Gray Whales Count

06/18/2026

Good News Stories for Endangered Species Day 2026!

This Endangered Species Day, we’re highlighting conservation successes and progress made toward the recovery of endangered species.

This Endangered Species Day, we’re highlighting conservation successes and progress made toward the recovery of endangered species.

06/18/2026

The race to bolster the ocean’s potential to combat climate change

Our oceans have absorbed around a quarter of all the carbon dioxide we’ve emitted to the atmosphere. In recent times that’s around 2.4 billion tonnes a year. But could the planet’s waters be an even bigger ally in the fight against global warming, without doing more damage to its ecosystems?

Estimates suggest that new approaches could remove another 8 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide every year by 2050. Shaun Fitzgerald of the Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge University says the ocean offers “one of the biggest opportunities to take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere”.

Read more:

Our oceans have absorbed around a quarter of all the carbon dioxide we’ve emitted to the atmosphere. In recent times that’s around 2.4 billion tonnes a year. But could the planet’s waters be an even bigger ally in the fight against global warming, without doing more damage to its ecosystems?

06/16/2026

July 5th Cleanup!
Sunday, July 5
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
East Beach, West Beach, Leadbetter Beach

Each year, local July 4th festivities leave behind trash on our beaches and throughout the waterfront area. Without additional resources to pick it up, this extra trash can end up in the ocean and harm wildlife. The City of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, and Tidy Seas are collaborating on July 5th to address this issue.

Join us between 9:00 a.m - 11:00 a.m at one of four locations: East Beach at Cabrillo Pavillion, East Beach, Skate Park, West Beach, and Leadbetter Beach

Cleanup supplies and parking passes will be provided.

Sign up here:
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/n2fa6wm/lp/6d8b59dd-9c10-4b8d-8166-d0429136900e?source_id=c78f4b10-7581-4931-847d-7597affd2efa&source_type=em&c=BxlnH1hD40EdVD8GVOQ42WFwXOZWaADe0zUdfh_deubtdls_0TGNZQ==

06/15/2026

Plastic-Free Expo
Thursday, June 25
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
CEC Environmental Hub, 1219 State St.

Community Environmental Council (CEC) and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper invite you to join us for the 5th annual Plastic-Free Expo featuring local organizations, businesses, and government agencies offering information and resources for eliminating single-use plastic. Learn more about plastic-free initiatives in our community and how you can get involved!

Activities for all ages will be offered, with chances to win exciting plastic-free prizes. Light refreshments will be served. This fun community event is free, and we ask that you please RSVP.

RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/5th-annual-plastic-free-expo-co-hosted-by-cec-and-sb-channelkeeper-tickets-1990527141263?aff=oddtdtcreator

06/15/2026

How retreating glaciers are reshaping deep-sea habitats

A new study shows how debris scattered by icebergs creates a safe landing spot for marine life.

The number of icebergs in the Arctic has increased sharply since the 2000s. This is due to the destabilisation of large glaciers in north-east Greenland and parts of the Russian Arctic, as well as the increasing mobility of sea ice. As a result, stones rain down from the melting icebergs, forming new hard-substrate habitats for marine life on the soft seafloor. This gradually alters the existing communities in the deep sea. At the same time, the increasing presence of icebergs also poses greater risks to shipping and fisheries. These findings were reported by a research team led by the Alfred Wegener Institute and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in the journal Nature.

Most icebergs in the Arctic bear traces of their origin. When large glaciers calve, not only are huge blocks of ice released, but also debris and sediments that have been carried along in the ice for years. As a result, rock fragments become embedded in the icebergs, visible as dark patches and veins on the surface and along their sides.

But what researchers observed on several icebergs in the Fram Strait in 2021 surprised even experienced expedition participants. Dr. Melanie Bergmann, a biologist at the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), spotted the icebergs from a helicopter aboard the Polarstern research icebreaker.

"Some of the icebergs were carrying unusually large amounts of debris and looked almost black from above," she said. In order to investigate this unusual finding, the expedition team documented the rock distribution and collected samples. "We immediately realised that tonnes of rock were drifting through the Arctic Ocean, hundreds of kilometres away from any glacier."

Read more: https://www.whoi.edu/press-room/news-release/more-bergs/?utm_campaign=34322705-Ocean%20Insights%202026&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9owEUAvrX-dGKiHe6WjjwDSD-E-LuldG1H5q85z-78TXL-daeNoQCRH4FtMiEK85E4L1sfBmUol_i5aFpxWkDC4SFMfQ&_hsmi=423427255&utm_content=423427255&utm_source=hs_email

Photo by Mario Hoppman.

06/14/2026

Start of Summer Cleanup with Explore Ecology!
Sunday, June 14
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

It’s a beautiful day for a beach cleanup!

Summer is here, and what better way to celebrate than with a cleanup at Arroyo B***o Beach? Join us on Sunday, June 14, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm to give back to the beach.

Meet outside the Watershed Resource Center (the blue building) to sign in and collect your supplies if needed. Then head to the beach, the parking lot, or the trails around Arroyo B***o to pick up the litter that doesn’t belong in nature.

During cleanup hours, learn how you can help protect local watersheds by visiting the Watershed Resource Center.

Community service hours are available for this volunteer opportunity.

No RSVP is necessary.

P.S. Even a short cleanup helps keep microplastics and litter out of the ocean!

Learn more: https://exploreecology.org/event/beach-cleanup-14/?mc_cid=5c53656f2f&mc_eid=af0bd09c07

06/11/2026

Boaters in the Santa Barbara Channel share the water with many protected marine species, especially whales. Whether you’re sailing, cruising, or whale watching, staying informed helps keep both people and marine wildlife safe. 🐋

NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries has just released a new free online boater education course called "See a Spout? Watch Out!" If you’re a recreational boater, you can complete the course and learn how to safely navigate around whales at sea.

See A Spout’s tips will make you aware of safe operational procedures and whale watching guidelines that will allow for a safer experience and help you view whales while respecting federal whale protection laws. Following these practices helps reduce disturbance to marine mammals and lowers the risk of injury for both animals and boaters.

Find the course here: https://seeaspout.org/boating-course/

Together, we can protect the wildlife and incredible biodiversity that makes our Channel so special. 💙

06/11/2026

06/07/2026

2026 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest!

Celebrate the beauty, wonder, and diversity of America's national marine sanctuaries through your lens!

NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is opening the 2026 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest, inviting photographers, divers, boaters, surfers, paddlers, beachgoers, students, scientists, and coastal communities to share images from national marine sanctuaries and other ocean and Great Lakes places.

This year’s contest introduces four new categories. The photo contest runs through Labor Day, September 7, 2026, making it a great summer opportunity for anyone exploring the coast, Great Lakes, or national marine sanctuaries to share their perspective.
Show the world what the ocean and Great Lakes mean to you.

Learn more: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/photo-contest.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=GovDelivery

06/07/2026

Could new tech help save some very rare whales?

Innovative systems to keep ships from hitting North Atlantic right whales are coming into use. The Trump administration is weighing whether they can replace a bedrock protection.