Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory

Watch our NEW short film about the inspiring work of the Clean Currents Coalition at the link in our bio. 🎥 The Clean Currents Coalition is a network of 8 communities in 8 different countries working collaboratively to clean up rivers in their own backyards. 🌎👥 But, the Coalition is doing so much more than just capturing and removing plastic from rivers. They are raising awareness of the problem of plastic pollution, amassing the world’s largest database on plastic in rivers, educating and empowering their local communities, and engaging policymakers to make better and more ambitious laws and regulations. 🙌🗣️ The goal of the Clean Currents Coalition is to use their projects to drive upstream change so that there isn’t plastic in rivers to be removed in the first place. 🗑️🌊 By working together, the Clean Currents Coalition – community by community, country by country – are adding up to more than the sum of their parts and creating solutions that will make this seemingly impossible, wicked problem solvable. 💧🤝 Learn more about the Clean Currents Coalition at cleancurrentscoalition.org (link in bio) Sign up to receive the Clean Currents Coalition Newsletter /g_7l6P (link in bio) A huge thank you to @roastnpost_oakland , @1606_studio , @dahuff , and many others for their talent, dedication, and passion to bring the story of the Clean Currents Coalition to life. 💙 #CleanCurrentsCoalition #PlasticPollution #PlasticWaste #NoPlastics #ZeroWaste #ClimateCrisis #CircularEconomy #Community #Rivers #Ocean #CleanRiversCleanOcean

We are excited to announce the launch of Whale Safe North America – a new tool providing operator adherence across all ship-strike slow zones within North American waters tracking over 8,500 vessels and 2,000 companies. 🐋🚢 “As the maritime industry grows, real-time analytics make it possible for everyone from shipping company logistic planners to the general public to keep track of how ships perform.” – Rachel Rhodes, Whale Safe Project Scientist Learn more at (link in our bio) 💙 Video credits:  @noaa Public Domain @adamernsterwildlife NARW photo credits:  Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute. Taken under NOAA Permit #24359. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Taken under NOAA Permit #24359. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute/Michael Moore. Taken under NOAA Permit #24359. #whalesafe #whalesafenorthamerica #whales

We were honored to welcome UCSB alumni and U.S. Representative Jared Huffman back to UCSB for a thoughtful conversation on ocean policy, conservation, and science-informed leadership. Moderated by Dr. Doug McCauley of the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory, the Fireside Chat brought together students, researchers, and community members to engage on the future of our oceans and environment. Thank you to Rep. Huffman for sharing his time, perspective, and continued connection to the UCSB community.

Working together, the Clean Currents Coalition has made a major impact in removing ocean-bound plastic from rivers around the world. Supported by the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory, Coalition teams have removed more than 5 million kilograms of plastic — 80% diverted from landfills. We celebrate these teams for their incredible accomplishments and for developing scalable tools and solutions for addressing the plastic pollution crisis. More exciting updates from the Clean Currents Coalition are coming soon!

🌍💧Through the Clean Currents Coalition, the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory has worked with experts across eight countries to stop plastic in rivers before it reaches the ocean. Community by community and river by river, they’re creating global impact and developing a toolkit for addressing this systemic threat to environmental health. With the power of technology, data, and collaboration, we are turning off the tap of plastic pollution, one river at a time. Stay tuned for some exciting news from the Clean Currents Coalition in the next few days!

🐋🚢 Global workshop unites experts to reduce whale–ship collisions 🌊 Scientists, policymakers, and industry leaders met in London to tackle one of the ocean’s most urgent threats: whales being struck by ships. Hosted by UC Santa Barbara’s Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory (BOSL) — a center for applied marine research based at UC Santa Barbara’s Marine Science Institute — and the International Whaling Commission, the workshop brought together experts from 10 countries to find real-world solutions. 📊 Why it matters: — Hundreds of whale deaths have been documented along busy coastlines like California — Globally, thousands may be killed each year — Whale migration routes often overlap with major shipping lanes 🌍 💡 Promising solutions include: ⛴️ Slowing ships in high-risk areas 📡 Real-time whale detection systems like Whale Safe 🗺️ Rerouting shipping lanes and testing new detection technologies “Understanding what options are available and what has worked elsewhere is the first step toward making the problem feel solvable.” 🤝 The goal: build shared, region-specific strategies that protect whales while keeping global shipping moving. 📖 Read story by Sonia Fernandez in UC Santa Barbara’s The Current: “Global workshop focuses on protecting whales from ship strikes” 🌊🌿 [Link in Bio today] 📰 MSI News: “Saving Giants at Sea” 🐚 [Link in Bio today] 📸 @ashadevos #ucsb #marinescienceinstitute #WhaleSafe #bosl #marineconservation

