Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory

At the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory, we recognize the deep abuses committed as a result of systemic racism, white privilege, and environmental injustice. We believe in taking concrete steps towards a more equitable and inclusive approach to address the problems facing our oceans and communities. Over the last few years, we have thoughtfully mapped out our commitment to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) in our field of marine science. We proactively strive to bring the voices, intellect, and talents of people of all colors, backgrounds, and identities into our work to further science and conservation. Therefore, we commit to taking tangible actions to achieve our vision of a more diverse and inclusive organization. Our DEIJ action plan details these commitments and the steps we must take to achieve them. As an organization and as individuals, it is our responsibility to continually grow our understanding and efforts to help create a more just and equitable future. We are sharing our DEIJ action plan with you, our colleagues, partners, and friends, to hold ourselves accountable to this mission and to make it available as a resource for others striving towards a shared vision. The planet’s health relies on all of us working together for the benefit of all. ???? Check out the seven goals of our action plan below?? Learn more about our commitments to DEIJ and view our action plan here: https://lnkd.in/g_GmcZdj We acknowledge that the University of California was founded upon exclusions and erasures of many Indigenous peoples, including those on whose lands our offices at UC Santa Barbara are located, the villages and unceded lands of the Chumash people. We affirm the critical role of Indigenous peoples in our collective efforts to restore the health of the ocean and commit to elevating their voices and leadership in marine science and conservation.

U.S. Plastics Pact CEO ??Jonathan Quinn?? tells Newsweek that this study published today in the weekly journal Science "can truly change the trajectory of plastic waste" if implemented in the treaty. The policy solutions outlined in "Pathways to reduce global plastic waste mismanagement and greenhouse gas emissions by 2050" — mandating recycled content, reducing virgin plastic production and usage, and implementing Extended Producer Responsibility programs to fund waste management infrastructure, alongside designing plastics to be reusable, recyclable, or compostable — could significantly cut plastic pollution. At the U.S. Plastics Pact, our Activators are already working toward these goals to establish a circular economy for plastics. Global policy support will be essential to building on this progress and making circularity a reality. We look forward to following the fifth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution in Busan later this month. We're also excited that Jonathan Quinn will be a featured panelist at Newsweek’s Horizons series event "The Future of Plastics" on Wednesday, December 4th. Thanks to Jeff Young for including us in this article.? https://lnkd.in/e9c_uPyJ Funding for this study was provided by Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory, Eric and Wendy Schmidt Center for Data Science & Environment at UC Berkeley, Harris Family Charitable Gift Fund, and March Marine Initiative. American Association for the Advancement of Science | Sam Pottinger | Roland Geyer | Nivedita R. Biyani, Ph.D | Ciera Martinez, PhD | Neil Nathan | Molly Morse | Chao Liu | Magali de Bruyn | Carl Boettiger | Elijah Baker

We've got big news: it IS possible to nearly end plastic pollution! ??? New research from the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory, UC Santa Barbara, and Eric and Wendy Schmidt Center for Data Science & Environment at UC Berkeley in Science Magazine shows that just four key policies in the Global Plastics Treaty could cut plastic pollution by 91% and slash 30% of plastic-related greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In just two weeks, global decision makers will gather at INC-5 in Busan, South Korea to finalize the international and legally binding treaty that strives to end plastic pollution. With bold action, our research shows it's possible to change the trajectory of the plastics crisis – to protect our health and the planet. Curious about how these policies work? ?? Try the Global Plastics AI Policy tool: https://lnkd.in/g2_ccs2R ?? Explore the science behind the solutions: https://lnkd.in/ghJpBme4 Thank you to our team at the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory and UC Santa Barbara Neil Nathan, Molly Morse, Roland Geyer, Douglas McCauley, and Nivedita R. Biyani, Ph.D, and our partners at DSE Sam Pottinger, Ciera Martinez, PhD, Magali de Bruyn, Carl Boettiger and more. ?? #GlobalPlasticsTreaty #PlasticsTreaty #EndPlasticPollution #Plastics

