logoThe Ocean Report: 1998

Hosted by Peter Benchley

The Ocean Report files are in Real Audio 28.8 format, and can be heard using the Real Audio Player.

January 1998

The Year of the Ocean (1/1/98)
Happy New Year! The United Nations General Assembly has declared 1998 "The Year of the Ocean." So while you're resolving to exercise and eat healthy, add a resolution to protect the ocean -- and the health of your planet.
Listen

Bears on Thin Ice (1/2/98)
It's on the sidewalks, it's on your windshield -- you probably feel like you could live without ice. Polar bears, on the other hand, rely on the slippery stuff. But global warming could put a crimp in their way-cool lifestyle.
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Eelgrass (1/5/98)
Yes, it really IS as slippery as an eel. Though you may not see any eels slithering among the long narrow leaves, plenty of other creatures make a home in this sea grass -- which is actually a flowering plant, and no relation to seaweed.
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Tracking Turtles (1/6/98)
Research shows that leatherback turtles migrate across the Pacific Ocean along invisible highways. So if we're going to protect these endangered turtles from "highway robbery," we need to protect the routes they travel.
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Sea Squirt (1/7/98)
These lumpy tidepool dwellers really do squirt water -- that's where they get their names. But they also filter the water to extract their food, and a sea squirt the size of a baby's finger can filter up to 250 gallons of seawater a day.
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Biggest Fish in the Sea (1/8/98)
What's the biggest fish in the sea? Two sharks compete for this title: Whale sharks and basking sharks. Both can grow as big as a city bus -- but they're gentle giants who feed on tiny plants and animals they strain from the water.
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Manatee Update (1/9/98)
How long does a manatee live? The answer to this question is, 'It depends.' The slow-moving marine mammals CAN reach the ripe old age of 50--but what with boat collisions and other environmental problems, they rarely do.
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Trawling (1/12/98)
Some fishing boats go after bottom-dwelling fish using nets called "trawls." These rigs churn up the bottom like a plow slicing through native prairie, disrupting the living blanket of sea life on the ocean floor and destroying habitat for fish.
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Nauticisms (1/13/98)
Many of the expressions that sailors used long ago are still in use today. In fact, the English lanuguage has a rich marine heritage. We'll try not to go overboard as we show you the ropes.
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Parrotfish (1/14/98)
Life is one long masquerade party for the colorful fish called the parrotfish. These reef dwellers wear different costumes at different points in their life cycles' And parrotfish don't just change their color; they also change their sex.
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Ecoroulette (1/15/98)
Purging a ship's ballast tanks is the ecological equivalent of Russian roulette. Tiny creatures picked up in the port of origin leave ship with the ballast water -- and there's no telling how these living bullets may harm the ecosystem.
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Wait Until Dark (1/16/98)
The ducklike birds called western grebes feed on small, silvery fish that are hard to see, even in broad daylight. But the grebes don't feed by day -- they wait until dark. So how do they find their food? They use a living light source.
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Fish Tagging (1/21/98)
For centuries scientists have been putting tags on birds to track their movements. Now special tags are revealing the secret lives of fish, not to mention sharks, whales, turtles, and other ocean creatures.
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Scallop Comeback (1/22/98)
Georges Bank was declared off-limits in 1994 to protect dwindling fish populations. Now there are signs that some fish are making a comeback. But there's also an unexpected bonus: scallop populations are growing too.
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Ocean Services (1/23/98)
The ocean gives you more than fish dinners -- it also provides a host of environmental services, like climate control and oxygen production. These are services you may take for granted -- valuable services you don't pay for.
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Swordfishing (1/26/98)
It used to be that when you wanted to catch a swordfish, you went after a single fish with a harpoon or your fishing rod. Today fishing boats use so-called "long-lines," gear that can snag many swordfish all at once.
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Coral Cores (1/27/98)
Is the global warming trend that's happening now really so different from natural weather patterns in the past? To find out, scientists are reading ancient weather reports that are written in layers of coral.
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Leatherback Decline (1/28/98)
The words' largest living sea turtles are in danger of extinction. Scientists say the single biggest threat to their survival is modern fishing practices that accidentally tangle and drown these magnificent turtles.
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Ocean and Climate (1/29/98)
One way to predict the weather is to look at the sky. But if you need to look beyond the weekend forecast, look at the ocean. Right now, it's the best way we have to predict long-term trends in the weather.
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Great White Sharks (1/30/98)
They have black eyes and bone-crushing jaws. Some people call them the ocean's perfect predators. Great white sharks inspire fear like no other animal. And yet these big sharks need our help to survive.
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February 1998

Clean Water Act (2/02/98)
"Non-point source pollution" it means lots of little sources of pollution, like storm-drain and farm-field runoff. Together they add up to a big water quality problem -- a problem that the Clean Water Act doesn't address.
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Polar Toxins (2/03/98)
The Inuit people of northern Canada still eat traditional native foods such as whale meat. You'd think that a traditiona1 native diet would be a healthy one. But unfortunately, industrial toxins such as PCBs now come with dinner.
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Sounding the Alarm (2/04/98)
Each year thousands of dolphins and porpoises drown in fine-mesh nets that were set for fish. Now scientists are testing an underwater alarm. It's sends out a high-pitched noise that seems to help porpoises avoid these nets.
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The Last Buffalo Hunt (2/05/98)
A hundred years ago, market hunting wiped out buffalo on America's prairies. Today, says Dr. Carl Safina, taking wild fish from the ocean is the "last buffalo hunt" -- the last great chase of wildlife for commercial purposes.
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Swimming with Dolphins (2/06/98)
There's a new popular pastime sweeping the Sunshine State of Florida: trips that take you to swim with wild dolphins. But not only is this practice illegal, it's dangerous for you and for the dolphins.
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Swordfish Conservation (2/09/98)
Fishing boats that go after swordfish tow "long lines" studded with hooks. Trouble is, the lines don't discriminate. They catch baby swordfish before they ever reproduce -- and that hurts swordfish populations.
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Gas Worms (2/10/98)
Pink worms that eat bacteria and tunnel into frozen gas -- it sounds like science fiction. But it's science fact. The discovery of these worms last summer in the Gulf of Mexico shows how little we still know about the deep-ocean floor.
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Seamounts (2/11/98)
An underwater volcano is called a "seamount." But even if the volcano's not active, there's still plenty of action under the water -- in the form of fish and other ocean animals attracted to the nutrients that concentrate around a seamount.
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Think Fish (2/12/98)
When you close your eyes and think "fish," says Dr. Carl Safina, what do you see? His own favorite fish is the majestic bluefin tuna -- a creature so huge and so unusual that it strains our conventional concept of 'fish.'
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Song for a Blue Ocean (2/13/98)
That's the tide of a new book by Dr. Carl Safina, who says that the rules you learned the very first time you ever went fishing still apply to the complex ocean issues of today: "Throw back the little ones, and don't take too many."
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River of Grass (2/16/98)
Conservationist Marjorie Stoneman Douglas called the Florida Everglades a "river of grass" . . . and the name stuck. But water is being diverted to farms -- and to homes in Miami -- and the river of grass is in danger of running dry.
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Ocean Wanderers (2/17/98)
The word "zooplankton" refers to microscopic animals that float in the ocean, moving at the whim of the currents. Some kinds of plankton float free all their lives, but today you'll meet some temporary travellers.
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The Plankton Pump (2/18/98)
One way to collect zooplankton for research projects is with a big pump that sucks in the tiny animals like a vacuum cleaner. Now Dr.Cheryl Ann Butman has designed a kinder, gentler plankton pump.
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A Good Taboo (2/19/98)
The word "taboo" has its origins on tropical islands in the western Pacific. Here, native cultures have rules that prohibit eating certain kinds of sea animals -- and these taboos have actually served to protect ocean life.
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Killer Frisbee (2/11/98)
Killer whales off the northern coast of New Zealand play a game that looks a lot like Ultimate Frisbee. But instead of the famous flying disk, these whales are tossing around sting-rays the size of dinner tables.
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The Dead Zone 1 (2/23/98)
In the summer, the warm coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico usually teem with life. But where the Mississippi River meets the Gulf, there's a "dead zone." The water in the zone is so low in oxygen, nothing can live there.
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The Dead Zone 2 (2/24/98)
What does corn in Iowa have to do with Gulf Coast shrimp? More than you might think. The Mississippi River carries farm fertilizer to the Gulf of Mexico . . . where it's having a deadly effect on shrimp and other sea creatures.
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South Slough (2/25/98)
The word "slough" means "estuary" -- where the River meets the sea. South Slough, on the coast of Oregon, is a National Estuarine Research Reserve -- a place for scientific research, and an important rest stop for migrating geese.
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Driving on the Beach (2/26/98)
Last spring in the State of Washington, a beach-cruising teenager aimed his car at a flock of shorebirds, killing more than 400 of them. The incident sparked a controversy: Should driving on the beach be restricted?
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Skimming From the Top (2/27/98)
That's the term scientists use to describe fishing practices that take away all the so-called "top predators" in an ecosystem. The trouble is, once you start skimming from the top, the bottom of the ecosystem may fall out.
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March 1998

