WASHINGTON (April 28, 2017) – WCS raised concerns with the new executive order that could withdraw protections for offshore areas from future oil and gas development, including the Hudson Canyon off the coast of New York. 

April 19, 2017 – Marine experts and conservationists from the WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society), TRAFFIC, the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), regional governments, and other groups have produced a status report and roadmap for protecting sharks and rays in the southwest Indian Ocean, one of the last remaining strongholds for these ancient creatures in the world’s oceans.

March 22, 2017--Marine protected areas (MPAs) are an increasingly popular strategy for protecting marine biodiversity, but a new global study demonstrates that widespread lack of personnel and funds are preventing MPAs from reaching their full potential. Only 9 percent of MPAs reported having adequate staff.

March 21, 2017 – Savvy divers with just a pencil and an underwater slate can now participate in a WCS-led initiative to record coral bleaching observations around the world.  

February 28, 2017 – A new report says St-Barthélemy’s environment may be rapidly degrading, with major impacts stemming from land-based pollution, urbanization, and overfishing.

February 28, 2017–WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) applauds the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for its recent decision to add the Hudson Canyon—the East Coast’s largest submarine canyon—to the inventory of sites now under consideration for National Marine Sanctuary status.

BALI (February 23-24, 2017) – The Government of Myanmar and WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) announced today a comprehensive plan to protect the country’s diverse fisheries and marine life—including dolphins, sea turtles, and other species—and other marine resources.

February 16, 2017 – Scientists and government officials met at the United Nations on Wednesday, February 15th to consider possible solutions to a global problem: how to protect whale species in their most important marine habitats that overlap with shipping lanes vital to the economies of many of the world’s nations.

January 19, 2017 – WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) commends the International Maritime Organization and partners for the development and implementation of the “Polar Code,” a binding international agreement that will help ensure the safety of mariners operating in polar waters, and the protection of both the Arctic and Antarctic’s marine environment from the risks of vessel activities.

November 30, 2016—A study of complex coral reef ecosystems in the western Indian Ocean found that one species of fish—the orange-lined triggerfish—may play a significant role in maintaining a reef’s ability to thrive and grow, according to investigations by WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society).