The Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve is excited to announce an upcoming tour of the Gulf of Mexico where Jace Tunnell and Sam Sugarek will lead an effort to sample nurdles across all 5 U.S. Gulf states in the month of May 2019. Starting May 19th, the crew will sample every Gulf beach from Texas to Florida, including Fort Jefferson, Presentations will be given at 3 other Reserves and every state will have locations each day where the public can come and participate in a nurdle survey. To learn more about the expedition and what a nurdle is, visit www.MissionAransas.org and Read more about Gulf Nurdle Expedition Announced May 19-26, 2019
Our partners at The Nature Conservancy are hiring! Here is the info:
The Sustainable Fisheries Manager position of The Nature Conservancy in Texas has been published and it will be open through February 12th. Note that the location is flexible within Texas.
This is a new position and unique opportunity to shape coastal and marine conservation in Texas and the Gulf of Mexico:
The Nature Conservancy’s Texas Chapter is hiring a new position - Sustainable Fisheries Manager –
Jace Tunnell will be giving a Nurdle Patrol training and presentation at the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation's Coastal Issues Forum on February 11, 2019. The event will be held at the Del Mar Center for Economic Development in Corpus Christi, Texas at 5:30pm. Learn what a nurdle is, what the issues are with them being in the environment, and how you can get involved with this Gulf-wide Citizen Science Project. For more information about the Coastal Issues Forum, please visit www.baysfoundation.org. Read more about Nurdle Patrol Training and Presentation - February 11, 2019
Katie Swanson, Tracy Weatherall, and other colleagues from around the Gulf of Mexico just published a new study in the journal of Marine Pollution Bulletin that looked at accumulation rates of marine debris on Gulf beaches, titled Accumulation and Distribution of marine debris on barrier islands across the northern Gulf of Mexico. " In summary, Texas has coastal debris accumulation rates ten times that of similar coastlines in north central GoM." There are a number of reasons for these accumulation rates.
Every year, the Mission-Aransas Reserve gives out a Coastal Champion Award to an individual that has made an impact on the work that the Reserve does. This year's award went to Georgia Neblett, the Director of External Affairs at UTMSI, and was the Executive Director during the initial years of the Reserve. Georgia has been a key reason for the success of the Reserve since the beginning, helping to secure millions of dollars in funds for infrastructure, networking with folks to get things done, and recognizing a vision for what the Reserve is today. Georgia is the third recipient of the
The Mission-Aransas Reserve just started a new citizen science project called Nurdle Patrol, where we are monitoring and collecting plastic pellets at beaches all across the Gulf of Mexico. Nurdles are small plastic pellets and are the basis of everything plastic. They look like food to animals, and they absorb toxins in the environment so can be deadly to some animals depending on the toxin concentrations. We are looking to quanify how many nurdles are at beaches along the Gulf Coast, and see how long they persist. Plus, we want to remove them from the environment. Want to learn more about Read more about New Citizen Science Project - Nurdle Patrol
Thanks to Hurricane Harvey, this annual event is more important than ever. We’re looking for volunteers to come aboard the Skimmer to help clean the shoreline of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge before the Whooping Cranes begin their arrival.
RSVP is required and lunch will be provided. Volunteers should be willing to walk moderate distances in rough terrain. Please bring water, insect repellent, sun protection, close-toed shoes, and wear long pants.
Save the Date for a FREE symposium on plastic pollution in Texas. We will host a symposium along with Surfrider Foundation, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and Texas Sea Grant on October 30th at the Del Mar Center for Economic Development about plastic pollution in Texas. Call for abstracts and registration will be out in late August 2018. Look for more information soon!
