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Science
Shellfish are speed dating in Florida and a small lizard has formed its own scuba gear in Costa Rica!
Members of the salmon family have been revealed to have microbial bacteria living in their brains, and a new fish species has been discovered in the Red Sea, named ‘grumpy dwarfgoby’ for its intimidating look!
There is research that suggests some fish species can learn, experience pain and form relationships. How will this change our attitude on the world’s ‘most-eaten animal’?
Fisheries
The Canadian Federal Fisheries Minister, Diane Lebouthillier, is facing even further criticism for disregarding scientific advice and reopening a commercial cod fishery. Yet in the UK, taking precautionary measures for cod fisheries has been ‘condemned’ by the fishing industry, who have described a 22% cut in the Northern Shelf cod TAC as ‘unnecessarily precautionary’.
The Irish fishing industry has supported the introduction of strengthened regulations against unsustainable fishing practices, and offshore wind expansion has sparked even more concerns to the fishing industry.
EU: Concerns have been raised over Ursula von der Leyen and she has announced her new Commissioners with Costas Kadis being named as the EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans. Europêche has supported his nomination. The European Commission proposed its fishing opportunities for 2025 for the Mediterranean and the Black Seas, and the new Dutch Government is pushing to remove the EU ban on pulse fishing!
British Overseas Territories
Scientists in the Falkland Islands have described the island as ‘well preserved’ after a recent discovery.
The Falkland Islands Development Corporation (FIDC) have been sent a bill totalling £35,690.47 from the Falkland Islands Government for Sea Lion Island fire. The squid fishery in the Falkland Islands is facing a crisis, meanwhile the Spanish fleet are worried about losing €100m.
The Cayman Islands Department of Environment is urging the public not to try to interfere with baby turtles as they hatch from their nests and have said that ‘allowing hatchlings to emerge naturally is extremely important’.
David Lammy made a speech on Tuesday mentioning that ‘90% of the UK’s biodiversity is within our Overseas Territories’ and how he is ‘looking to expand the Blue Belt Programme to increase marine protection’!
Marine Protection
In the last century, African Penguins have lost 97% of their population and their main food sources are being depleted by commercial fishing. The Governments of South Africa and Namibia must act now. Sign the petition here.
Public monitoring is being used to track the ecological impact of the lionfish, an invasive species. A different invasive species is threatening Brazil…but in this case, mangroves.
Whales may be communicating across even larger distances than once thought, and the foraging behaviours of bowhead whales have been confirmed. Scientists have been researching why the diet of orcas makes some populations thrive and others not, and further research is being carried out on the health and conditions of whale sharks.
Scientists say that juvenile krill have been undetected in scientific surveys. This is because they remain in the upper surface layer rather than deeper water where adults are found. They need more protection, and so do sharks. Canada has a plan to protect a small endangered fish but has no power to protect it, meanwhile new photograph’s have revealed the decline of Norway’s seabirds. Marine animals in even untouched habitats are experiencing consequences from human impacts.
Green turtles have made significant recoveries on Cyprus beaches.
Climate Crisis
Pacific Islands are proposing that ‘ecocide’, the destruction of the environment by humans, be adopted as international crime. Nine case studies have presented ways in which adaptation measures can act in response to climate risks.
The UK has been declared the first nation to map and estimate the amount of carbon stored in its seabed habitats. Read the report here, which suggests that ‘seabed habitats could capture almost three times more carbon than forests in the UK every year if left undisturbed’. Watch the video here. Not only this, but Antarctic krill also have the ability to lock away similar levels of carbon as seagrass and mangroves.
EU: There is a new environment policy chief, Jessika Roswall, who has been picked to direct the EU’s response to drought and flooding and Cyprus has been classed as a ‘world leader’ in their solar heating.
Atlanta officials are investigating a pollution incident which caused the death of fish miles down a river.
Widespread bleaching of coral reefs is devastating delicate ecosystems, yet corals prove to be the best living temperature sensors we have. The race is on to find a way for corals to survive the warming seas…have we just found one? New science suggests that young corals recover significantly more than older corals from bleaching events.
David Lammy made an encouraging speech this week which highlighted how he thinks climate change is a more fundamental threat than terrorism, and he is not the only one, Anatol Lieven has studied geopolitics all his life and also believes that the climate breakdown is a bigger threat than China and Russia. The UK is to appoint a nature envoy for the first time! Who will it be?
Sir David Attenborough has spoken out about the impact wildlife programmes have had on the way people look after the world, “the world would be in a far, far worse situation now had there been no broadcasting of natural history”.
Aquaculture
The Scottish Government has launched a public consultation on proposals to extend marine planning zones, which could impact fish and shellfish farming.
Environmental defenders in Indonesia are facing legal threats for trying to protect their nation’s natural resources. An activist in Indonesia was jailed for 7 months for speaking out and posting a Facebook post about illegal shrimp farms operating within Karimunjawa National Park.
Misc
The endangered yellow-eyed penguin, also known as hoiho has been crowned New Zealand’s bird of the year!
See some drawings of 10 children’s favourite sea creatures here.
Scientists have said ‘there is enough evidence to agree to global action on microplastics’…what will it take?
Have we been ignoring ocean light pollution for too long? Action is needed.
A study on ‘marine identity’ has highlighted that people depend on the ocean for recreation, livelihoods, health and sustenance – could this be used to restore the ocean?
Webinars
Open Communications for The Ocean (OCTO) is hosting a webinar on the insights and tools for combining governance approaches for more effective and equitable MPAs (3pm on 1st October). Register here.
Open Communications for The Ocean (OCTO) is hosting a webinar on the new Integrated Marine Debris Observing System (IMDOS): Coordinating the global community to provide data to inform policy (3pm on 23rd October). Register here.
Open Communications for The Ocean (OCTO) is hosting a webinar on the Marine Monitor (M2): Understanding and tracking human activity in nearshore coastal environments (5pm on 29th October). Register here.
