The next big ocean fight isn’t somewhere remote—it’s off America’s East Coast. Plans to mine thousands of square miles of Atlantic seafloor could disrupt fisheries, bury deep-sea habitats, and reshape coastal ecosystems before we understand what’s at stake. 🎙️🌊

Miriam Goldstein@miriamgoldstein.bsky.social · 6h ago

🎙️ To dive deeper, check out the American Saltwater Guides Association podcast (EP217: Deep Sea Mining off Virginia’s Coast). @drandrewthaler.bsky.social & I joined to discuss how this mining is happening without public awareness. Listen here: www.saltwaterguidesassociation.com/podcast/ 6/7

Having adult money and unrestricted internet access is a dangerous combination. Especially when someone decides to make an irresistibly adorable plush kraken. Financial responsibility never stood a chance. 🐙💸

Kraken Soft Stuffed Plush Toy

The island that moves — Mythical Woods summons the kraken from Scandinavian legend, the deep-sea colossus that swallowed ships whole.

mythicalwoods.com

#MissAbyss has officially reached the Tribune Tower, and Oakland has a message for the deep-sea mining industry: Hard. Pass. 🐙🚫 From the Town to the trench, we’re standing up for the ocean. Oakland says NO to deep-sea mining. #MissAbyss #StopDeepSeaMining #Oakland #OceanHoptimism

Join Sierra Garcia and the San Francisco Estuary Institute on Thursday, August 27 as we trace pollution upstream, uncover the hidden stories of San Francisco Bay, and discover where each of us has the power to make a difference. Because all of us live upstream of somewhere.

THE URBAN UPSTREAM: Tracking Coastal Pollution to Its Sources

Follow pollution upstream. Join us Aug. 27 as Sierra Garcia reveals how Bay Area scientists track contaminants—and where solutions begin.

eventbrite.com

Sun's out, buns... covered, apparently. ☀️🍑 One of California's oldest clothing-optional beaches is buttoning up as San Gregorio Ranch joins the State Parks system. Great news for public access and habitat protection... a bittersweet farewell to a uniquely free-spirited coastline.

State Parks ends nudity at San Gregorio State Beach as it reopens

California State Parks has a new addition along the San Mateo County coast.

sfgate.com

Repeat after us: MIN-key. 🐋 Now that we’ve got that out of the way… let’s get down to minke business. This month’s Whale of the Month dives into one of the ocean’s smallest great whales—and one of its most overlooked.

The Revelator@therevelator.org · 2d ago

How the minke whale got its name -- and how their underwater calls confused scientists for 50 years... https://therevelator.org/minke-whales/

We’re so excited to welcome Sierra Garcia of the @sfestuaryinstitute.bsky.social to Ocean Hoptimism on Aug. 27! Join us as we follow the hidden journey of pollution upstream—from San Francisco Bay to the neighborhoods where solutions begin. Hope starts upstream. 🌊

San Francisco Bay has a story to tell—but it begins far from the shoreline. Every rainfall carries clues through neighborhoods, storm drains, and creeks before reaching the Bay. On Aug. 27, join us as we follow the story upstream. 🧵

Think we’ve explored California? Think again. A newly discovered glowing deep-sea species off the Channel Islands is a reminder that amazing discoveries are still hiding beneath our own coastline.

New species discovered on expedition to Channel Islands National Park

The animal was discovered over 6,000 feet below the ocean's surface.

sfgate.com

"The applicants are members of the Pou Rāhui Research Project, incorporating mātauranga Māori and scientific tools to restore identified marine taonga species within the areas." www.rnz.co.nz/news/environ...

Hauraki Gulf shellfish harvesting ban extended until 2028

A ban on harvesting certain shellfish in parts of the Hauraki Gulf has been extended for another two years.

rnz.co.nz

This weekend, dozens of four-legged surfers reminded us that the ocean isn’t only a place to protect—it’s a place to celebrate. The World Dog Surfing Championships are pure, unapologetic delight, and we’re here for every salty, tail-wagging second. 🐾🌊

East Bay Times@eastbaytimes.com · 3d ago

Participants from all over the world gathered on the beach to compete in the annual event.

Forever chemicals are scary for a reason. They’re largely invisible, incredibly durable, and difficult to remove once they’re in our environment. Tomorrow, we reveal our August 27 speaker, sharing how a Bay Area team of scientists is tracking pollution upstream—and where solutions begin.

Bon week-end, mes amis!

Seems only fair. We’ve been hearing their iconic “Dum… Dum… Dum Dum…” from a mile away for 50 years. 🦈🎶 Turns out sharks can hear us splashing around from up to 100 feet away—and most of the time, they simply swim on by. #SharkScience #OceanHoptimism

CSU COAST@csucoast.bsky.social · 5d ago

Sharks can hear you swimming from up to 100 feet away! CSULB Shark Lab Director Chris Lowe reveals that sharks often detect humans through sound, not blood. The best part? Their research shows white sharks frequently swim near people completely peacefully us.list-manage.com/BZmB64BquQ9?... #CSULB

The opposite of polarization isn’t agreement—it’s conversation. Dr Green explores how green spaces can become modern “town greens,” where listening, respect, and shared purpose help rebuild the communities conservation depends on.