Mapping the Arctic Floor (3/02/98)
Last year, the U.S. Navy provided Civilian scientists with maps of the Arctic Ocean floor. This new data helps researchers Understand how the Arctic Ocean affects climate patterns and circulation in the Atlantic Ocean.
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Sea Monster Myths (3/03/98)
Sea monster myths have existed for years. These tales from the deep explain strange sightings at sea. Mermaids, Loch Ness monsters, and other sea creatures are regular characters in our sea folklore, but are they real?
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The Coming Flood (3/04/98)
In the past century, the earth's surface temperature has been warming up. As a result, polar glaciers are melting into the ocean and raising the sea level. This phenomenon may lead to the erosion of many U.S. beaches.
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Deep Ocean Reserves (3/05/98)
Most U.S. marine sanctuaries protect ocean habitats near the coastlines. Today, some scientists are working to extend protection out to the open ocean-and on the deep sea floor.
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The Chef Speaks (3/06/98)
Chefs have many fish to choose from when they select entrees for a menu. Now some chefs have made it a priority to take swordfish off their menus -- because these fish play a more important role in the ocean than on the table.
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Seabird Spotlight (3/9/98)
The delicate seabirds called storm petrels are good luck omens at sea. Sailors have affectionately nicknamed these sea birds Mother Carey's chickens. Now endangered, storm petrels are the ones in need of some good luck.
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Fish are not Cabbages (3/10/98)
We are rapidly depleting our ocean's resources. So why don't we grow our own seafood? "Farming the ocean" may sound like a great idea, but it could waste our resources and destroy natural habitats.
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Mediterranean Monk Seal (3/11/98)
Mediterranean monk seals are one of The world's most endangered mammals. These seals lack ample breeding grounds, and they drown in dangerous fishing nets. Now, they even have to fight off a lethal viral infection.
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Lighthouses 1 (3/12/98)
Lighthouses once warned sailors away from dangerous waters. Now lighthouses are in danger themselves. These towers may topple into the sea as the ocean gnaws away at the beaches they stand on. But the Coast Guard is here to help.
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Lighthouses 2 (3/13/98)
Moving a historic lighthouse away from an eroding cliff requires engineering know-how -- and the ability to raise local support to fund for a very expensive move. The U.S. Coast Guard used this approach and succeeded.
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Uncertain Science (3/16/98)
Making policies that protect fish populations is not an easy task. The most difficult part is finding ways to accurately count the fish in the sea. But even with their best efforts, scientists can only hope to make reasonable estimates.
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Cyanide Fishing (3/17/98)
A booming trade in live reef fish for restaurants and home aquariums in Asia is hurting more than just fish. Divers use cyanide to temporarily stun and catch fish, but this toxic chemical kills the living coral reef.
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New Salmon Hatchery (3/18/98)
The Cle Elum Salmon Hatchery on the Yakima River raises offspring of native, wild salmon. Once they're reared, these fish will go into the river to fend for themselves and help increase salmon populations.
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Tidewater Goby (3/19/98)
Although one female can lay up to 600 eggs at a time, the fish called the tidewater goby is on the endangered species list. Real estate development and California droughts are making this creature's habitat a thing of the past.
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Silent Spring (3/20/98)
Rachel Carson, a marine biologist, wrote a book called Silent Spring. The controversial book raised questions about the use of pesticides. Her writings sparked a chain of events that eventually lead to a ban on some toxic pesticides.
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Aliens (3/23/98)
Tiny organisms can travel in the ballast water of cargo ships. Often they end up in foreign places. To keep unwanted invaders out of U.S. waters, America forbids the release of ballast water from foreign ports in the Great Lakes.
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White Abalone (3/24/98)
This California snail can produce 10 to 15 million eggs each year-and it can live to be 54 years old. Yet we have driven the abalone to the brink of extinction because of our insatiable appetites for a delicious gourmet treat.
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Ozone Effects (3/25/98)
Microscopic ocean plants called "phytoplankton" are a key link in the global food chain. Today, these tiny plants face threats from damaging ultraviolet radiation exposure as the hole in our ozone continues to increase.
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Comma Shrimp (3/26/98)
As a taxonomist, Dr. Les Watling has the important job of identifying new species in the ocean. He specializes in a group of sea creatures named after a punctuation mark-the comma shrimp. Many more species await discovery.
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Atmospheric Deposition (3/27/98)
What goes up must come down, so water pollution and air pollution are more closely linked than you may think. New evidence suggests airborne pollutants can actually end up in lakes, rivers, and coastal waters.
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Double-hulled Vessels (3/30/98)
When the Conoco oil tanker called the Guardian collided with another vessel in Louisiana last fall, it sustained a 10-foot gash. But not one drop of oil spilled, thanks to the tanker's innovative double hull.
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Sponges (3/31/98)
Ocean sponges can be as small as a blob of silly putty or as big as a wine barrel. They're very simple animals, but their cells have sophisticated properties: Push a sponge through a layer of cheesecloth, and the separated cells can reassemble.
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April 1998

