Latest data updates for Ocean Cleanup Tracker.https://watchboard.dev/en-ushttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-06-07/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-06-07/The Trump administration announced plans to shut down the $368 million Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) on June 2, with the first physical buoy removal off Oregon confirmed June 4; scientists warn of critical AMOC, fisheries, and earthquake monitoring blind spots. Oceana and Earthjustice filed suit on June 3 over an ESA 'God Squad' exemption stripping protections from 20 Gulf of Mexico species including the critically endangered Rice's whale (fewer than 100 individuals). Ahead of the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa (June 16–18), NOAA flagged elevated bleaching risk for summer 2026 as El Niño develops; gray whale deaths along Washington's coast continued into June; and Woods Hole researchers unveiled a new coral bleaching prediction tool providing five to six months of advance warning. New map point added for the Rice's whale critical habitat in the northern Gulf of Mexico.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-06-06/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-06-06/US Ocean Observatory Shutdown Draws Mounting Scientific and International Criticism as Dismantlement Proceeds.Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-06-05/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-06-05/More Gray Whales Found Dead Along Washington State Coast as Historic Stranding Season Extends Into June.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-06-04/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-06-04/Oregon Ocean Monitoring Buoy Physically Removed as NSF Implements OOI Funding Cuts.Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-06-03/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-06-03/Oceana Calls on Governments to Prioritize Coastal Communities at Our Ocean Conference 2026 in Mombasa. Oceana announced on June 3, 2026, that it has joined Earthjustice in filing suit against the Trump administration in the U.S.Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-06-02/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-06-02/Trump Administration Announces Shutdown of $368M Ocean Observatories Initiative — Marine Scientists Warn of Catastrophic Monitoring Blind Spots. The public comment period for NOAA's proposed advance notice of rulemaking (ANPRM) on the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule closed on June 2, 2026.Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-06-01/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-06-01/WAMC's Earth Wise radio science segment, broadcast on June 1, 2026, provided a synthesis of the scientific evidence linking the accelerating eastern Pacific gray whale die-off to climate change. NOAA Issues Summer 2026 Bleaching Alert — Rapidly Developing El Niño Threatens Fifth Global Coral Bleaching Event.Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-30/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-30/Global Ocean Protection Pledges Billions Short as Our Ocean Conference Prepares for Mombasa Debut; Asia Faces Credibility Test.Sat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-29/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-29/The eastern Pacific gray whale population has been halved in a decade — from ~27,000 in 2016 to ~13,000 today — as 22+ emaciated carcasses washed ashore in Washington State this spring, linked to Arctic sea ice loss destroying the benthic food chain. Six BC First Nations and Canada signed the historic 'Mia-yaltwa Ha'lidzogm hoon' marine protected area on May 22, the first dual NMCAR+IPCA in Canadian history. J.P. Morgan estimated the global gross marine product at $2.5 trillion annually, with ocean-climate startups raising $5B+ in the past decade. Map points updated for the gray whale stranding zone and the new BC MPA ahead of the Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya on June 16–18.Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-28/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-28/TIME Magazine: Scientists Race to Save Coral Reefs via Biobanks, Assisted Fertilization and Selective Breeding. TIME and Fortune: A New Wave of Investors Sees Financial Returns in Ocean Conservation. Early Coral Bleaching Signs Detected Near PortMiami as Scientists Race to Protect Florida Reef Tract.Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-26/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-26/The Ocean Cleanup Deploys Interceptor Barriers in Mumbai's Trombay Creek and Malad Creek.Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-24/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-24/Eastern Pacific Gray Whale Population Has Been Halved in a Decade as Arctic Food Chain Collapses.Sun, 24 May 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-22/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-22/Florida BleachWatch Program Enlists Citizen Divers to Monitor Coral Bleaching Ahead of 2026 Summer Heat Season. Six BC First Nations and Canada announced the Mia-yaltwa Ha'lidzogm hoon National Marine Conservation Area Reserve — the first Canadian MPA to simultaneously hold NMCAR and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area status.Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-21/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-21/A University of Copenhagen study published May 21 in Science Advances identified a new thermal kill mechanism in corals: warming oceans collapse microscopic surface cilia before visible bleaching occurs, suggesting corals are more vulnerable than current monitoring captures. The Ocean Cleanup and Kia announced May 15 expansion of Interceptor technology to the Los Angeles River and San Gabriel River ahead of the LA28 Olympics, as part of the 30 Cities Program. Two new map points were added for the LA cleanup sites. Nearly 200 conservation groups formally urged Congress on May 13 to reject H.R. 8509, which would delay ropeless fishing gear requirements until 2035 and threatens the ~380 remaining North Atlantic right whales. The Melanesian Ocean Summit adopted the MOCOR Declaration for regional Pacific ocean protection at Port Moresby on May 15.Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-15/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-15/Kia and The Ocean Cleanup Expand Interceptor Network to Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers Ahead of LA28 Olympics. Melanesian Ocean Summit Adopts MOCOR Declaration for Regional Pacific Ocean Protection.Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-13/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-13/Norway froze its UNEP funding in May 2026, threatening secretariat support for the stalled global plastics treaty negotiations ahead of the still-unscheduled INC-5.4. Conservation groups filed a legal motion to defend NOAA's right whale vessel speed rules after the Trump administration backed legislation to delay new rope regulations until 2035. The 2025–26 North Atlantic Right Whale calving season was confirmed closed with 23 calves — the highest count since 2009. Heat-resistant 'super corals' capable of surviving 36°C are showing promise in scaled reef restoration, and Canon and Oceans Alive Foundation launched a coral rehabilitation initiative along Kenya's northern coastline.Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-12/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-12/Norway Freezes UN Environmental Funding, Threatening Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations.Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-11/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-11/Heat-Resistant 'Super Corals' Show Promise for Reef Adaptation as Restoration Scales Up. Conservation Groups File Legal Motion to Defend Right Whale Speed Rules From Industry Lawsuit.Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-07/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-07/2025–2026 Right Whale Calving Season Closes With 23 Calves — Highest in 15 Years.Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-06/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-06/The 2025–2026 North Atlantic Right Whale calving season closed with 23 confirmed calves — the highest count since 2009 — but the Trump administration's backing of H.R. 8509 to delay new fishing regulations until 2035 threatens to erase the conservation gains. The Ocean Cleanup crossed 50 million kg of plastic removed in March 2026 and deployed its first river Interceptor in the Philippines (Meycauayan River, projected 370–540 tonnes/year). A new peer-reviewed study warned that 70% of Caribbean coral reefs have already shifted from growth to net erosion due to the 2023–24 marine heatwave — years ahead of climate model predictions. California held public hearings on the proposed Mishopshno State Marine Conservation Area, which would become the first tribally led MPA in state history.Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-05/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-05/The California Fish and Game Commission held public hearings on May 5–6, 2026, in Goleta, California on 20 petitions to modify the state's Central Coast Marine Protected Area network.Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-04/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-05-04/The Trump administration announced support for legislation sponsored by Rep.Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-04-30/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-04-30/North Atlantic Right Whale Calving Season Ends with 23 Calves — Best in 15 Years.Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-04-29/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-04-29/The BBNJ High Seas Treaty has climbed to 92 ratifications as of late April 2026, up from 81 at entry into force in January, with PrepCom 3 (concluded April 2) advancing CoP1 planning for January 2027. Earth Day 2026 celebrated the historic crossing of 10% global ocean protection and the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement entering into force. North Atlantic Right Whale Day (April 23) brought cautious optimism with 22-23 calves spotted in the 2025-2026 season — an encouraging increase after years of low birth rates. The global plastics treaty elected a new INC chair at INC-5.3 in February 2026, with substantive negotiations on production caps scheduled to resume at INC-5.4 later this year.Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-04-23/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-04-23/North Atlantic Right Whale Day (April 23, 2026) brought a rare note of cautious optimism for one of the world's most endangered marine mammals.Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-04-22/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-04-22/On Earth Day 2026 (April 22), conservation groups celebrated a series of ocean protection milestones achieved over the preceding year. The MSC Foundation marked the first anniversary of its Marine Conservation Center at Ocean Cay, MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas on Earth Day, April 22, 2026.Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-04-21/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-04-21/The Ocean Cleanup has now removed 45 million kg of plastic from oceans and rivers — a tenfold increase since January 2024 — with 2025 the most productive year on record at 25 million kg. The IUCN formally upgraded the North Atlantic Right Whale to Critically Endangered this month with ~400 individuals remaining, while a U.S. federal court ruled the American lobster industry violates the Endangered Species Act. Global ocean protection crossed 10.01% for the first time, Ghana designated its first-ever Marine Protected Area, and UK researchers unveiled AI system BlueBiome to improve coral restoration success rates. The BBNJ High Seas Treaty, now in force since January 17, 2026, saw its third and final PrepCom session conclude with implementation progress but a critical gap on subsidiary body nominations that could delay the first high-seas MPAs.Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-04-18/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-04-18/IUCN Formally Upgrades North Atlantic Right Whale to 'Critically Endangered'. U.S.Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-04-16/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-04-16/The High Seas Alliance released an in-depth analysis on April 16, 2026 of the third and final BBNJ Preparatory Commission (PrepCom 3) session, which concluded April 2, 2026 at UN headquarters.Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMTdailyhttps://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-04-14/https://watchboard.dev/ocean-cleanup/#digest-2026-04-14/Ghana officially declared its first Marine Protected Area on April 14, 2026, following more than 15 years of advocacy by fishing communities, scientists, and NGOs. UK researchers unveiled BlueBiome on April 14, 2026 — an AI-driven system designed to assess coral health and detect bleaching thermal stress earlier than conventional monitoring.Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMTdaily