News & Media - Managing Ocean Risk

At a recent conference about the promises and risks of AI, Center for Ocean Solutions Co-director Jim Leape emphasized AI's exciting potential to transform large quantities of data into action for ocean conservation.

A new study led by Managing Director Elizabeth Selig calls for more participatory, transparent governance after finding that the majority of 1000+ ocean conflicts in Africa stemmed from disputes over access to space and resources.

The first step is to document where conflicts are occurring, who is involved, and the nature of the disputes.

“Through Synchro we are testing and deploying multiple technologies capable of collecting samples and data that are low-cost, while also maintaining the quality of traditional approaches,” says Collin Closek, a marine scientist at the Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions.

The Blue Food Futures Program, co-led by the Center for Ocean Solutions, will host two early-career researchers dedicated to elevating the role of blue foods in global food systems transformation.

Viewing research as a story with main characters and a core plot inspires Elizabeth Selig in her work as Managing Director of the Center for Ocean Solutions.

Research Manager Eric Hartge and Stanford PhD Candidate Catherine Lee Hing were part of a team that completed a recent "Twinning Exchange" between the regions of Micronesia and the Caribbean to compare notes on marine spatial planning and community-based ocean governance.

Co-director Jim Leape argues that Africa has untapped potential to use blue foods to meet sustainable development challenges and to expand production through aquaculture.

Close out the year with a look back at the strides the Woods Institute community, including the Center for Ocean Solutions, has made toward better understanding and supporting life on Earth.

“Facilitating a space wherein communities can shape policies and decisions about their land, ocean, values, practices, and livelihood should be the norm,” said Josheena Naggea.

A new series of briefs supports decision-makers developing national climate strategies in Ghana, Indonesia, Mexico, and Vietnam.

PICRC Chief Researcher Ikelau Otto and researcher Maikani Mereng Andres joined scientists Collin Closek and Jeanine Brantschen from the Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions on the expedition, which is part of a continuing research collaboration that began in 2021.

Colette Wabnitz’s work highlights an overlooked reality, where millions of women support global fisheries but remain invisible in official statistics and decision-making.

Research Scholar Nicole Franz joins the In Common podcast to discuss her new book on human-centered management of fisheries in a complex world.

Ninety years of tidepool observations in Monterey Bay have taught Stanford researchers about climate change impacts on the ocean and the evolution of science.

Jouffray and his colleagues wanted to understand what companies were disclosing to the public and their investors, and how their activities impact the ocean and the life within it.

“Managing fisheries is easier said than done," said research scholar Nicole Franz in an interview with Nutrition Insight.

A new paper led by Wallenberg Postdoctoral Fellow Jean-Baptiste Jouffray reveals major gaps in how companies disclose their impacts on the ocean.

Increasing food security is one challenge for sustainable development of Southeast Asia, experts said during a panel moderated by Jim Leape of the Center for Ocean Solutions.

Colleagues at the Center for Ocean Solutions are part of a project team that will research women's experiences working in fisheries and aquaculture.

Stanford researchers are creating an interdisciplinary curriculum to help students better understand the physical and biological ocean systems and the human relationship with them.

Stanford scholars discuss ocean sustainability, high-seas protections, and interdisciplinary science at the One Ocean Science Congress and U.N. Ocean Conference.

A resource for meeting the pressing challenges of malnutrition, livelihoods and equity

"There’s huge potential in blue foods, but it really depends on how they are managed," said Engagement Project Manager Laura Anderson.

Scholars from the Center for Ocean Solutions and across the Doerr School of Sustainability share their greatest wonder about the oceans and what drives them to study the sea.

The Center for Ocean Solutions will contribute to events on sustainable blue foods, oceans and human health, women in ocean science, and data systems in small-scale fisheries.

A systematic assessment of the small-scale fisheries sector co-led by Research Scholar Nicole Franz yields insights into some of its most vital contributions to humanity.

Co-director Fiorenza Micheli talks with El Mercurio about why it's essential to invest in food security and the sustainable development of seafood.

Blue Food Futures Program Manager Josheena Naggea and colleagues argue for blue carbon projects to properly value ecosystems in National Geographic Indonesia.

Attendees of a recent technology symposium at Stanford identify ways to optimize, integrate, and scale data collection for advancing human and planetary health.

“This analysis provides robust evidence that protecting marine predators promotes the recovery of marine forests even in the face of prolonged marine heat waves,” said Micheli.

Center co-director Fiorenza Micheli is among the co-authors of new research on how marine predators can promote the recovery of kelp forests.

The Stanford Environmental Research Year in Review looks back at the most notable environment and sustainability research from Stanford scholars in 2024.

Attendees of the third annual Stanford Oceans Conference shared approaches for recognizing and incorporating culture into governance across the Indian Ocean.