The Revelator@therevelator.org · 6d ago

How to make a solid case for community #greenspaces: therevelator.org/dr-green-com...

Most species on the brink of extinction are on the Endangered Species list because there is almost no place left for them to live. https://therevelator.org/harm-endangered-species-act/

Harm: How Redefining One Word Strips the Endangered Species Act’s Ability to Protect Vital Habitat • The Revelator

Most species on the brink of extinction are on the Endangered Species list because there is almost no place left for them to live.

therevelator.org

Some of the biggest threats to San Francisco Bay never arrive by boat. They leave clues instead. Tiny traces. Invisible pathways. On August 27, we’ll follow the evidence upstream with someone who knows how scientists are solving some of the Bay’s biggest pollution mysteries. Speaker reveal Monday!

California’s kelp forests need champions. Join the Reef Check Kelp Forest Program team and SeaTrees on August 6 at Faction Brewing for Holdfast Together—a film screening, panel discussion, and fundraiser celebrating the people restoring our underwater forests. Come be part of the comeback. 🌿

Should the coral reef community keep flying to global conferences while reefs decline from climate change? It’s not a simple yes or no. Our latest blog post explores the tradeoffs—including who can actually afford to be in the room. We’d love to hear where you land on this.

To Fly, or Not to Fly?

Every four years, thousands of coral reef scientists, conservationists, managers, students, communicators, and advocates converge from around the world for the International Coral Reef Symposium.The i...

oceanhoptimism.org

Forget fingerprints. Think tire dust, stormwater, wastewater, forever chemicals, and microscopic clues. On August 27, Ocean Hoptimism steps inside real scientific investigations tracing pollution through San Francisco Bay—all the way back to where the story actually begins. Stay tuned.

The story of San Francisco Bay isn’t just about pelicans, seals, crabs, & sturgeon. It’s also about the people casting lines from its shores to feed their families. Understanding effects of pollution means protecting both. In 5 days, we’ll reveal the scientists helping us trace pollution upstream.

Take a joyful break from your doomscrolling with this beautiful, wet moment. From start to finish, it’s wonderful.

Massimo (mirror)@rainmaker1973-m.bsky.social · last wk.

This little dogs tiny dive Original post

Imagine hearing equally well above and below the waves. That’s the superpower seals evolved more than 26 million years ago. Some adaptations don’t just help animals survive—they let them thrive in two completely different worlds. 🦭🌎

Seals' amphibious hearing developed a long, long time ago

Researchers scanned the ears of hundreds of marine mammals to deduce when pinnipeds evolved to hear well in both air and water.

sciencenews.org

At Point Reyes, river otters were documented drowning and eating 73 brown pelicans in a single season—a hunting behavior seen nowhere else but California. Yet the story doesn’t end there: pelicans now appear to be learning, avoiding the lagoon and their unlikely predator. #DamnNatureYouScary

River otters are hunting and drowning pelicans in a Bay Area lagoon

"It's a lot of bang for their buck."

sfgate.com

We’re incredibly grateful to the @alamedapost.com for this thoughtful feature on Ocean Hoptimism and the community we’re building. Hope isn’t the absence of hard truths—it’s what helps us face them together. Thanks to everyone who’s made this journey possible. 🌊💙 alamedapost.com/features/ala...

mendovoice.com/2026/07/cath...

Catherine Breed will set a record by swimming the length of California’s coast • The Mendocino Voice | Mendocino County, CA

But as a large crowd in Fort Bragg learned Sunday, the swim delivers a message of conservation and connection between coastal communities.

mendovoice.com

This. This is why Ocean Hoptimism exists. 💙 One of our regulars just earned her scuba certification this weekend—and sent us a photo with the words: “Thank you Ocean Hoptimism!” We didn’t just inspire awe. We helped spark agency, then action. Welcome beneath the surface. 🌊🤿 www.oceanhoptimism.org

Conservation isn’t always restoring what’s been lost. Sometimes it’s simply refusing to surrender what’s left. The Flamingo Revolution is the story of Albanians who chose to stand their ground. The fight isn’t over—but neither are they.

The Flamingo Revolution: saving Albania's nature rich coastline

A luxury resort supplanted what was once a protected coast in Albania. With the law failing, the people are the only thing left to defend it

oceanographicmagazine.com

As El Niño and a marine heatwave warm the Pacific, scientists warn the ocean is literally running out of breath. Warmer water holds less oxygen, stressing marine life and risking dead zones, fish kills, and ecosystem collapse. Researchers say ocean deoxygenation deserves global emergency status.

As El Niño cooks Pacific, Calif. scientists warn ocean is losing oxygen

A new study offers one solution.

sfgate.com

It’s World Mangrove Day. We can’t imagine a more hopeful image than a tenacious mangrove propagule bursting from the mud amid a clear-cut forest in northern Madagascar, felled for charcoal. Hope persists. So must we—for mangroves, and the countless lives they shelter. 🌱🌊