Biodiversity just as powerful as climate change for healthy ecosystems
Biodiversity is proving to be one of humanity’s best defenses against extreme weather. In past experiments, diversity has fostered healthier, more productive ecosystems, like shoreline vegetation that guards against hurricanes.
US, Canada to investigate deaths of endangered whales
Marine authorities in the U.S. and Canada said Friday they will marshal resources to try to find out what’s behind a string of deaths of endangered North Atlantic right whales.
Why Sardinia’s tourists taking sand as souvenir face fine
Famed for its pristine beaches, the Mediterranean island of Sardinia has hit back at holidaymakers who have been pinching its sand.
Spectacular rebirth of Belize’s coral reefs threatened by tourism and development
Report reveals improvement but also details danger posed by tourist-generated pollution, oil extraction and climate change.
A variety of maritime activities contribute to sea turtle deaths
Ask what water-based activity interacts the most with threatened and endangered sea turtles and many will reply without hesitation: commercial fishing. But state records show that to be incorrect.
Whales turn tail at ocean mining noise
A new international study has measured the effect of loud sounds on migrating humpback whales as concern grows as oceans become noisier. Scientists have said one of the main sources of ocean noise was oil and gas exploration, due to geologists firing off loud acoustic air guns to probe the structure of the ocean floor in search of fossil fuels.
Marine noise pollution stresses and confuses fish
Increased noise pollution in the oceans is confusing fish and compromising their ability to recognise and avoid predators.
“Dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico is biggest ever
Each summer, a large part of the Gulf of Mexico “dies”. This year, the Gulf’s “dead zone” is the largest on record, stretching from the mouth of the Mississippi, along the coast of Louisiana to waters off Texas, hundreds of miles away. Around 8,776 square miles of ocean, an area the size of New Jersey or Wales, is almost lifeless.
Current threats to our oceans revealed
A survey of tens of thousands of marine studies from the last decade reveals current threats to our marine environment. These include: the effects of climate change, marine plastic pollution, conservation, as well as social and economic impacts.