Science
Satellite technology is giving scientists a new way to monitor whale strandings, emperor penguin colonies and how changing Antarctic conditions are influencing what Adélie penguins eat, with shifts in their diet providing insight into the wider impacts of climate change on the species.
A recent whale discovery on the Great Barrier Reef is providing researchers with new insights into the region’s marine environment.
Fisheries
The UN’s proposed expansion of fish farming could increase demand for wild-caught fish used as feed, potentially putting further strain on marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
Immigration officers conducting inspections on Scottish fishing boats has led to the arrest of nine people.
New research shows that bottom trawling could damage Scotland’s carbon-rich sea lochs by disturbing seabed sediments and releasing stored carbon.
Follow the Fish is calling for clearer EU seafood labelling, making it easier for consumers to understand more about the fish they buy.
Despite ICES advising a 77 per cent reduction in catches of Northeast Atlantic mackerel, fishing in Norwegian waters remains active, with vessels landing more than 19,000 tonnes so far this season. The continued scale of catches is concerning given the need to reduce pressure on the stock from years of overfishing. A new Danish survey suggests that 42 per cent of the mackerel biomass is found in the North Sea, where juvenile fish make up a significant proportion of the population.
UK Overseas Territories
The Blue Belt Programme has released a new film highlighting the importance of continuing to support scientific expeditions and their role in strengthening our understanding and protection of marine environments.
Trump has indicated that the US may reconsider its position on the Falklands Islands.
Marine Protection
Jersey has expanded protections across its waters, increasing the area where trawling and dredging are restricted to 21.7 per cent, helping to protect vulnerable marine habitats and support healthier seas.
Brazil’s humpback whale population has rebounded strongly since commercial whaling was halted. Whale and dolphin sightings in Scottish waters are also increasing, offering further evidence of the diverse and changing marine life found around Scotland’s coastline.
A major global assessment warns that coral reefs are under increasing pressure, with more frequent bleaching events leaving them less time to recover and contributing to a continued decline in coral cover. Despite the this, the illegal coral trade continues to operate on a significant scale, placing further strain on vulnerable reef ecosystems.
Conservation
Indigenous ranger teams are tackling marine pollution in northern Australia by locating and removing abandoned fishing gear that can seriously harm wildlife.
Honduran divers are taking action against the spread of invasive lionfish by removing them from reefs and encouraging their use as a food source, helping reduce their impact on native fish populations.
Around 16,000 baleen whales were recorded along East Greenland’s coast in 2024, reflecting a major shift in the region’s marine ecosystem as warming waters and retreating sea ice have altered the distribution of their prey.
Climate Crisis
The UN warns that global temperatures are likely to pass the 1.5°C threshold within the next few years but says swift cuts to emissions could limit the overshoot and eventually bring warming back below the target. Without any change, existing climate policies point towards around 1.8°C of warming this century.
Greenland’s rapidly changing environment is raising concerns about the ecological consequences of increased development and growing interest in exploiting the island’s natural resources.
Namibia’s approval of a seabed phosphate mining project has raised concerns over potential damage to marine ecosystems and the possible consequences for the country’s fishing industry.
Both Scottish Labour leadership candidates are backing the development of the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields, calling for decisions to be made quickly despite ongoing concerns over the climate impact of further North Sea oil and gas extraction.
Misc
This week’s wildlife photos.
“You can’t protect what you don’t know.”
Credit: Dani Escayola / Ocean Image Bank
