A Blue View

If you walked around Baltimore’s Inner Harbor this spring, you may have noticed the water had taken on a murky, reddish-brown appearance.   That’s if your nose hadn’t already alerted you that something’s fishy.   A dense bloom of algae invaded our local waters. And it was causing fish in the area to go belly up.   So what is this water-fouling, fish-killing bay monster, exactly?

With the recreational crabbing season underway, we need to remember another of our favorite animals: the diamondback terrapin, Maryland's state reptile.

Shark populations in all of the world’s oceans are in danger of collapse, mainly due to overfishing.   Commercial and recreational fishing kills up to 73 million sharks every year—including tens of millions just for their fins.   That’s roughly 200,000 sharks every day.   Why have these predators become prey?

For summertime beach goers in the Mid-Atlantic region, the appearance of stinging jellyfish is dreaded—particularly when it’s in the form of a swarm.   There have been news reports lately that we’re expecting a large number of these hard-to-see stingers in the Chesapeake Bay this summer.   You may be surprised to learn that, from an environmental perspective, this is actually not scary news.

The R/V Falkor, which just paid a visit to the National Aquarium on her maiden voyage, is an example of an entirely new generation of ocean research vessels.   Outfitted with some of the world's most advanced deep ocean sensing technologies and onboard systems, the research facilitated by the Falkor will surely contribute to our understanding of the ocean, so much of which still remains a mystery.

Dr. Diana Reiss, a cognitive psychologist, professor of psychology at Hunter College in New York, and research scientist, joins John Racanelli to discuss her studies on the intelligence of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.   Dr. Reiss made a remarkable discovery: that dolphins, like humans, can recognize themselves in a mirror.

September 15th is International Coastal Cleanup Day. An annual event started 27 years ago by the Ocean Conservancy, the International Coastal Cleanup has become the world’s largest volunteer effort for ocean health.   Every year, countless marine animals, seabirds, and other animals are sickened, injured, or killed because of trash that is made by and falls from human hands.   We caused this problem, and it's up to us to fix it.

Sustainable seafood: hopefully, it's a term you're hearing more and more lately.   Similar to "buy local" and "farm to table," it's a term centered on a rising consciousness of what we put on our plates.   After decades of extravagant eating habits and a dependence on fast food, Americans are becoming reconnected with food.   We go to farmers markets.   We buy local and organic.   We are paying attention.

Summer is on its way out, and the fall bird migration has already begun. Some species begin to move through Maryland as early as July, heading south where resources are more plentiful in the upcoming months; many more will hang on until November or December.    For others, the Chesapeake Bay is their final winter destination.   Whether you are a serious birder or simply enjoy watching the parade of visitors pass by, this is an important time to do your part to support migrating birds.

This September 29 across the country we will celebrate National Public Lands Day.   This annual event is designed to highlight the cultural, economic, and environmental value of our public lands—places like National Parks and Wildlife Refuges.