Keep Off the Grass (4/1/98)
It's no April Fool's joke! Park rangers in Florida's Biscayne Bay National Park are strapping on snowshoes. When boats run aground in seagrass beds, rangers in snowshoes can go to the rescue without damaging the grass.
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The Perfect Storm (4/2/98)
A hurricane off Bermuda. A Nor'easter bearing down on the Grand Banks. According to author Sebastian Junger, these are the makings of "The Perfect Storm" -- the title of his book about a fishing boat lost at sea.
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Fouling Their Own Nest (4/3/98)
Ever wondered what fishing boats do with their sewage? They're supposed to hold it till they reach port . . . and approved disposal facilities. Boats that don't follow the rules can end up fouling their own nest.
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Beebe's Bathysphere (4/6/98)
In 1930, zoologist William Beebe invented a diving chamber called the "bathysphere." The steel ball, just five feet in diameter, dove to new depths-and a whole new world of ocean exploration opened up to science.
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Mussel Watch (4/7/98)
Mussels filter their food from ocean water -- and with the food comes any pollutants that are present. That makes the shiny bivalves living indicators of water quality, and the focus of a monitoring program called "Mussel Watch."
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Queen Conch (4/8/98)
The big pink snails called queen conchs are an emblem of the Florida Keys. The conchs are not only beautiful, they're good to eat - and now, they're rare. A new program relies on volunteers to help the queen make a comeback.
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Invasion of the Green Crabs (4/9/98)
Small but fierce, European green crabs have invaded bays and estuaries around the globe munching up native shellfish in the process. What's the secret to their success? All their natural enemies are back in Europe.
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Crab Control (4/10/98)
How do you handle a hungry green crab? Researchers at the University of California at Santa Barbara have a plan for crab control that sounds Like the plot of a Hollywood horror movie: Parasitic barnacles that invade the crabs' bodies.
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Birds Hit the Roof (4/13/98)
You probably don't think of shopping malls as wildlife habitat. But if you visit one busy mall in Maryland, you'll find that the roof is an ideal nesting ground for the federally endangered seabirds called Least Terns.
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Tracking Ocean Currents (4/14/98)
To check for leaks in your pipes, a plumber drops in some dye, then watches to see where the dye leaks out. Scientists are using this technique on a grand scale to track ocean currents, using so called "tracer compounds."
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Ocean Flagship (4/15/98)
To celebrate the International Year of the Ocean, special ambassador is cruising around the world the triple-masted sailing ship Picton Castle. To fol1ow the voyage online, got to ocean98.org and click on "Picton Castle."
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Stromatolites (4/16/98)
You find them in shallow, salty water -- formations called "stromatolites." They're dark and lumpy, like oversized heads of broccoli. These homely shapes are the subject of a scientific controversy: Are they alive -- or are they dead?
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The Rising Tide (4/17/98)
Sensors placed in tide zones have collected undeniable evidence -- the ocean is rising. The United States is already feeling the effects of the rising waters. And we'll need more than an ark to prepare for the coming flood.
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Oarfish (4/20/98)
Those stories of sea serpents have their origin in real sightings of one of the world's rarest fish -- the oarfish. An adult oarfish can be more than 50 feet long -- snakelike and sinuous, with oarlike fins and a streaming red crest on its head.
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Dynamite Fishing (4/21/98)
Fishing with dynamite is popular because it's easy. The explosion stuns the fish, and they float to the surface. But dynamite fishing is also like killing the goose that laid the golden eggs -- it blows up the reefs that the fish depend on.
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Earth Day, Ocean View (4/22/98)
Today is Earth Day. What better day to ask, "How do YOU view the ocean?" A recent survey shows many Americans feel the ocean is important to them personally -- and they're worried about pollution and overfishing.
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Cordell Banks Sanctuary (4/23/98)
Off the coast of California lies the national marine sanctuary called Cordell Banks. It's an underwater island where whales gather to feed on a rich soup of plankton, concentrated there by swirling currents.
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State of the Coast Report (4/24/98)
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has a new, interactive way to keep you informed about coastal issues. To visit the State of the Coast website, go to www.noaa.gov and click on Coastal Issues.
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Sponge Cure for Cancer? (4/27/98)
Sponges are simple animals. You can use a natural ocean sponge to wash your car, or mop up a spill. Now scientists think they may have a new way to use sponges--to formulate a drug that will kill cancer cells.
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The Ocean Floor (4/28/98)
Contrary to what you might think, the sea floor is not a simple barrier, like the bottom of a bucket. Instead, it's the top of a "transition zone" that's two miles thick. Water circulates through this zone, and ocean life may hide inside.
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Toxic Sediments (4/29/98)
Some pollutants "hitch-hike" on particles of soil. They get washed into rivers and coastal waters, settle to the bottom, and build up in the muddy sediments. Now the U.S. EPA is calling for action to clean up toxic sediments.
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Hawksbill Turtles (4/30/98)
The hawksbill sea turtle has a high price on its head because of the treasure it carries on its back--a beautiful, amber-colored shell. Even though the international trade in tortoiseshell has been shut down, problems still persist.
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May 1998

Oxygen from the Ocean (5/1/98)
The ocean is like a huge oxygen machine--it produces the very air you breathe, thanks to ocean algae called phytoplankton. U.S. and Russian space agencies have tested how these algae could support life on a spaceship.
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GLOBEC (5/4/98)
When overfishing depletes fish populations, how do you fix the problems? First, you need to understand them--and an international research program called GLOBEC aims to do that, by studying how fish populations grow and change.
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Cod-Catchers (5/5/98)
Once, New England's George's Bank swarmed with cod. Today, cod are almost fished out. And an unusual predator has stacked the odds against a comeback. This jellyfish relative, called a hydroid, eats tiny cod--and the food they need.
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El Nino Effects (5/6/98)
You've heard how El Nino has brought storms to coastal areas. Maybe you've even felt El Nino's force. While we humans struggle with the effects of El Nino, so do creatures in the sea, from sea lions and sea otters to living coral.
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Threatened Loons (5/7/98)
The black-and-white birds called common loons are emblems of the North Woods, a veritable symbol of wilderness. But did you know that loons also spend half their lives on the ocean? And they face threats in both places.
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Minimata Tragedy (5/8/98)
Forty years ago, the name "Minimata" became a synonym for "pollution" when an epidemic of mercury poisoning struck this small Japanese town. Today, fish in Minimata Bay are safe to eat--but the town still bears scars.
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Oceans of the Moon (5/11/98)
Tonight, the moon is full. Look up at its shining surface and you'll see flat spots called "oceans of the moon." Despite the name, lunar oceans are dry as dust. But now, scientists have discovered water elsewhere on the moon.
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Mussel Glue (5/12/98)
Mussels make some of the world's strongest glue--glue that doesn't give up when it gets wet. If scientists can duplicate the sticky stuff in the lab, mussel glue could have many commercial uses, from dentistry to painting primers.
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Jumpstarting Seaweed (5/13/98)
A decade after the Exxon Valdez oil spill, oil still coats the rocks in places, so seaweed can't get a grip to grow hack. Now scientists have found a way to help. Biodegradable mats give young seaweed plants a foothold.
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Eelgrass Limpet (5/14/98)
Once, these tiny, flat snails were common in East Coast eelgrass beds. Now, they're extinct. But that's not the saddest part of the story. The really sad thing is that it took 60 years for anyone to notice that the limpets were gone.
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Reef Repair (5/15/98)
Shipping accidents . . . cyclones . . . hungry starfish . . . they're all coral killers. Now scientists are learning how to speed up the reef recovery process--by transplanting fragments of healthy coral into a damaged reef.
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Underwater Observatory (5/18/98)
Off the New Jersey coast is a "Long-Term Ecosystem Observatory"--an underwater window on the ocean. You can even go online from the comfort of your home to see what LEO sees.
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Seasickness (5/19/98)
The waves rock the boat ... up... and... down... up... and... down... and your last meal starts to do a tap-dance in your stomach. What causes seasickness anyway? And what can you do to avoid it?
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The SWATH Ship (5/20/98)
Here's how some ocean researchers avoid seasickness -- they ride on a so-called "SWATH Ship." A specially designed hull puts the buoyant part of this boat far below the surface -- where the water is calm.
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Mining the Ocean (5/21/98)
It's expensive and difficult to extract precious metals like gold and silver from the deep ocean. Now, one company has plans to mine some rich deposits -- but will the ocean's living treasure be protected?
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Northern Right Whales (5/22/98)
A century ago, they were the "right" whale to kill. Today, despite protection, northern right whales still haven't recovered. Why aren't whale numbers growing? Could a lack of genetic diversity be the problem?
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New Ocean Commission (5/25/98)
In 1966, back when the Beatles were a pop sensation, the first U.S. Ocean Commission was established. It was responsible for some key ocean legislation. But times have changed -- and it's time for a new commission.
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Dolphin Whistles (5/26/98)
 A listener asks, "What's the latest research on dolphin communication?" Scientists are studying so-called "signature whistles." Dolphins develop a unique whistle as infants -- and keep that whistle for a lifetime.
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Remembering Rachel Carson (5/27/98)
Today, on her birthday, we remember Rachel Carson -- best known for her controversial book on pesticides, Silent Spring. But Rachel Carson was also a marine biologist who wrote brilliantly about the sea.
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Fish Counts (5/28/98)
There are two ways to count fish. With "direct counts," you see and count each fish. With "indirect counts," you sample and make an estimate. But when it comes to conservation, current fish-count methods are coming up short.
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The "FLIP" Ship (5/29/98)
Come on board FLIP. The name stands for "Floating Instrument Platform" -- but it also describes what this unusual vessel does. It actually flips from horizontal to vertical, to make a stable, quiet platform for ocean research.
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June 1998

