Preventing Ecocide in South China Sea
Land reclamation in the South China Sea could be damaging irreplaceable reef ecosystems, threatening the food security of millions. It’s time for a treaty, says leading scientist.
On an Unspoiled Caribbean Isle, Grand Plans for Big Tourist Port
The Caribbean’s largest uninhabited island is under siege. East Caicos is a tropical jewel, the largest uninhabitated island in the Caribbean and home to rare birds and pristine turtle-nesting beaches. But plans for a giant port for cruise and cargo ships could change it forever.
Iraq’s Famed Marshes Are Disappearing—Again
A decade after the restoration of their once fruitful wetlands, the Marsh Arabs are struggling to cope with the country’s water shortage.
A Little Fish with Big Impact In Trouble on U.S. West Coast
Scientists are concerned that officials waited too long to order a ban on U.S. Pacific sardine fishing that goes into effect July 1. The dire state of the sardine population is a cautionary tale about overharvesting these and other forage fish that are a critical part of the marine food web.
Suspended Sediment Makes it Harder for Fish to Breathe
Researchers have discovered that suspended sediment damages fish gills and can increase the rate of disease in fish. Suspended sediments result from flood plumes, coastal agricultural and industrial development and from dredging operations and are increasing in coastal waters worldwide.
Ancient Seashell Coloration Patterns Revealed Using Ultraviolet Light
Nearly 30 ancient seashell species coloration patterns were revealed using ultraviolet (UV) light, according to a recent study. Determining the coloration patterns of the ancient shells may be important for understanding their relationships to modern species…
Five Centuries of Flooding Events in the SW Netherlands; 1500–2000
A new study shows that, from 1500 until 2000, about a third of floods in southwestern Netherlands were deliberately caused by humans during wartimes. Some of these inundations resulted in significant changes to the landscape, being as damaging as floods caused by heavy rainfall or storm surges.
Half the Dolphins Caught in Japan Hunt Exported Despite Global Outcry: Report
About half of the live dolphins caught in the Japanese coastal town of Taiji were exported to China and other countries despite global criticism of the hunting technique used, a news report has said.
Largest Turtle Breeding Colony in the Atlantic Discovered
A huge ground survey covering nearly 600 km of Gabon’s coastline has uncovered the largest breeding colony of olive ridley turtles in the Atlantic.