Environment

Environment

Bull kelp routinely washes up on West Coast beaches after storms, but there are more reasons to worry about the health of the kelp forests just offshore

Struggling Northwest kelp forests sending out an SOS. Help is coming

There’s a rallying cry at various bays and beaches up and down the West Coast; it’s “Help the kelp!” The towering brown seaweed with the floating bulb on top is in steep decline. That’s alarming because underwater kelp forests provide shelter and food for a wide variety of sea life. The crew now answering the call runs the gamut from seaweed farmers to hammer-wielding scuba divers and might some day include sea otters and octopuses. Continue Reading Struggling Northwest kelp forests sending out an SOS. Help is coming

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This decaying plastic litter on the beach at Newport, Oregon, is on its way to becoming microplastic pollution

Foam dock floats, laundry filters, hotel shampoo amongst newest bids to reduce plastic pollution

Everywhere they look, Pacific Northwest scientists find teeny-tiny plastic pollution. Broken down particles are in our water, falling out of the air, in salmon, shellfish and in our own bodies. Scientists, environmental advocates and Democratic lawmakers in Olympia and Salem have seen enough to make them seek more regulations. Continue Reading Foam dock floats, laundry filters, hotel shampoo amongst newest bids to reduce plastic pollution

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