Science
A new deep-sea octopus species has been discovered in a canyon off Western Australia, while two newly identified crayfish species are already at risk of extinction.
A giant deep-sea shrimp, once thought to be rare, is now known to live in over half of the world’s oceans.
Clownfish in Papua New Guinea survive heat stress by physically shrinking in size, with 75 per cent of them becoming shorter during the 2023 ocean heatwave.
Fisheries
The UK government has announced a £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund. This coincides with the new UK-EU deal, which extends EU access to British fishing waters until 2038. This has been described as ‘disastrous’ and ‘pitiful’ by some, while others have said it’s a ‘positive step’. The Scottish Government has expressed concerns over its exclusion from the UK-EU fishing agreement. Meanwhile, Trump is ‘recommending’ a 50% tariff on the EU, threatening $1.4 billion worth of seafood.
It has been revealed that UK supermarkets are selling seabass linked to overfishing in Senegal.
A French fishing master has been fined for failing to use mandatory dolphin deterrent devices.
David Attenborough’s latest documentary, Ocean, which exposes the devastating impact of bottom trawling, has reached a major milestone by grossing £2.5 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing nature documentary of 2025.
UK Overseas Territories
The UK has signed a £101 million-per-year agreement with Mauritius to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands. As part of the agreement, the UK will respect international and Mauritian environmental laws, support Mauritius in managing the Chagos Marine Protected Area, and cooperate on issues like oil spills and illegal fishing.
Plans for large salmon farms near the Falkland Islands have sparked strong opposition in Argentina, with some warning they could trigger an environmental disaster similar to Chile’s salmon farming collapse.
A short film about the whale sharks around St Helena has won an award for highlighting their unique behaviour and the island’s special connection to these rare animals.
Marine Protection
In a decisive and precedent-setting ruling, the EU’s General Court declared that Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) must be shielded from bottom trawling, rejecting a legal challenge from the German fishing industry.
A recent study has found that even Brazil’s most strictly protected marine areas are contaminated with microplastics.
Conservation
Prince William has praised Sir David Attenborough as a major inspiration behind his new wildlife documentary series, Guardians, which highlights the dangerous work of rangers protecting endangered animals and aims to inspire hope and awareness about conservation efforts worldwide.
Recent discoveries reveal that humpback whales have poorer eyesight than previously thought and give birth during migration.
Half of the remaining habitat for Australia’s most critically endangered species remains unprotected, while Bangladesh has enhanced biodiversity conservation by safeguarding key areas that shelter rare species and contribute to climate resilience.
Climate Crisis
Following an exceptionally warm spring, UK sea temperatures have soared up to 4°C above average, triggering a prolonged marine heatwave that threatens to disrupt marine ecosystems and wildlife. Scotland’s Climate Change Committee has urged the government to take immediate action after repeatedly missing climate targets.
Climate change continues to imperil thousands of species worldwide, with bowhead whales among those increasingly at risk. Could penguin poo be quietly helping to reduce the effects of climate change in Antarctica?
Scientists warn that even if global warming is limited to 1.5°C, ongoing ice melt will cause sea levels to rise by several metres over centuries, meaning this target isn’t entirely “safe” for coastal areas. Additionally, new research shows that mountain glaciers will take centuries to recover, even if the planet cools again.
Misc
See this week’s wildlife photos.
“Through the lens of his camera, Sebastião tirelessly fought for a more just, humane and ecological world.”
“Protecting the natural world has become one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet.”
“After almost 100 years on the planet, I now understand the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea.”
Photo credit: Cinzia Osele Bismarck / Ocean Image Bank