Dozens of faculty members at Stanford are working to transform the way the world grows, distributes, and consumes food.

A new 12-month fellowship through the Blue Food Futures Program, co-led by the Center for Ocean Solutions, will support two early career researchers dedicated to understanding the role of blue foods in global food systems transformation.

A new book co-authored by scholars, practitioners, and students champions a centuries-old vision for the future of marine conservation.

Center co-director Fiorenza Micheli is among the Stanford scientists using innovative projects to broaden the public's appreciation for the ocean.

A new study co-authored by Nicole Franz of the Center for Ocean Solutions found that small-scale fishing could provide a significant proportion of the micronutrient intake for the 2.3 billion people on Earth who live near coastlines or inland bodies of water.

"I've always been primarily driven by the people I work with rather than a particular topic."

A collaboration between Stanford researchers and Indonesian organizations aims to capitalize on aquatic food sources to improve nutrition, food security, and livelihoods.

Experts discuss how small-scale fisheries connect to environmental and human health, gender equity, and more.

Research Data Scientist Zach Koehn talks sardines and sustainability on the podcast Outside/In.

Marine scientists and policy experts from nine international research and conservation institutions share their list of the top ocean news stories from 2024.

Stanford scientists discuss the social and environmental costs of mining sand from the ocean and sand’s role in climate adaptation.

"Projections indicate that the entire region faces increasing risk from extreme events,” said Fiorenza Micheli.

Over the past few years, the role of aquatic foods in climate solutions has often been overlooked.

Aquatic foods are vital for the future of our changing world, and more support is needed to prioritise them, say the leaders of the UN’s Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue.

The 2024 Environmental Venture Projects and Realizing Environmental Innovation Program grants foster interdisciplinary solutions.

Scientists and storytellers discuss the urgent need for technology to deepen understanding, democratize data, and inspire collective action for the ocean.

For more than 20 years, Fiorenza Micheli studied how a fishing cooperative in the community of Isla Natividad, in Baja California Sur, Mexico, adapted to climate change.

Co-director Jim Leape joins a live taping of The Catch, a Foreign Policy podcast, at Climate Week NYC

André Hoffmann Fellow Josheena Naggea and colleagues share how coastal ecosystems can support both climate mitigation and the needs of local communities.

Structured as two Stanford courses, student groups developed policy reports with the goal of informing government decisions about how to incorporate fisheries and aquaculture into Indonesia’s national development strategy over the next two decades.

Americans love their prawns. So how healthy are they — for us and for the planet?

Microorganism that kills victims within days leaps from Caribbean to the Red Sea, alarming marine scientists

What happens when an optical physicist and a marine scientist join forces to protect ocean biodiversity?

Research Development Manager Eric Hartge receives honorable mention in this year's Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability photo contest.

Coastal marine ecosystems remove excess greenhouse gas from the atmosphere -- and much more, scholars explain.

Scholars from across the university have contributed to a vision for a Sustainable Societies Institute in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.

Attendees of the second Stanford Oceans Conference highlighted the need to incorporate different knowledge systems and move beyond ‘either-or’ approaches to sustainability.

A study of fishing cooperatives and independent operators in Baja California offers lessons for the development of equitable climate adaptation policies across the world.

The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and the Naval Postgraduate School recently convened experts to discuss how research can address climate change impacts on the ocean.

A new report looks back at the most impactful environment and sustainability research from Stanford scholars in 2023.

A recent paper examines the benefits and tradeoffs of interactions between aquaculture and small-scale fisheries across 46 case studies.

Stanford experts discuss agreements related to fossil fuels, food, oceans, and more at the 2023 U.N. climate talks in Dubai and share reflections on the summit.

An optical sensor smaller than a postage stamp could help coastal communities monitor some of the world’s largest marine protected areas.

Stanford Report spoke with three graduate students – including a research assistant at the Center for Ocean Solutions – about their hopes for the future of ocean science.

Read about COS in the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment Annual Report

"One of the things that happens in seafood supply chains is that as soon as the vessels can kind of get out of sight, it's just impossible to know what they're doing," said Alfredo Girón-Nava of the Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions.

The Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions is teaming up with partners in Palau to advance our scientific understanding of the ocean and its biodiversity.

Research Scientist Michelle Tigchelaar discusses how climate change affects blue food security in this podcast episode.

Early Career Fellow Zach Koehn examines nutrient richness and greenhouse gas emissions of blue foods to evaluate their potential to support healthy and sustainable diets.

Seafood2030: COS Co-Director Jim Leape discusses how coordinated efforts can support a more responsible and sustainable seafood industry.

Hunger, malnutrition and obesity affect billions. A review reveals challenges and opportunities for creating a healthier, sustainable, equitable and resilient global food system.

Stanford experts help guide Palau’s initiative to create one of the world’s largest marine sanctuaries.