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Science
The Galápagos rail, last seen by Charles Darwin in 1835, has been rediscovered on Floreana Island, while over 800 new marine species have been identified by the Ocean Census project. Additionally, a newly discovered killifish species, from Kenya’s Gongoni Forest, is already critically endangered.
Scientists have found that foraminifera travel long distances by “rafting” on seagrass and algae, developed a neural network to identify fish sounds in coral reefs, and sequenced the Greenland shark’s genome, uncovering traits linked to its longevity, cancer resistance, and deep-sea survival.
Fisheries
In Brazil, dolphins and humans have teamed up for the ultimate fishing partnership!
A study has revealed that increasing consumption of the American eel, compounded by illegal trade and declining stocks, may push the species towards critical endangerment, mirroring the fate of the European eel.
A coalition of NGOs, scientists, and fishers is calling on EU Commissioner Kadis to ban bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas, while environmental groups also criticise the EU for not enforcing marine protection laws, and Defra faces a legal challenge over its fishing quotas. In addition, conservationists are calling for a herring fishing ban in the Georgia Strait due to declining populations.
The MMO has announced a temporary closure of the king scallop fishery to protect scallop stocks during their spawning season.
A fledgling mussel farmer in Scotland has shared their journey of learning the trade, overcoming challenges like storms, and adapting to environmental conditions to achieve a successful harvest.
UK Overseas Territories
The wildlife of the Falkland Islands is highly vulnerable, with conservation and research relying on UK government grant funding through the Darwin Plus scheme, whose future is uncertain due to potential cuts in overseas development and conservation budgets.
South Georgia, once devastated by whaling and invasive species, is now a conservation success, with wildlife populations thriving, including the return of whales and penguins, despite challenges like climate change and the recent grounding of the world’s largest iceberg.
As India reaffirms its support for Mauritius’ stance on the Chagos Archipelago, the UK faces a legal challenge over its handling of the deal.
Marine Protection
Caribbean reef sharks in Belize are recovering due to no-take zones and cooperation between shark fishers, scientists, and authorities.
Researchers are calling for a “precautionary pause” on deep-sea mining to assess environmental impacts, while Greece’s approval of oil drilling amid marine protections and USAID’s funding cuts in Ghana threaten marine ecosystems and fish stocks.
The Canadian government has refused to protect endangered southern resident orcas, whilst seagrass loss is threatening Thailand’s dugongs, and concerns over Trump’s orders driving species to extinction highlight growing environmental risks to wildlife.
A collision between a cargo ship and oil tanker in the North Sea has sparked concerns about the impact on marine life due to leaking jet fuel in sensitive areas.
A study shows that restored grasslands need over 75 years of management for full biodiversity recovery —so what may this mean for marine ecosystems?
Conservation
New discoveries: Whale songs rise when food is plentiful and fall when prey is scarce, narwhals use their iconic tusks to play, and male blue-lined octopuses inject females with tetrodotoxin during mating to prevent predation.
Rising ocean temperatures are causing sea turtles in Northern Cyprus to lay eggs earlier, while a jellyfish processing venture in Honduras also faces climate challenges. A study on Christmas Island’s red crabs shows that climate change-related salinity changes didn’t affect early crab development, but that more research is needed on other environmental factors.
Brown trout have shown that they can successfully navigate beaver dams, though low water flows during dry periods may hinder their movement.
Locals are crafting custom gear to hunt invasive lionfish in an effort to protect a reef in Honduras.
A new report has revealed alarming declines in U.S. bird populations, with over a third of species at high risk, while the first puffins of 2025 have been spotted returning to the Firth of Forth after wintering at sea.
Climate Crisis
As Brazil’s President Lula faces increasing pressure to address the climate crisis, Trump officials are rolling back climate protections, while the UK seeks to collaborate with China to counter previous climate policies. France is preparing for the potential impacts of 4°C of warming by 2100 through adaptive strategies, rather than giving up on mitigating climate change.
A new study has revealed that wealthy nations are driving biodiversity loss well beyond their own borders. Could COP30 provide the solution?
Melting glaciers due to climate change are increasing heavy metals and altering the microbiome of brown algae in Arctic fjords, which could disrupt ecosystems and economies since algae are crucial to the food web. The loss of Arctic sea ice is also causing drier weather in California and wetter conditions in Spain and Portugal, with potential long-term climate impacts on these regions.
Cyclone Alfred caused widespread damage in Australia, with flash floods, blackouts, and unusual shark sightings in inland canals, leaving over 300,000 people without power and prompting rescue efforts.
Researchers suggest a new water security approach for Pacific atolls to protect freshwater from rising sea levels, meanwhile the UK plans to use fines from polluting water companies to fund river restoration and tackle sewage pollution.
Plastics
Plastic pollution is far more harmful than just straws, affecting human health and the environment in numerous ways. New discoveries reveal that microplastics contribute to antibiotic resistance, disrupt plant photosynthesis, and cause brain damage in seabird chicks.
Are plant-based plastics the eco-friendly solution, despite challenges like cost and approval?
Misc
See this week’s wildlife photos.
“Can the Seas Survive Us?”
“Ecological empathy can help humans reconnect with nature and shape a better world.”
