Bay Nature stories about the Pacific Ocean.

sand dollars

The West Coast’s Living Sand Dollars

January 1, 2007 •  by

There’s a lot more to the western sand dollar (Dendraster excentricus) than meets the eye. Most people who spend any time at the beach are familiar with the sand dollar’s skeleton, or test—the rigid, white flattened disk that commonly washes … Read more

Beachfront Property

July 1, 2006 •  by

San Francisco’s Fort Funston is perhaps best known for dogs and hang gliders, but its cliffs also host a thriving coastal bank swallow colony.

California Ocean Protection Act

April 1, 2005 •  by

In response to a landmark state ocean bill signed into law last year, top state agencies are taking aggressive steps to protect California’s coastline and marine habitats from overfishing and pollution. The new law, the California Ocean Protection Act (COPA), … Read more

Ocean Film Festival

January 1, 2005 •  by

The second annual San Francisco Ocean Film Festival, a three-day celebration of oceans and estuaries, kicks off on Friday, January 28, with a reception at the San Francisco Maritime Museum near Ghirardelli Square. On Saturday and Sunday, the event continues … Read more

Ocean Awareness Campaign

October 1, 2003 •  by

As thousands of monarchs return to the protection of the California State Park system, a coalition of marine conservation organizations wants to remind Americans that less than one percent of the world’s ocean waters benefit from such government-administered refuges. The … Read more

Books about the Ocean

July 1, 2003 •  by

While we’re out at the ocean, let’s review several recent books that will make the visit more rewarding. Foghorn Outdoors has just released the third edition of California Beaches: The Best Places to Swim, Play, Eat, and Stay on the … Read more

Great White Shark Diving

July 1, 2003 •  by

While most beachgoers or surfers in Northern California would prefer never to meet up with great white sharks, some folks are actually paying big bucks for the privilege of such an encounter. Several adventure boat operators have been sailing tourists … Read more

Update: Sea Otter Census Numbers Rise

July 1, 2003 •  by

Since our story went to press, there’s been some good news for the Southern Sea Otter: census numbers for the California population soared by 17 percent since last year. More than 2,500 otters were counted off our coast this spring, … Read more