Boom Time For Illegal Sand Mining, Kerala State, India
With the coastal city of Kozhikode’s construction sector flourishing, illegal sand mining and misuse of sand passes have spawned a multi-crore business, setting off a range of social, legal and environmental issues.
Plastic Debris Reaches Southern Ocean, Previously Thought To Be Pristine
The first traces of plastic debris have been found in what was thought to be the pristine environment of the Southern Ocean, according to a study released in London by the French scientific research vessel Tara.
British Columbia Planning tsunami cleanup as Japan, Canada continue funding talks
British Columbia could see an increase in debris washing ashore from the Japanese tsunami as winter storms begin to batter the coast, and the province’s environment minister says there will be a plan in place by the end of October to deal with collection and disposal.
French Highest Court Upholds Total Conviction In Erika Oil Spill
France’s highest court upheld a conviction against oil major Total SA over a 1999 oil spill, caused by the wreck of the Erika oil tanker off the Brittany coast in 1999, in a blow to the company which had hoped it would be absolved of blame for one of France’s worst environmental disasters.
Protect Our Marine Wildlife and Fisheries from Seismic Testing
This November, PG&E plans to begin the seismic testing program required by regulators to determine whether the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant can continue to operate safely on California’s Central Coast. Environmental reviews for this project have already found “significant and unavoidable” impacts on marine life…
Satellites Trace Sea Level Change
Scientists have reviewed almost two decades of satellite data to build a new map showing the trend in sea levels. Globally, the oceans are rising, but there have been major regional differences over the period.
Scientists Predict Major Shifts in Pacific Ecosystems by 2100
A new study published in Nature Climate Change examines the distribution of various open ocean animals in the North Pacific and explores how that could change over the next century as global ocean temperatures increase and productivity levels shift.
Gujarat Beaches No Longer Pristine, India
Coastal tourism in Gujarat is proving to be a non-starter. More than the economic downturn, the main reason for this is the gross mismanagement of numerous beaches dotting the state’s huge coastline of 1,600 km.
Israel’s beaches: where sand and sun meet pollution
The Bat Galim beach in Haifa, which has been closed to swimmers for eight days, stands next to the barb-wired backside of an army base. Across the way, housing projects bake slowly in the sun. Three years ago, I came here on a date, and it seemed to be one of Israel’s most forlorn beaches. Even the sand is grayer, and harder.