🌊Join us for a conversation on ocean and environmental policy with U.S. Representative Jared Huffman—Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee and UCSB alumnus—moderated by Dr. Doug McCauley. This event is open to the UCSB community and surrounding communities. We hope to see you there! 📅 Thursday, May 7 ⏰ 9–10 AM (Reception to follow, 10–11 AM) 📍 UCSB Marine Science Institute Auditorium Registration required: https://forms.gle/PRHqG5qpF7TtMjaaA

Marine protected areas in California are at a critical moment. The California Fish and Game Commission is currently reviewing 15 proposals from a diverse group of stakeholders to shrink or expand the state’s MPA network. MPAs can boost resilience for some species in the face of climate change, however California’s network is still relatively young compared to its land-based parks, so we have a lot of time ahead to realize the increased benefits. Read the full article by @erin_stone_ at the link in our bio.

🌊We are hiring a Postdoctoral Researcher in Applied Fisheries or Environmental Economic Modeling to develop tools for applying fisheries and economic modeling in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ; the “high seas”), particularly with relevance to large-scale Marine Protected Area (MPA) designation in this region. Apply by April 19th for full consideration. Learn more and apply at: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF03092

💙On Feb 2, we hosted a screening + panel discussion of Ocean with David Attenborough in Sacramento—bringing together leaders to talk solutions for California’s ocean health as the State plans the future of its marine protected area network. In the film, Sir David Attenborough spotlights our ocean backyard, the Channel Islands Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), as a powerful example of supporting biodiversity and coastal economies. Thank you to our ocean champions and event co-hosts @asmgregghart and @asmdawnaddis and to our incredible panelists @alexwarham @dirtydanbikes @anupaasokan @mccauley_lab , Teresa Romero, and @evalanilovesandlifts for sharing diverse perspectives on the many values of MPAs. We’re especially grateful to Assemblymember Hart for moderating the discussion and for his longstanding support for policies that advance ocean health—most recently through AB 14, which expands the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies Program to protect whales from ship strikes. 📣 Swipe for highlights + ways to get involved!

In January 2026, the deepest seabed mining test in history took place in the Northwest Pacific Ocean, nearly 2,000 kilometers southeast of Tokyo. The Japanese vessel Chikyu — the world’s largest scientific drilling rig — extracted rare earth-rich mud from the seafloor, 6,000 meters below the surface. These muds contain elements such as Dysprosium, Yttrium, and Terbium. Using Deep-Sea Mining Watch — a transparency platform developed by the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory and Global Fishing Watch — researchers were able to track the Chikyu’s journey from port to the mining site and monitor the vessel across its two weeks of operations. Satellite imagery captured a visible surface plume stretching kilometers behind the vessel. Scientists say these discharge plumes, created when wastewater is released back into the ocean after extraction activity, could disrupt fragile deep-sea ecosystems. As this emerging industry develops, transparency will be critical for holding deep-sea mining operators accountable while helping to assess impacts. By combining vessel tracking data with satellite imagery, tools like Deep-Sea Mining Watch can help scientists, policymakers and the public understand what is happening in one of the most remote parts of our planet. Explore the activity yourself at the link in bio. Or visit this link: epseaminingwatch.msi.ucsb.edu/

Congratulations to Dr. Diva Amon on receiving the Peter Benchley Ocean Award for Excellence in Science and Exploration, which recognizes global leaders advancing solutions for ocean conservation. Dr. Amon’s pioneering deep-sea research is expanding scientific understanding of the high seas and informing international policy decisions at a critical moment for the ocean, particularly as emerging industries and climate pressures reshape deep-ocean ecosystems. As Science Advisor at the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory, she helps guide research across major ocean initiatives while advocating for inclusive and equitable governance that ensures ocean-dependent communities have a voice in global decisions. This recognition celebrates her groundbreaking exploration, scientific leadership, and continued commitment to protecting the ocean’s most remote ecosystems. Follow Diva for a glimpse into her ocean exploration adventures: @diva_amon Learn more about the award here: @peterbenchleyoceanawards /