, photographer, and journalist shares his experience as a Black birder working with puffins.
Climate Change is Already Affecting the Ocean and the Birds That Rely on It
A new United Nations report details the triple-threat that climate change poses to the ocean and its wildlife.
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