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Science
Fluorescence is newly discovered in 27 marine creatures, and there is footage of humpback whales and their acrobats! Pacific coast gray whales have gotten 13% shorter in the past 20-30 years.
Reef manta rays in Raja Ampat have been discovered to swim shorter distances as they prefer staying close to their local habitats, strengthening their social bonds and forming distinct populations. Researchers say this discovery could help save more of them.
Fisheries
The UK agrees deals on mackerel fishing with Norway and the Faroe Islands to reduce fishing pressure, however, Iceland has voiced concerns over the deal being between 3 out of 6 of the coastal states and its potential to exacerbate overfishing, predicting that scientific advice will be exceeded by about 133% in 2024.
There is an urgent requirement for more stock specific total allowable catch limits for skate and ray species in the Northeast Atlantic.
The EU formally adopts decisions to conclude the UN agreement on BBNJ, widely known as the High Seas Treaty, and the European Commission has opened a call for evidence on the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Europêche calls on von der Leyen to ensure political neutrality during the interim fisheries period.
British Overseas Territories
MCS has released its film: Community Voice Method film, documenting local perspectives and ambitions of local people towards the future of East Caicos – the largest uninhabited wilderness in the Caribbean!
Despite ongoing UK-Mauritius negotiations on the Chagos question, reaching an agreement anytime soon appears unlikely.
The Cayman Islands Government backbencher McKeeva Bush says changes to the National Conservation Act are needed, but former premier Wayne Panton MP has accused the developer lobby of a “corrupt initiative” to influence the UPM into amending it.
Conservation
US rolls out its first National Ocean Biodiversity Strategy, and the EU has approved the Nature Restoration Law!
Scotland’s seaweed growers are aiming to revolutionise what we buy by using farmed kelp to produce plastic substitutes, beauty products and food supplements.
Climate Crisis
The UK is among the rich countries not paying their fair share to restore nature. The BBC uncovers 6,000 possible illegal sewage spills in one year and Oceana threatens legal action over oil and gas licences.
Fossil fuels reach a global record, despite the clean energy growth, and the deadly heatwave in Mexico and the US was made 35 times more likely due to human-induced global heating. A new study shows how heatwaves stress marine plants.
There has been another oil spill, this time in Singapore, by a boat from the Netherlands which crashed into a moored fuel ship, spilling around 400 tonnes of oil into the sea
The UN says finding funds to tackle the climate crisis is ‘a steep mountain to climb’, as talks end with little agreement ahead of COP29, despite their recent survey finding that four in five people want more climate action!
A new interactive app shows what the global climate will look like in 60 years. Young people are receiving help to turn climate anxiety into climate action.
Misc
Researchers from the University of Glasgow have been granted £3 million in funding across four projects which focus on overcoming current challenges faced by the aquaculture sector. The FAO has been pressured to remove “sustainable” from the label of farmed salmon and sea bream.
