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Science
New technology is improving plankton monitoring and advancing ocean research.
Algae is making waves in the food world as the next big superfood! But its influence goes beyond nutrition. Chameleon shrimp have evolved to camouflage themselves against invasive algae species, while symbiotic algae have played a key role in the evolution of giant clams, helping them access more nutrients.
Researchers have discovered specialised microbes in Amazon peatlands that can influence climate change.
Fisheries
The UK and EU have taken their dispute over the UK’s sandeel fishing ban to court in recent days, with the EU arguing it violates their trade deal and the UK defending it on environmental grounds. Arbitration judges are now reviewing the post-Brexit ban.
The mass death of over 1,100 olive ridley turtles in southern India has been largely attributed to fishing activities, with many becoming entangled in nets. Similarly, public research in Thailand has highlighted the growing problem of ghost fishing gear, further emphasising the threats marine life faces from abandoned fishing equipment.
The NFFO has criticised the UK government’s plan to establish new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as compensation for the environmental damage caused by offshore wind farms.
Tesco has committed to adopting the Seafood Carbon Emissions Profiling Tool (SCEPT) across its seafood supply chain to help achieve its net-zero emissions target by 2050.
UK Overseas Territories
Donald Trump’s Secretary of State challenged the UK’s Foreign Secretary over the Chagos deal. Mauritius has urged the UK to hand over the Chagos Islands to prevent Chinese and Iranian influence in the region.
Satellites are tracking the movement of the world’s largest iceberg, which is still on course to collide with South Georgia.
Marine Protection
The Marshall Islands has created its first marine sanctuary to protect the coral ecosystems of Bikar and Bokak atolls in the Pacific.
In El Salvador, the restoration of mangrove forests has been successful thanks to the collaboration between local communities and scientific experts.
Ecologists have emphasised the need to map fish migration routes and identify threats to protect freshwater species and habitats.
A deadly pathogen that has been devastating sea urchin populations in the Red Sea has now reached the Indian Ocean.
Conservation
Dolphin party: Over 1,500 Risso’s dolphins have taken over California’s waters!
Conservation efforts have led to a significant increase in several sea turtle populations, particularly the green and loggerhead turtles, with many nesting sites showing remarkable recoveries. Similarly, Murray crayfish are being returned to Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin to restore their population, which previously declined due to overfishing, habitat loss, and poor water quality.
More concerningly, climate change is shrinking sea ice in Western Hudson Bay, causing energy shortages for polar bears and increasing their encounters with humans in search of food. This global environmental shift is also contributing to a decline in genetic diversity, with a study of over 600 species revealing that many populations are losing vital genetic traits due to habitat loss, climate change, and other factors. However, some species are showing resilience – like Atlantic shortfin mako sharks, which have maintained high genetic diversity, allowing them to adapt and survive despite years of overfishing. In a similar effort to safeguard vulnerable species, scientists have conducted the first comprehensive study of all three Asian horseshoe crab species.
The world’s smallest satellite transmitter has been used to track a rare shorebird, the spoon-billed sandpiper, discovering some new nesting areas.
Climate Crisis
Ocean temperatures are rising at an alarming rate, increasing by 0.27°C per decade, over four times faster than in the late 1980s. This warming trend is already taking a toll, with a marine heatwave off northwest Australia killing tens of thousands of fish. Rising global temperatures are also linked to declines in bird populations, with a 1°C increase causing a 63% decline in survival rates for some species. Meanwhile, climate change is further threatening the UK’s peatlands, crucial for carbon storage and biodiversity, with many areas expected to become unsuitable for peat by 2061. Additionally, hotter, drier, and windier conditions are fuelling more frequent and severe wildfires in Los Angeles.
The Alberta government has lifted its moratorium on coal mining, raising environmental concerns. Meanwhile, states like New York, California, and Rhode Island continue pushing ambitious climate policies despite federal pushbacks. As Arctic ice melts, Greenland’s strategic location is drawing more attention.
On a more positive note, a Scottish court ruled that the UK government’s approval of the Rosebank oilfield and Jackdaw gas field was unlawful, a win for climate activists. At the same time, Scotland launched its first green hydro energy scheme, signalling progress in renewable energy.
Plastic
Plastic makes up almost 80% of the rubbish in U.S. national parks, underscoring the urgent need to tackle single-use plastics. In Nigeria, informal collectors of plastic bottle waste are key to achieving both environmental and economic benefits.
Misc
Climate change is “like shuffling a deck of cards, and temperature change now is shuffling that deck faster and faster. The worry is that eventually you start to lose some cards.”
See this week’s wildlife pictures.
Open Communications for The Ocean is hosting an online webinar at 6pm on 6th February on Harnessing new technology to prevent lost and abandoned fishing gear in the coastal ocean. Register here.
Open Communications for The Ocean is hosting an online webinar at 4pm on 20th February on Transforming Coral Reef Monitoring with MERMAID. Register here.