Hurricane Forecasts (6/1/98)
What do insurance companies want? A crystal ball that predicts hurricanes would be handy. The next best thing is working with climate scientists who are part of the Bermuda Biological Station's "Risk Prediction Initiative."
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Farm-fresh Shrimp (6/2/98)
Shrimp farms sound like a good idea. But there's a catch -- or rather, a "by-catch." Farm shrimp are often taken from the wild as juveniles -- and for every shrimp stocked in a pond, dozens of other creatures are netted and discarded.
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Bio Bay (6/3/98)
Imagine if fireflies could swim. That's almost what it's like in Puerto Rico's Mosquito Bay -- nicknamed "Bio Bay" for the glow-in-the-dark ocean creatures that live there. You can see the lights of Bio Bay at this website.
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The 20 Percent Solution (6/4/98)
Modern fishing technology has taken a toll on fish populations. To help fish recover, scientists are proposing a "20 Percent Solution." Protect 20 percent of the ocean's total area in so called "no-take" zones.
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Coral Reef Diversity (6/5/98)
Scientists call coral reefs "the rainforests of the sea" because they swarm with life in great variety. How many species ARE there on a coral reef? No one is sure-but the best estimate is a staggering five million species.
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World Oceans Day (6/8/98)
Not only is 1998 the International Year of the Ocean, but today is an international holiday called World Oceans Day. So celebrate the ocean today -- and help make ocean conservation the wave of the future . . . tomorrow.
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The Beaches Are Moving (6/9/98)
Ocean beaches are naturally on the move. That can be unsettling if you live on the beach! So we battle with shifting sand. And the battle is most desperate on so-called barrier islands, where the front lines change every day.
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Harbor Seals - 1 (6/10/98)
When a harbor seal slips off the rocks and into the water, he may be looking for some food -- or just some bubbly conversation. Scientists say male harbor seals make their most interesting sounds when they're under water.
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Harbor Seals - 2 (6/11/98)
Harbor seals like to converse underwater. And when an experienced male talks, the younger males listen. When they gather around the senior seal in a star formation with their whiskers touching, it looks like an underwater ballet.
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An Unplanned Moratorium (6/12/98)
During World War II, the North Sea was off limits to fishing boats -- and declining fish populations rebounded. The unplanned experiment shows that moratoriums do work -- and they're worth a try in peacetime.
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Pinging Pollution (6/15/98)
When only some parts of a harbor are polluted, it's expensive to dredge the entirebottom. A new device called an echosounder bounces low frequency sound waves off the ocean floor -- identifying clean versus polluted sediments.
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Parrotfish (6/16/98)
Chew on this fact: The colorful tropical reef fish called "parrotfish" come equipped with an extra set of jaws -- in their throats! If you find that idea hard to swallow, wait till you hear what parrotfish eat: They're capable of crunching coral.
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Friend of the Ocean (6/17/98)
Meet U.S. Congressman Sam Farr of California. He's won recognition from the Center for Marine Conservation for his work on behalf of the ocean. And the League of Conservation Voters calls him an "Environmental Hero."
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Gulf Stream (6/18/98)
Cape Cod beachgoers want to know: Why is the water so warm off Nantucket's beaches, while a short distance to the north, a swim in Gloucester is freezing? The answer is the tropical current called the Gulf Stream.
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Sea Horses (6/19/98)
This Sunday is Father's Day -- a day to honor Dad, and a day to take a look at sea horses, the "Super Dads" of the sea. These tiny fish have unusual parenting skills -- male sea horses are the ones who become "pregnant."
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Worth More Alive than Dead (6/22/98)
People's attitudes towards sharks are changing. Recreational shark diving has exploded in popularity in recent years. The shark diving business aids island economies and boosts appreciation for this ocean predator.
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Larval Olympians (6/23/98)
New-hatched reef fish aren't as powerless as scientists once thought. These miniscule athletes have great speed and endurance. Rather than being at the mercy of currents, these tiny fish can find reef homes half a mile away.
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Changing Scene -1 (6/24/98)
The water level of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay is on the rise, submerging protected habitats. But the Chesapeake Bay offers just one example of changes that may be due to global warming and are having a strong impact on wildlife.
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Changing Scene - 2 (6/25/98)
These days, California's national parks and seashores are quiet -- too quiet. And global warming may be to blame. Coastal waters have warmed, causing poor plankton growth, low fish stocks, and an exodus of hungry sea birds.
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Seaweed Uses (6/26/98)
In some places like China and the Phillipines, seaweed is a commonplace food. But few American realize they eat seaweed everyday. Seaweed extracts are stabilizers and gelling agents in products like toothpaste, cake frosting and beer.
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Trawling Effects (6/29/98)
Fishing boats sometimes drag devices along the sea floor to catch scallops and bottom-dwelling fish. Similar to clearcut logging, these fishing methods remove structure-forming species and do serious damage to sea-floor ecosystems.
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Seagrass Profile (6/30/98)
Eelgrass: Although you may not see any eels slithering through its algae-covered blades, you will see other creatures among the blades of eelgrass. This common flowering plant feeds animals, anchors sands, and filters water.
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July 1998

