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Positive Ocean News
Recent discoveries have unveiled a variety of new species across different habitats, including the Hades’ snake moray eel, which thrives in the dark, muddy river mouths of the Central Indo-Pacific, and a blob-headed fish, found among 27 new species during a ‘thrilling’ expedition in Peru. In a similar breakthrough, the first confirmed record of a juvenile roundscale spearfish and its egg has also been documented.
Science
Researchers are breeding critically endangered sunflower sea stars in California labs to help restore their populations and support the recovery of kelp forests.
Robots and satellites have aided the revelation that emperor penguins exhibit more complex behaviours and inhabit a wider range of environments than previously understood.
A recent study has revealed how European eel larvae are transported through the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea, highlighting the oceanic processes that influence their dispersal and distribution.
Fisheries
Wildlife in the North Sea: Grey seals, minke whales, bluefin tuna and more!
Scientists have warned that nearly a quarter of freshwater species are at high risk of extinction globally.
Significant genetic diversity has been discovered among blue mussel populations along the northern European coast, suggesting limited interbreeding and therefore the need for more conservation strategies.
Concerns have been raised that the UK’s export of endangered European eels to Russia ‘risks national security’.
British Overseas Territories
The Cayman Islands’ Department of Environment was not consulted during the drafting of proposed amendments to the National Conservation Act, prompting significant concerns, further echoed by the former Premier, who calls the changes “totally unjustified” and warns they undermine effective environmental protection.
The 2024 hurricane season in Grand Cayman was the wettest season since 2005, surpassing the typical annual rainfall.
Phytoplankton have been observed flourishing in the Patagonian waters off Argentina, turning surface waters bright green and milky blue around the Falkland Islands.
The UK government has proposed a £9 billion settlement over 99 years to Mauritius in exchange for ceding sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, with an upfront lump sum to lease back the strategic US military base on Diego Garcia.
Marine Protection
Sunken ships in Sri Lanka are providing an additional refuge for marine life, complementing the role of coral reefs as vital habitats. However, in Madagascar, coral reefs are being harvested for use in septic tanks, raising environmental concerns, while in Scotland, conservationists warn that unsustainable fishing and human activities have caused the loss of undersea wilderness, leading to declines in seagrass beds and native European oysters.
Environmental NGOs are filing legal action against the Dutch government over the approval of bottom trawling in the Dogger Bank, arguing that it violates EU conservation laws.
Despite the establishment of several new marine protected areas (MPAs) in 2024, ocean protection efforts remain insufficient, with only 8% of oceans currently safeguarded. Hopefully, 2025 will bring greater ambition and more significant progress in tackling these critical environmental issues.
Conservation
Recent studies have highlighted the alarming decline of shark, ray, and chimaera populations worldwide, with overfishing, habitat degradation, and climate change threatening their survival. However, despite the ongoing challenges, stories of hope remain as South Australia has implemented a ban on fishing for many species of sharks and rays in its waters.
The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT) recorded more than 11,000 sightings of marine mammals, such as whales, dolphins, and porpoises, in Scotland’s waters in 2024.
Analysing bottlenose dolphins‘ unique signature whistles can effectively estimate their population size.
New discoveries:
Bottlenose dolphins smile when playing with each other.
Corals rely on close proximity to other coral for successful reproduction, highlighting the vulnerability of coral populations in the face of climate change, as bleaching events can reduce coral density, hindering successful reproduction.
Atlantic puffins are attracted to artificial light at night, leading to increased strandings of them on land.
Right whales can live over 130 years, much longer than previously thought, emphasising the importance of older whales in passing survival knowledge to younger generations.
Only 7% of humpback whale males fathered offspring, suggesting intense competition among males for mating opportunities.
Some marine animals optimise their swimming depths to conserve energy, typically swimming at depths three times their body length to reduce wave resistance and improve travel efficiency.
Climate Crisis
The growing demand for sand has led to increased extraction from oceans and coastal areas, causing significant environmental damage to habitats and species.
A significant decline in Arctic pressure ridges, attributed to the melting of multi-year sea ice, has been observed by aerial surveys. Rising tourism in Antarctica is jeopardising the delicate balance of its fragile ecosystem.
Another devastating oil spill is causing significant environmental damage – this time in Russia.
In 2024, human-induced climate change added an average of 41 days of dangerous heat globally. Ocean temperatures also reached record highs, highlighting the growing impacts of climate change which is threatening many species, including sea turtle’s nesting in Florida. Increasing water temperatures is also exacerbating oxygen depletion in the Baltic Sea, hindering efforts to reduce nutrient pollution. Despite this, we must remember the global progress that was made in combating climate change, including a 50% increase in renewable energy capacity, the closure of the UK’s last coal-fired power plant, and a 50% reduction in Amazon deforestation.
Plastics
Experts caution that stalled UN treaty negotiations to tackle plastic pollution could result in a major human health crisis.
The Mekong River, crucial to nearly 70 million people and home to rich biodiversity, is facing severe plastic pollution impacts.
Misc
‘If the oceans die, we die’.
‘We need to inspire a new generation to love nature’.
‘Scuba diving has opened my eyes to a new world’.
The top ocean books of 2024.
