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Science
Shore crabs can process pain.
Further discoveries have been made about the lives of corals that live in deep, dark environments.
A new-generation satellite mission has begun, studying the colour of the ocean from space to understand more about ocean health and its role in climate regulation. Furthermore, chemical variations in the shells, teeth, and bones of some organisms are also helping scientists monitor global environmental change.
Fisheries
Iceland has allocated a quota for redfish despite receiving a zero-catch advice due to its spawning population being at critically low levels.
The Royal Navy will now help the Global Fishing Watch to tackle global illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
A 3-hour Westminster Hall debate on the fishing industry covered many areas of discussion, see the Hansard here.
British Overseas Territories
The new prime minister of Mauritius has shared reservations about the Chagos Islands deal.
Skip Novak describes his sailing trip to survey South Georgia’s endangered Wandering Albatross.
Marine Protection
Deep-sea fish are vital for climate and ecosystem stability, but an uncertain future of deep-sea mining remains.
The North Sea Advisory Council (NSAC) has made recommendations to the EU Commission on integrating fisheries Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECM) into the EU’s biodiversity goals.
Conservation
What it’s like to be a Chum Salmon travelling upstream.
Scientists are using acoustic data to track blue and fin whales in the Arctic.
Conservation efforts are aiming to heal mangroves in Guinea-Bissau.
See the first grey seal pup of the season at Orford Ness, Suffolk, UK.
Climate Crisis
Diatoms have been described as ‘masters’ at capturing carbon.
Scientists have warned that coral adaptation is unlikely to keep up with the rate of global warming.
Environmental concerns have been raised after a large amount of fertiliser was dumped off the east coast of England last week. The quality of UK river water has been revealed to be significantly worse than that of coastal bathing sites.
High levels of Mercury have been found in the Amazon’s Madeira River water and fish. In addition, a mass fish die-off has devastated Brazil’s Amazon River!
Aquaculture
Those in Putumayo are switching from the coca industry to fish farming.
Electric barriers have been trailed as barriers around salmon farms to deter jellyfish.
Plastics
A plastic pollution alliance of oil and chemical companies produced 1,000 times more new plastic than they diverted away from the environment.
What are the worst five everyday plastic items?
Misc
Did you know that killer whales have a distinct pattern of pigmentation behind their dorsal fin?
For the first time, the hunting techniques of orcas taking down a whale shark has been revealed.
Book suggestion: “Into The Great Wide Ocean” by Sönke Johnsen. This book explores life in the least known habitat on Earth, the unique challenges and evolutionary adaptations of life in the open sea.