The Invisible Polluter (7/1/98)
There is more to water pollution than the offenders you can see, like oil spills and industrial waste. Airborne pollutants contribute to water pollution when particles fall into the ocean with rain and fog or as "dry deposition."
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Cancer Killer (7/2/98)
Drugs to protect human health may be buried deep in the ocean. Scientists found a potent cancer-killing agent in a small animal living in Pacific Ocean caves. Now researchers are racing to create a synthetic version of the chemical.
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Boaters and Bottlenoses (7/3/98)
Power boats can collide with slow-moving Florida mammals called manatees. But boaters also disturb bottlenose dolphins and their newborn calves, especially during busy summer holidays like the Fourth of July.
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Barnacles (7/6/98)
Barnacles form a crusty coating on rocky shores and the bottoms of boats. What's inside those hard little shells? Tiny shrimp-like animals . . . and they're standing on their heads, kicking with their feet to bring food inside.
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Seals and Scurvy Seas (7/7/98)
Centuries ago, sailors off the coast of New Zealand were desperate for some vitamin C in their diet. They collected boatloads of a plant called "scurvy grass." Today, scurvy grass is rare -- but not because sailors took much.
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NOAA's Atlantic Lab (7/8/98)
You've heard of the U.S. National Oceanograph & Atmospheric Administration -- more commonly known as NOAA. NOAA conducts all kinds of ocean research. Today you'll visit the laboratory in Florida where NOAA gets its feet wet.
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Cholera In Ballast Water (7/9/98)
You've heard how cargo ships carry exotic creatures like the infamous zebra mussel from port to port in their ballast water. That damages ecosystems and economies. Now it seems that ballast water also carries disease.
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Mummichogs (7/10/98)
Some coastal creeks in New Jersey are badly polluted with mercury and other heavy metals. Tiny fish called mummichogs still survive in these creeks -- but the hazardous waste has some curious effects.
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Magellanic Penguins (7/13/98)
What's black and white and wet all over? Here's a hint: they swim twice as fast as any Olympic swimmer. You'll find them swimming in some pretty cold water.
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Penguin Conservation (7/14/98)
Magellanic penguins are amazing swimmers. They can swim twice as fast as the fastest human -- and they can keep the pace for hours. But these penguins can't outswim problems like oil pollution or commercial fishing.
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Chinese River Dolphin (7/15/98)
If I asked you to name an endangered species that lives in China you'd probably say "panda bear." But the MOST endangered animal in China doesn't live on land. The Chinese river dolphin -- or Baiji -- lives in the Yangtze River.
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Safety In Numbers (7/16/98)
It looks like a handful of kitchen sponges thrown on the rocks of an ocean tide pool. But take a second look -- what seems like a pile of lifeless blobs is actually a colony -- a group of unique animals called sea squirts.
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Nickled and Dimed To Death (7/17/98)
Once the Chesapeake Bay was a rich and productive estuary. It teemed with fish and shellfish. Today it's being nickled and dimed to death by the cumulative effects of many small sources of pollution.
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Kids Do Ecology (7/20/98)
At one think tank in California, scientists study environmental problems. But they also train their future replacements by teaching kids about ecology with a hands-on program. "Kids Do Ecology" makes science come alive.
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Reef Check (7/21/98)
A volunteer effort called "Reef Check" recruited hundreds of biologists and divers to survey the health of reefs around the world. The volunteers found that of the more than 300 coral reefs they dove on, 95 percent had been damaged.
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Cod: A Biography (7/22/98)
Looking for a good read with an ocean flavor? In his book, Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World, Mark Kurlansky tells how the world's hunger for cod sparked wars, shaped cultures and almost brought cod's demise.
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Wild Fish to Fish Meal (7/23/98)
 Growing seafood on farms sounds like a good way to protect wild fish. However, some farm fish are fed feeds with high fish meal content. We may catch more wild fish to feed some farmed fish than we get out in the end.
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Pompeii Worms (7/24/98)
The Pompeii worm attaches to hydrothermal vents in the deep ocean. One end of its body is scalding hot, while the other end remains cool. This creature thrives in lethal chemicals, giving scientists clues to cleaning up toxic wastes.
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Robo Pike (7/27/98)
Scientists are learning the secrets to fishes' speed. Since fish seem to defy the laws of hydrodynamics, engineers at MlT designed the first free-swimming robotic fish. They will measure how water flows around this man-made pike.
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Eco-Labeling (7/28/98)
Many people would like to know they are buying seafood from healthy fisheries. The Marine Stewardship Council is creating criteria for sustainable fishing practices. Adherers can label their products so buyers can make informed choices.
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Nets That Let Fish Go (7/29/98)
Despite regulations on mesh size, ocean fishing trawls catch almost everything in their paths. One research team has invented a net with a black tunnel in the middle, which encourages small fish to swim out of the net to safety.
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Solar Heating (7/30/98)
A little more sunlight can make the oceans warmer and make the planet's weather patterns change significantly. The amount of sunlight hitting the atmosphere peaks every eight to twelve years and occasionally coincides with El Nino.
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Farm Pollution Rules (7/31/98)
The waste generated by large livestock farms can pollute coastal waters like industrial waste does. Rules from the EPA, which will be phased in over seven years, require large farms to make pollution plans and get pollution permits.
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August 1998

