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Weekly Ocean News 17.01.25

January 17, 2025

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Science 

Do you know how fish detect colour and brightness? Some fish leave their mother’s care early due to changes in their light preference. 

A recent study has highlighted significant shifts in fish communities on the Great Barrier Reef, reflecting ongoing changes in global biodiversity, which are being driven by climate change and human-induced pressures. 

 

Fisheries 

The European Union has acknowledged the United States‘ commitment to sustainable fisheries management, emphasising the effectiveness of U.S. conservation strategies and policies in ensuring the long-term health of marine ecosystems. 

The North Western Waters Advisory Council (NWWAC) has expressed concerns about managing choke risks in fisheries for 2025, stressing that existing discard plans and measures may not be adequate.  

Recent findings evaluate the impact of illegal transport on European glass eels. 

The Scottish Government has opened a conservation action plan on seabirds. 

 

British Overseas Territories 

The National Trust for the Cayman Islands has raised concerns about proposed changes to the National Conservation Act. 

Scientists are calling for the expansion of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Southern Ocean to safeguard Antarctic krill populations, which are essential to the region’s food web and increasingly vulnerable to climate change and rising commercial fishing pressures. 

 

Marine Protection 

Fair Seas has welcomed the inclusion of plans to expand Ireland’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) but stresses the need for stronger legislation to ensure it meets the 30% MPA target by 2030. 

UK wildlife, including otters, dolphins, porpoises, fish, and birds, have been found to contain toxic “forever chemicals” (PFAS) in their tissues and organs. Where are forever chemicals in the UK? 

The Biden administration has withdrawn a proposed rule to enforce speed limits to protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale in East Coast waters of the US. 

Thai farmers and environmentalists have called for government action to address the spread of blackchin tilapia, an invasive species damaging freshwater ecosystems and aquaculture. 

 

Conservation 

Did you know that some penguins divorce? A study on Phillip Island’s little penguins found that divorce rates are a more reliable indicator of breeding success than environmental factors, with higher divorce rates linked to lower reproductive success.  

Seabirds plan their foraging trips over hundreds of kilometres by considering wind conditions, balancing energy expenditure with food availability.  

An invasive pike species is threatening freshwater native fish species in Southcentral Alaska, but they aren’t the only ones as juvenile sablefish along the Northwest Coast of America are introducing new competition for young salmon.  

Some of the first-ever recorded instances of whale shark mating behaviour, including courtship biting, have been observed. 

 

Climate Crisis 

How long do you think we will continue on this trend of ocean warmingExtreme droughts are expected to become more frequent and severe. 

Over the past 40 years, glaciers in Svalbard have been one of the fastest-warming regions on Earth, having retreated most substantially in recent years.  

Brazil’s plan to expand shipping routes in the Amazon has faced increased criticism due to its potential environmental and social impacts.  

The UK Environment Secretary, Steve Reed, is challenging a court ruling that the government and Environment Agency failed to properly address sewage pollution and fish farm runoff in the Costa Beck River. 

Stories of hope: Microbial communities beneath sandy beaches have been found to filter chemicals from groundwater, protecting ocean health and preserving water quality. Meanwhile, restoring coral reefs in Florida and Puerto Rico could save lives and reduce economic losses by mitigating coastal flooding. 

 

Aquaculture 

parliamentary inquiry has criticised the Scottish government for its slow progress in regulating the salmon farming industry, highlighting concerns over high fish mortality rates and environmental pollution. The report calls for stronger leadership and an urgent reform to address these issues. The Green Britain Foundation described it as “woefully inadequate”. 

 

Misc 

‘Humans don’t have to be bad for nature’. 

There is another study on microplastics…this time on marine animals excreting them!

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