Key Biological Mechanism is Disrupted by Ocean Acidification

A team led by scientists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego has demonstrated that the excess carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere through the combustion of fossil fuels interferes with the health of phytoplankton which form the base of marine food webs.

The Sculpting of Ebro Delta

Just over 200 kilometers southwest of Barcelona, Spain’s largest river meets the Mediterranean Sea and creates the Ebro Delta. At 350 square kilometers, the delta is the fourth largest on the Mediterranean. It is an important wetland ecosystem and a productive agricultural area. Yet, humans, who indirectly drove the growth of the delta over the past 2100 years, are today starving the delta.

Sea swimming increases ailments

People who swim, bathe or take part in water sports in the sea are substantially more likely to experience stomach bugs, ear aches and other types of illness than those who do not.

Ocean Refuge the Size of Great Britain Announced

The government of the Seychelles has created two new marine protected areas in the country’s remote Indian Ocean archipelago. The sanctioned areas will cover more than 81,000 square miles—a swath of space about the size of Great Britain.