Deep Drifters (8/3/98)
A new tool called the "deep drifter" can measure deep-ocean currents. Researchers can program the buoy-like deep drifter to sink a thousand meters into the ocean. The drifter can be programmed to drift with the currents for years.
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Venus Flytraps of the Deep (8/4/98)
The Venus flytrap is a plant that catches and digests small, unsuspecting insects. One ocean sponge acts similarly. While most sponges take what comes, this predator snatches and eats small animals in the ocean.
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Take Care of Tidepools (8/5/98)
You've probably visited a tidepool -- a rocky bathtub where water comes and goes. Watch your step on your next visit. Researcher have found that sea life disappears in tidepools that have been repeatedly trampled by humans.
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History of Submarines (8/6/98)
You may think of submarines as high-tech machines, but the first subs were fragile craft. Some early subs were made of wood, greased leather, or old steam boilers. Progress in sub design came after centuries of wartime trials.
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Alvin Dive (8/7/98)
So-called "submersibles" let scientists see the deep ocean. Researchers at FSU use a small submarine called Alvin to visit their underwater research sites. Through Alvin's tiny window, researcher can see the big picture of the ocean floor.
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Raising Clams (8/10/98)
Giant clams are good to eat-and they make ideal farm animals. Algae live inside their flesh, so the three-foot-long Clams don't have to be fed. They carry food for themselves. They may also help replenish wild clam populations.
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Ultrasound for Whales (8/11/98)
Endangered right whales are protected, but they are still in trouble. Researchers suspect right whales are undernourished and too lean to breed. An ultrasound probe measures whales' blubber as scientists monitor birth rates.
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What Fish CAN You Eat? (8/12/98)
One listener called to ask what fish people can eat without a guilty conscience. The "Audubon Guide to Seafood" helps consumers make informed choices about the fish they eat Call 1-800-886-RADIO to get a copy.
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Fish Tagging (8/13/98)
America's largest fish-tagging program has hooked thousands of anglers. The American Littoral Society sponsors a volunteer tag-and-release program to help scientists map out fish migration patterns. Call the ALS at (732) 2910055.
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Deep Reefs (8/14/98)
Far from the warm tropical waters lives a little-known type of coral that prefers cold and dark. Lophelia is a deep-water cousin of tropical corals. This coral provides habitat for many ocean creatures but is vulnerable because it grows slowly.
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National Undersea Research Program (8/17/98)
The National Undersea Research Program makes the ocean accessible to scientists. Each of the program's six regional centers has its own specialty-from underwater laboratories to submersibles.
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Clinton Speaks (8/18/98)
This past June, American scientists and politicians gathered in Monterey, California, for a landmark conference on the state of the ocean. President Bill Clinton has some good news about new ocean initiatives.
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Horseshoe Crabs (8/19/98)
An Ocean Report listener asks if it's true that horseshoe crabs all come ashore to lay their eggs on a single night each year. The short answer is "yes"; we'll tell you more about the crabs' uncanny sense of timing.
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Coral Bleaching (8/20/98)
Coral reefs are the "rainforests of the sea." They shelter many colorful creatures. But on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the bright corals are fading like rainforest flowers in the dry season, in a process called coral bleaching.
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Earth's Radiator (8/21/98)
The ocean does for the Earth what your radiator does for your car. It keeps the planet operating at a safe and stable temperature. In fact, the ocean moves more heat around the planet than any other global process.
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Marbled Murrelets (8/24/98)
The small seabirds called marbled murrelets divide their time between land and sea. Living in two different habitats means that murrelets face double the danger, from logging on land and from pollution at sea.
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Shrimp Farms (8/25/98)
When you order shrimp at a restaurant, stop and consider: that succulent plateful may have come from a tropical shrimp farm. And shrimp farms can pose some pollution problems in ocean bays and estuaries.
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When Lightning Strikes (8/26/98)
Summer spells thunderstorms. You know the usual rules about lightning: don't stand under a tree, and stay away from water. So what do you do when you're in a boat or at the beach, where water is all around you?
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Inside Alvin (8/27/98)
The mini-submarine called Alvin offers a great ride, but leg room is not an option. Three passengers must crowd into a space that's only seven feet across. Still, cramped quarters are a small price to pay for a trip to discovery.
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Rockfish (8/28/98)
Off the coast of southern California, party boats take you out for a good time ... and some big rockfish. Afterwards you can pose on the dock with your catch. But these days there are no whoppers in the picture.
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Give Swordfish a Break (8/31/98)
Gourmet chefs used to serve swordfish routinely. Now these chefs are rallying to "give swordfish a break." When you find out why they aren't serving swordfish, the idea won't be too hard to swallow.
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September 1998

Pacific Halibut (9/1/98)
Meet a member of the "flatfish" family. These bottom dwellers have flattened bodies and an unusual way of giving you the fisheye. If halibut are to keep swimming the seas in the future, we can't fall flat on the job of protecting them.
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Supertrawlers (9/2/98)
These industrial fishing boats get their name from their super size: some are more than 500 feet long. Supertrawlers are regular floating factories. With their jumbo capacity, they've played a role in the collapse of some fish populations.
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Pacific Marine Lab (9/3/98)
Ocean information pours in at Seattle's Pacific Marine Laboratory. Operated by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this lab is equipped with all kinds of ocean monitoring equipment.
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Submarine Safari (9/4/98)
Imagine a tour bus with airtight windows that dives underwater to reveal the wonders of the sea. Like a Land Rover on safari, a passenger submarine can take you to places few people have ever seen-and for a modest price.
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Jellyfish Summer (9/7/98)
Most jellyfish are a summer phenomenon. You see their delicate forms pulsing at the surface of the ocean during the warmest months of the year. Did you ever wonder what happens to jellyfish when summer begins to fade?
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Earth Wobble (9/8/98)
The ocean dominates Earth -- it covers most of the planet's surface. But the ocean also dominates Earth in another way: It pushes the planet around. Currents that rub against the bottom of the ocean cause the poles to wobble.
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Clean Up Boston Harbor (9/9/98)
Remember the Boston Tea Party? It was all about representation. And now Boston Harbor is finally getting some. Learn about a new plan in place to keep treated sewage effluent out of Boston Harbor.
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SeaWIFs (9/10/98)
The name "SeaWifs" stands for Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor. Positioned 700 kilometers above the Earth in a polar orbit, this satellite records changes in the color of the ocean-an indicator of ocean health.
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Radioactivity and Reefs (9/11/98)
An international consortium that includes Russia and the United States wants to store spent nuclear fuel on a remote coral island. But scientists say that's a bad idea-and for a very good reason.
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Ocean Top-Ten List (9/14/98)
You've heard those top-ten lists on late night TV. They're good for a laugh, and they grab your attention. The Center for Marine Conservation has a top-ten list for the ocean that's grabbing headlines-and it's no joking matter.
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Gouging Gulls (9/15/98)
Along the coast of Argentina is a sheltered area that's a nursery for southern right whales. Sounds like a peaceful scene -- except for the flocks of kelp gulls who've taken to gouging out a living on the backs of the whales.
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Shifting Sands (9/16/98)
Shifting sands have inspired many line of poetry. But today, they also inspire expensive engineering projects -- like the one at Seabright, New Jersey, where dredges, pumps, and bulldozers are reclaiming 33 miles of coastline.
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Squid Fishery (9/17/98)
Years ago, California fishermen used torchlight to lure squid to the surface. Today the technology is different -- and so is the size of the catch. Trouble is, we don't know how this level of fishing will affect the squid population.
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Parks with a Plunge (9/18/98)
Soon, you'll be able to take a virtual walk through an underwater park. Teams from the National Geographic Society and NOAA will explore America's national marine sanctuaries next spring, and you can tag along on-line.
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Navassa Island (9/21/98)
It lies between Haiti and Jamaica -- a tiny, uninhabited island with a pristine coral reef. This past August, the most extensive research expedition ever to the visit the island discovered a wealth of biological treasures.
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Tool Toters (9/22/98)
Researchers used to say humans were the only animal to use tools. Then chimp and herons joined the ranks of the tool-using elite. Now Dr. Rachel Smolker has discovered some bottlenose dolphins that seem to sponge their meals.
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Gender-bending Fish (9/23/98)
All's fair in the war between the sexes-- including switching sides, if you're a coral reef fish called the blue head wrasse. Female wrasse have a chance to move up in the underwater hierarchy by turning into males.
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Alien Invasion (9/24/98)
Coming soon: Alien invaders! No, it's not the plot of the latest science-fiction movie. Instead, scientists picture a scene where alien plants and animals invade the ocean. And in this scenario, global climate change is the bad guy.
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New Jobs for Gill Netters (9/25/98)
When the state of Florida banned gill net fishing, it was a victory for the ocean environment. But the ban put 5,000 fishermen out of work. Now some of these fishermen are learning to be farmers -- clam farmers, that is.
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Right Whale Regulation (9/28/98)
Only 300 northern right whales remain on Earth. To protect them, the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has issued some new regulations that will help prevent ships from colliding with the slow-swimming whales.
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Ship Talk (9/29/98)
Want to talk like a sailor? From stem to stern, the English language is filled with nautical expressions. We'll tell you the origins of some common expressions, from "taken aback" to "leeway" to "showing your true colors."
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Undersea Junkyard (9/30/98)
The sunken hulls of 80 atomic submarines lie on the bottom of Andeeva Bay, off the coast of Russia. Now, these subs have started to leak-- putting the Russian government in hot water.
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October 1998

