The Seabed 2030 initiative is being facilitated by the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) project in partnership with The Nippon Foundation (NF) as a means to inform global policy, improve sustainable use and advance scientific research.
Oyster reefs are important components of healthy ecosystems within U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico estuaries. Oysters filter and clean bay waters, create fish habitats, and protect shorelines from erosion. They also provide recreational fishing opportunities and support a robust seafood industry, generating over $19 million in Texas in 2014.
On March 24, 1989, Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker bound for Long
Beach, CA, struck Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska at 12:04 a.m. local time, and spilled 260,000 barrels of crude oil in the first couple tides.