UC Santa Barbara researchers are working to develop technology that can predict the likelihood of great white sharks near beaches. ?? “Our goal in this program is to provide data that helps people fall more in love with the ocean. It helps them understand it better and feel and be safer, even though the probability of an incident with a shark is exceptionally low,” shares Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory scientist Neil Nathan. Read the full story: https://ow.ly/hiss50Tzo4R

https://lnkd.in/gX3Me5hR CBS?Sunday Morning?featured?a story on whales and ship strikes?set within the context of the summer of 2022, when a well-known?humpback?whale?named?Fran died by a ship strike and washed up?on a beach?in Half Moon Bay. Fran "was the most well-known whale in our entire database...?she had a big personality....she was playful around whale watch boats.... you'd hear on the radio, 'Hey, Fran's over here!'" - Ted Cheeseman, Creator of Happywhale. Sean Hastings, Founder of Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies Program was?featured in the?story,?noting the status of the endangered?Blue, Humpback,?and Fin whales, as well as the Northern Right Whale - with only about 350 individuals left on earth. "That's why every whale counts." MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company (an enrolled shipping line with Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies, who has *achieved the top award level for the last six years*) was interviewed to discuss the challenges and participation with broader collaborative efforts to protect #whales.? Efforts to protect whales include?rerouting #shipping lanes (which has been done in California)?and,?when that's not possible, slowing ships down. Technological advancements include: > Woods Hole Oceanographic?Institute's fleet of gliders that listen for whales, and transmit that information back to the lab to help ship captains understand where whales are active and slow down, and > Our partner, Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory's Whale Safe platform, a technology-based mapping and analysis tool displaying whale and ship data— to help?notify ships on the presence of whales:??https://whalesafe.com/ #biodiversity #maritimetrade #conservation

Ever wished you could check the surf report for sharks? Well, hang ten, dude! Scientists are using drones to track those awesome apex predators, great white sharks, off the California coast, and they're hoping to predict their movements like a real-life "Jaws-ometer." This gnarly tech could help us understand these magnificent creatures better and learn to share the waves safely. Imagine checking the surf report and seeing "High chance of sharks today, surfers beware!" Maybe bring your GoPro, just in case you catch some gnarly waves (and a fin or two)! ?? https://lnkd.in/eCWQNE97 #sharktracking #beachsafety #dronesforscience #airwards #sharkeye Douglas McCauley / UC Santa Barbara / Neil Nathan / Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory/ Christopher G. Lowe/ California Department of Fish and Wildlife / Samantha Mladjov / SharkEye

Ted Cheeseman of WCA Partner Happywhale has been featured in CBS News, speaking about the tragic loss of Fran, the most well-known humpback whale on the Happywhale database, who was killed after being struck by a ship in 2022. ?? https://lnkd.in/eMyn8fMF Sadly, ship strikes remain one of the greatest threats to large whale species. Some measures have been designed to address the danger, like voluntary speed reduction programmes and the Whale Safe mapping tool by Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory in the Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area. However, more needs to be done worldwide to protect whales from these deadly collisions. Our online course, Becoming ‘Whale Aware’, is available to commercial vessel operators to help crew members understand and minimise the risk of ship strikes: https://lnkd.in/epwsAj2C If you’re interested in finding out more about this training, please get in touch with us.

With fewer than 380 left, North Atlantic right whales are on the brink of extinction, threatened by vessel strikes and entanglements in fishing gear. To help reduce deadly ship collisions during migration seasons,?NOAA Fisheries?enforces a 10-knot speed limit for vessels over 65 feet in key U.S. East Coast areas. ?? Whale Safe North America is grading companies on their compliance in these slow-speed zones, helping to improve cooperation with seasonal slowdowns. Explore Whale Safe North America’s public grades at na.whalesafe.com ?? Special thanks to NOAA Fisheries (source for slide 2), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, New England Aquarium, and the many other organizations working to conserve right whales, and The New York Times for their recent coverage ?? https://lnkd.in/gVyjeiQm. #northatlanticrightwhales #whales #conservation #vesselstrike #whalesafe #whalesafenorthamerica #endangeredwhales

“The ocean embraces 97% of the biosphere. Yet, less than 3% of the ocean is highly or fully protected like overfishing and deep-sea mining that harm precious marine ecosystems on which local communities and our global humanity rely.”??? Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner and Vice Chair of the Pacific Remote Islands Coalition, Solomon Kaho’ohalahala, and oceanographer, Sylvia Earle of Mission Blue, make the urgent case for President Joe Biden to fully protect the Pacific Remote Islands. ?? Learn more about the area’s significance to Indigenous communities and ecology in their op-ed in Honolulu Civil Beat: https://lnkd.in/eN9rcGdN?

Inspiring session at the United Nations led by President Gabriel Boric of Chile, President Surangel Whipps Jr. of Palau, and World Economic Forum Friends of Ocean Action! ?? ?? The discussion centered on the urgent need to ratify the #BBNJ Agreement (#HighSeasTreaty), a global pact to sustainably manage and protect biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction–for the future of our ocean planet. ???? ?? Learn more about the agreement: https://lnkd.in/e2hcnvMk