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Science
Who knew cuttlefish could leave a mark on sharks? Cuttlefish ink sticks to sharks noses like an unwanted perfume, overwhelming their sense of smell!
A new species of sea squirt has been discovered, along with a deepwater fish species, named after a warrior princess from an animated film, due to its distinctive facial markings. There is also a new discovery in the Pacific!
Deep-sea shrimp have developed specialised vision to thrive in their bioluminescent environments.
Scientists are gaining a deeper understanding of how to predict harmful algal blooms.
Fisheries
Unchecked illegal trawling in Indonesia is depleting near-shore fish stocks and causing economic and social challenges.
The critically endangered European eel population in Spain’s Ebro Delta has declined by over 80% in recent years due to overfishing.
In the UK, Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) are facing a funding crisis, jeopardising their ability to effectively manage fisheries.
French fishermen are shocked by cuts to their mackerel quotas, despite the species’ declining biomass, which has resulted from years of excessive fishing pressure. Meanwhile, Norwegian scientists have advised a total ban on sandeel fishing in 2025, warning that stocks are critically low.
UK Overseas Territories
Bermuda has been recognised as one of 43 Important Marine Mammal Areas by the IUCN for humpback whales, while Pitcairn has been designated as an Important Shark and Ray Area for endangered grey reef sharks and vulnerable whitetip reef sharks. In addition, three seamounts off Ascension Island serve as safe havens for numerous marine species, harbouring 41 times more sharks than the surrounding open ocean.
A vast 100,530 square kilometres of the Cayman Islands‘ Exclusive Economic Zone is set to be mapped, while in a separate incident, a man has been arrested for illegally harvesting 70 conches from a Marine Reserve.
The US will participate in upcoming talks that will determine the future of the Chagos Islands.
The Arctic will be beyond recognition by 2100 as it is ‘warming at four times the rate of the rest of the planet’.
Marine Protection
‘The world’s kelp needs help’, as less than 2% is highly protected.
Four environmental organisations have launched a lawsuit against the Netherlands, aiming to stop bottom trawling in the Dogger Bank, a marine protected area in the North Sea. But it’s not just marine protection that’s failing, its terrestrial protection too. A new study has shown that endangered species within protected areas are also threatened by external factors such as human populations and nearby habitat disturbances.
There are concerns that nature protections may be undermined under the Trump administration, potentially leading to a ‘recipe for extinction’ for many species. If things weren’t bad enough, New Zealand is reconsidering its opposition to deep-sea mining.
Migrating whale sharks have been found to make stop offs at oil and gas rigs, which are acting as artificial reefs by attracting plankton.
A story of hope: A recent study has revealed that California’s network of marine protected areas (MPAs) has boosted fish biomass, providing a vital refuge for species targeted by fisheries.
Conservation
Happy Valentine’s Day! As we celebrate love, conservationists are highlighting how penguins mate for life, while striving to protect them from the ever-growing threats they face.
AI is being used to protect whales, whilst humans are discovering that humpback whale songs share structural similarities with human language!
Foraging northern elephant seals are aiding scientists in monitoring fish abundance across the Pacific Ocean. A seal entangled in a fishing net has been successfully released.
Restoring wildlife habitats in wealthy nations could unintentionally cause extinctions in biodiversity-rich regions, while another study reveals that declining biodiversity is closely linked to the emergence of new diseases. Connectivity patterns among marine species are being mapped using DNA.
Snapper-grouper species have been revealed as the most targeted by sharks in Florida’s recreational fisheries.
Climate Crisis
Conserving and restoring carbon-rich ecosystems like Southeast Asia’s peatlands and mangroves, along with England’s salt marshes, could play a pivotal role in mitigating carbon emissions, potentially offsetting over 50% of Southeast Asia’s land-use emissions, while salt marshes alone store the equivalent of 10 million cars worth of carbon and continue to sequester an additional 15,000 cars worth annually. However, the world’s largely unprotected peatlands, which occupy 3% of Earth’s land but store more carbon than all forests combined, have been described as a ‘ticking carbon bomb.’ Satellite observations have shown that the surface ocean is losing its resilience to thermal stress, and a single year exceeding a 1.5°C global temperature rise marks the beginning of sustained warming, with severe climate consequences. Since the 1990s, Brazil has experienced a staggering 460% increase in climate-related disasters, highlighting the devastating impact of rising temperatures.
As COP30 approaches, most countries are unlikely to meet the crucial deadline for submitting updated climate action plans, further hindering efforts to tackle the crisis. Even a slight increase in global temperatures could have deadly consequences.
Polar heritage sites are slipping into the sea from rising sea levels and flooding caused by climate change.
Norway’s parliament has faced criticism for approving the placement of hydropower plants in protected rivers.
Targeted exploration of microalgae species is recommended to enhance carbon capture capabilities.
Plastic
Plastic straws have become a symbol of the growing global plastic pollution crisis, prompting countries around the world to take action. The UK, EU member states, Thailand, Kenya, and China have implemented laws to reduce or eliminate single-use plastics, with the EU even banning items like plastic cutlery, plates, and straws in July 2021. However, in a disappointing policy reversal, President Donald Trump has overturned previous initiatives to replace plastic straws with paper. This decision signals a major shift in the U.S.’s stance on tackling plastic waste. Yet, despite political setbacks, scientists remain committed to finding solutions to this pressing environmental challenge.
Aquaculture
The Scottish government has opened an investigation into mass salmon deaths at fish farms, linked to disease and environmental stress. Meanwhile, Scottish salmon exports have surged to a record £844 million!
Mowi, one of the world’s largest seafood companies, is facing intense environmental scrutiny after approximately 27,000 farmed salmon escaped from one of its fish farms in Norway, threatening wild salmon populations. In response, the company is offering a financial reward for each recaptured fish.
Misc
Stunning aerial photos reveal how sharks coordinate their hunts.
The species we lost in 2024.