10/1 Undersea Observatory:
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute develops the technology researchers need to explore the deep ocean. And on the way down, they're making new discoveries at middle depths, too.
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10/2 What Fish Really Cost:
Dr. Edgardo Gomez of the University of the Phillipines says that for too long, we've thought of fish and shellfish as free -- gifts from the sea. Now it's time to calculate the true value of marine resources.
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10/5 The Sea from Space:
A space agency satellite in a polar orbit helps scientists study the ocean. This sensor, called SeaWIFS, send downs gigabits of data daily-- almost in real time. Check the web site at seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov
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10/6 Voyage of the Beagle:
The 19th-century naturalist Charles Darwin may be best remembered for his study of finches on the Galapagos Islands. Now some marine biologists want to remember him by re-creating his voyage in the H.M.S. Beagle.
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10/7 Lampreys-1:
If Dracula kept an aquarium, he might stock it with the primitive fish called sea lampreys. They look like eels -- but they act like vampires, rasping holes in soft-skinned fishes to feed on their blood and body fluids.
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10/8 Lampreys-2:
Sea lampreys took advantage of manmade locks and canals to invade the Great Lakes. Getting rid of the lampreys is another job entirely. An experimental program turns male lampreys into agents of population control.
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10/9 Caviar Trade:
Sturgeon from Europe Caspian Sea produce the world's finest caviar. Mix this savory treat with a shaky economy in the former Soviet Union, and you've got a recipe for trouble -- in the form of illegal fishing.
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10/12 Blue Whale Songs:
Whales, like birds, sing songs to attract mates. And if the humpback whale is the warbling "canary of the sea," the blue whale is more like a chipping sparrow-it sings a simple song, just two or three notes repeated over and over.
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10/13 Clay Controls Red Tides:
Red tides can be dangerous. They can kin fish and even humans. Now scientists are testing a natural control strategy: common clay. It makes the red tide organisms dump together and sink to the bottom of the sea.
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10/14 The Case of the Coral Killer:
What's killing coral reefs? The culprit is the crow-of-thorns starfish -- a five-armed, coral-killing machine. But humans who cut down forests and add fertilizer to farms are accessories to the crime.
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10/15 Magnuson-Stevens Act:
The original Magnuson Act had an almost impossible mission: to promote the fishing industry and work to conserve fisheries. Today the act has a new name-and a second chance to turn the tide for U.S. fisheries.
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10/16 Saving Tiny Turtles:
New-hatched sea turtles have many enemies, and one is raccoons. They love turtle eggs, and they can wipe out a nestful in a night. On the Canaveral National Seashore in Florida, scientists are helping with coon control.
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10/19 Brown Pelican:
Of the six species of pelican, only one has mastered life at sea. Natural shock absorbers protect the brown pelican when it plunge- dives into a school of fish. And with a dip net for a bill, this bird is a prodigious fisherman.
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10/20 Prison Refuge for Abalone:
Near an island prison off the coast of Canada, the bowl-sized snails called abalone are doing time -- and doing fine. Protected from poachers by armed guards, they grow bigger here than they do in real ocean reserves.
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10/21 Whale of a Detergent:
Why does a biotech company care about rotting whales? Deep-ocean bacteria break down the oil locked in whale bones-even in the cold of the ocean floor. Soon these bacteria may be licking your stubborn laundry stains.
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10/22 Fishing Down the Food Chain:
Big fish eat small fish. And small fish eat smaller fish. A long chain of eat-and-be-eaten holds the ocean ecosystem together. What happens when human fishermen take a link out of that chain?
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10/23 White Shark Attack:
Several times a year, great white sharks attack surfers off the California coast. Does a wet-suited surfer really look like a seal to a shark? New research shows that in shark attacks, as in real estate, it's location that counts.
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10/26 Lobster Watch:
In Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Alice dances "The Lobster Quadrille" and throws her lobster friends out to sea. Did this dance inspire a group of volunteers in Maine to protect the baby lobsters in Portland Harbor?
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10/27 Back in the Battle:
More than a hundred years ago, the ironclad ship called the U.S.S. Monitor held its own in a Civil War battle. But it sank in a storm just a few months later. Now the battle is on to save the wreck of the Monitor.
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10/28 Ocean as Security Risk:
Who owns the fish in the sea? This issue can cause tensions, even between friends. When nations disagree over fishing rights, conflicts can escalate. Resolving conflicts protects the fish -- but it also protects national security.
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10/29 Piping Plover:
The tiny seabird called the piping plover has suffered a double whammy. Twice in this century, this gray-and-white sandpiper has been brough to the brink of extinction. Now it's making its second comeback.
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10/30 Nauticisms:
The English language is flooded with nautical terms. Sail on into the syntax of the seafarer as you learn the origins of such ocean-going terms as a "windfall" and "bitter end" -- and the reason you tell your kids to "pipe down."
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November 1998

Undersea Volcanoes (11/2/98)
We call Earth "the water planet." But think of Earth as a giant basketball that's been rolled through a puddle of water. The ocean that covers most of Earth's surface is as thin as that film of water clinging to the ball.
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Message from Al Gore (11/3/98)
"The ocean sustains one of every six jobs in America." That's a message from U.S. vice president Al Gore at last June's National Ocean Conference, sounding a call to action for ocean research and exploration.
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Sea Otters Return (11/4/98)
After near-extinction, sea otters have returned to the northern coast of California. And that's where they're supposed to stay, since a 1987 law protects southern California shellfish beds. But sea otters can't read the "keep out" signs.
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Barndoor Skate (11/5/98)
Their name says it all. Barndoor skates can grow as big as ... well, a barn door. But they're dying while they're still small -- caught accidentally in fishing nets. Could such a huge animal go extinct without anyone noticing?
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Zones of Competition (11/6/98)
On the deep-ocean floor, around so-called "hydrothermal vents," animals live in well-defined zones. Competition among next-door neighbors determines who gets "zoned out" of the neighborhood.
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New Alaskan Reserve (11/9/98)
On October 3rd, Kachemak Bay in Alaska was dedicated as America's newest national National Estuarine Research Reserve -- a place where scientific research, recreation, and preservation ALL have a role.
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Do Dolphins Sleep? (11/10/98)
And if they do, do they hold their breath and sleep underwater? Or do they sleep while floating on the surface? That's the question from one Ocean Report listener, and today, we bring you the breathtaking answer.
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Greenland Sharks (11/11/98)
They're some of the world's largest sharks-and some of the strangest. Most Greenland sharks are blind-but not by nature's design. Instead, shrimplike parasites attach and scratch on their eyes.
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Precious Cargo (11/12/98)
Seafood is popular in Florida-but not just to eat. Highway robbers are targeting the refrigerated big rigs packed with lobster and shrimp. The "take" from a single heist can be as high as half a million dollars.
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Tidal Power (11/13/98)
An old idea -- harnessing the energy of the waves-is generating new interest. In the middle Ages, Europeans trapped water at high tide to drive water wheels; today, a modem tidal turbine is under construction on Britain's coast.
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Ocean Pledge (11/16/98)
Can one person make a difference for the ocean? Absolutely. In a new ocean awareness campaign, NOAA and the American Oceans Campaign invite you to take the "Ocean Ambassador's Pledge." Raise your right hand ...
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Lagoon (11/17/98)
Does this word make you think of a tropical ocean, and a ring of islands topped with palm trees? The quiet water at the center of the ring is one type of lagoon. But lagoons also form in estuaries, where flowing rivers meet the sea.
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Gray Whale Threat (11/18/98)
Gray whales raise their young in a coastal lagoon on the Baja Peninsula. But the Mitsubishi Corporation wants to build a large saltmaking facility here. Environmentalists fear that could drive the whales from their only refuge.
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Great Barrier Bleaching (11/19/98)
This past summer, the phenomenon called "coral bleaching" was more widespread than it has ever been -- especially on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, where three factors combined to create conditions that led to bleaching.
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Deep Growth (11/20/98)
"Hydrothermal vents" and "methane seeps" are two very different kinds of deep-ocean environments. Yet both are rich in chemicals that support life, and both are home to the same wealth of deep-ocean animals.
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Bad Bacteria (11/23/98)
You're vacationing at your favorite beach when suddenly, it's closed to swimmers because of bacteria from a nearby sewage spill. How will you know when it's safe to go back in the water? A new test gets the answer quickly.
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Failed Wetland (11/24/98)
You've heard the poem by Joyce Kilmer that concludes, " . . . only God can make a tree." But what about wetlands? When development paves a marsh, can mere human beings build a new one to replace it?
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Steller Sea Lions (11/25/98)
Their population is a fifth of its former size. They've been on the U.S. endangered species list since 1990. In the Bering Sea, Steller sea lions are in trouble-and despite their protected status, their numbers are shrinking faster than ever.
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Take Heart (11/26/98)
On Thanksgiving Day, it's "pass the turkey and gravy!" and never mind the fat or calories. But most of the time, you want to eat a healthy diet. Today, some news about a compound from the ocean that MAY help.
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Fisheries Assessment (11/27/98)
In the world of fisheries management, the word of the day is "precaution." A new fisheries assessment report from the environmental group Greenpeace reminds fisheries managers to translate this word into action.
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The Heroic Jason (11/30/98)
Jason was a hero in ancient Roman myth. Today, meet his namesake: a mini-submarine with superhero powers. Jason's captain takes you on a virtual tour of this unusual underwater exploration vehicle.
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December 1998

Water Quality Online (12/1/98)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tallies America's water quality every two years. Now the results of the 1996 inventory are on-line. You can check their web site at www.epa.gov/305b/
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Basking Shark (12/2/98)
One Ocean Report listener called us to ask: What's the biggest fish in the sea? It's a toss-up between two: The whale shark and the basking shark. Today, meet the basking shark-the creature who gave rise to myths of sea monsters.
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Model Ecosystem (12/3/98)
It smells like Narragansett Bay. It acts like Narragansett Bay. But it's NOT the bay-it's a model. At the University of Rhode Island, a series of large tanks mimics the bay and helps scientists understand the natural system.
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Magnuson Stevens Act (12/4/98)
When the U.S. Congress reauthorized the Magnuson Stevens Act in 1996, new rules were added to help conserve fish populations. Now, America is struggling to put words into action.
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Teacher at Sea (12/7/98)
Experience is the best teacher, or so the saying goes. If you're a teacher, and you want your students to learn about the ocean, you'll want to know about NOAA's "Teacher at Sea" program. Check this website: www.noaa.gov
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Computer Pollution (12/8/98)
Did you know there's a connection between that computer on your desk and whales that feed in the deep ocean? Pollutants released during the manufacture of computers are finding their way into the ocean food chain.
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Deep Ocean Oases (12/9/98)
Deep in the ocean, a "hydrothermal vent" is like an oasis in the desert. Life flourishes at these vents, because it's warm, and there's food. But a vent CAN close up, like a desert watering hole gone dry. What's a vent creature to do?
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Bluefin Battle (12/10/98)
Bluefin tuna are powerful swimmers and efficient predators. They're sued to fighting their own battles. But now, they're in danger of extinction. And the battle to save them is crossing international borders.
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Eavesdrop on Earthquakes (12/11/98)
When an earthquake rocks the planet, its monitored on a network of equipment around the world. But until recently, all of these monitoring stations were on land. Now there's an underwater listening station.
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Alien Algae (12/14/98)
The Mediterranean Ocean used to be known for colorful coral reefs. But now, an alien has invaded-an aggressive kind of algae that carpets the ocean floor and smothers everything in its path. Where did the killer come from?
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Orca FM (12/15/98)
Call it a "killer format": A tiny radio station in Canada broadcasts the sounds of orcas, or killer whales, live, 24 hours a day, from an underwater microphone. It's a whale of a show-and it helps to educate whale-watchers.
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Ocean Heroes (12/16/98)
You've heard of hybrid corn. So why not breed hybrid shrimp? Shrimp farmers want to build a better shrimp through sciences. But first, they need to know a lot more about shrimp family trees.
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The Deepest Spot A listener asks (12/17/98)
"What's the deepest spot in the ocean? Is it deeper than Mount Everest is high? Has anyone ever been down there? And what did they find?" To answer this question, we'll explore the "Challenger Deep."
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Oyster Reefs (12/18/98)
Does the word "reef" make you think of colorful corals and turquoise tropical water? There's another kind of reef. An oyster reef, found in colder northern waters. Like coral reefs, oyster reefs are facing some conservation concerns.
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Enzyme Indicator 1 (12/21/98)
How can you tell whether an ocean animal has been exposed to pollution? One way is direct: you look for the polluting chemical inside the animal's body. But there's another way: You can use a so-called "enzyme indicator."
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Enzyme Indicator 2 (12/22/98)
Fish, whales, and seabirds all make a "guardian" enzyme in their bodies. It breaks down pollutants so they re no longer harmful. But new kinds of polluting chemicals in the water, this guardian is fighting an uphill battle.
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Slow Down, Whale Watchers! (12/23/98)
This past summer, boats accidentally hit tow whales off the New England coast, killing one and injuring the other. Are new laws needed to regulate whale watch boats?
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La Nina (12/24/98)
The name is Spanish for "little boy" or "Christ Child." El Nino brought some dramatic weather this year. Now, just as Christmas arrives, el Nino is making its exit. But the weather phenomenon called "La Nina" is waiting in the wings.
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Sea Birds are Back (12/25/98)
Start spreading the news. They're not leaving, they're staying. Shorebirds are part of the scene in New York Harbor once again, thanks to cleaner water. And the dean water is back thanks to the Clean Water Act of 1972.
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REMUS (12/28/98)
"REMUS" is short for Remote Environmental Monitoring Unit. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute has several of these remote-controlled mini-subs -- and they're an essential tool for deep-ocean research.
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Model Communities (12/29/98)
You've heard it said that each piece of garbage has a human face behind it. Now the Center for Marine Conservation is putting a human face behind solutions to pollution with its "Model Communities Program."
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Cleaner Fish (12/30/98)
Imagine this scene: A beautiful damsel strikes a pose, trying to get the attention of a rascal. Well, actually the damsel is a damselfish and she s got her eye on another fish called a cleaner wrasse, in hopes it will nip off itchy parasites.
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Dugong Refuges (12/31/98)
Imagine a pig with flippers and a tail like a whale's. You're looking at a dugong -- a relative of the marine mammals called manatees. Along Australia's coast, there's an ambitious new to create refuges for the dugongs that live there.
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