The Pew Charitable Trusts: Photos: Ocean plastic pollution exposed

Environment Update

A Big Win for New England Great news: Fishery managers voted to create a coastal buffer prohibiting industrial herring trawling and protecting some of New England's richest habitat. Thanks to the 15,630 of you who submitted a comment calling for these steps! WHAT WILL CHANGE

Deadly Gillnets to Be Phased Out in California California Governor Jerry Brown recently signed legislation to end use of harmful drift gillnets, setting in motion the transition away from this wasteful gear. It's a big win for sea lions, turtles, and other marine life. WHY THIS MATTERS

As Arctic Melts, Rare New Protections for Fish Melting Arctic ice is opening new areas to commercial fishing. Luckily, international leaders just signed an accord to proactively protect the area—prohibiting unregulated commercial fishing until science says it's sustainable. READ ON

Photos: Ocean Plastic Pollution Exposed In addition to this cotton-swab-toting seahorse, a debris-packed albatross and shopping-bag-tangled dolphin offer eye-opening evidence of the toll that plastics are taking on our ocean. SEE FOR YOURSELF

FACT OF THE MATTER Up to 13 million Metric tons of plastic waste entering the ocean each year Public Lands Are an Economic Win Across the West Wildlife-related recreation on our nation's Western public lands supports 26,500 jobs and generates more than $3 billion for the U.S. economy. Our new report breaks it down. BIG SKY, BIG MONEY PEW IN THE NEWS Big Changes About Small Fish Are in Store for Fishermen AP NEWS Drastic Measures Considered to Arrest Plunge in Herring Population THE BOSTON GLOBE Commercial Fishing Banned Across Much of the Arctic THE GUARDIAN BLM Lands Contribute Billions From Recreation, Study Finds AP NEWS