Instructor: Ayana Johnson

The human population is 7.5 billion and counting, and a large and growing portion of us live near the coast. Most of the world’s large cities are coastal, their growth fueled by ports. So it’s critical to figure out what urban ocean conservation looks like. This course will explore urban ocean conservation using New York City as a case study.

The Hudson and East Rivers are cleaner now than they have been in 100 years. Whales are returning to the harbor. Seahorses are living under the piers. Oysters (water filterers extraordinaire) are being replanted. We will examine and dream up ways that NYC could further restore and protect its waters.

In the worlds of food (sustainable seafood!), fashion, and art, NYC is a cultural arbiter, but it is not (yet!) a global leader in sustainability and conservation. We will compare NYC's coastal management with initiatives in other coastal cities. We will consider how successful ocean conservation efforts in NYC could become a much-needed model for urban ocean conservation across the globe.

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