Science

Scientists have announced the discovery of a new species of walking shark in Papua New Guinea, adding to the growing list of unique marine species found in the region.

Fisheries

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has released its State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2026 report. The Marine Stewardship Council has urged governments and fisheries to accelerate efforts to reduce overfishing, highlighting that this assessment shows that too many fish populations are being exploited beyond sustainable levels.

Iceland’s catch advice has been lowered for several major commercial species after assessments showed more uncertain stock conditions, meaning future catches will likely need to be restricted to protect sustainability. A former government minister has raised concerns that the Faroe Islands’ cod fishery is also under severe strain.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, catch limits for the northern cod fishery have been raised by 55 per cent, the first substantial increase since the cod moratorium was introduced in the early 1990s, following updated assessments showing improving biomass.

UK Overseas Territories

Research in the Strait of Gibraltar suggests that intense vessel noise is masking long-finned pilot whale vocalisations, limiting their ability to stay in contact across distance and potentially altering their normal social behaviour.

Marine Protection

French Polynesia has significantly increased its marine protection, placing roughly a third of its waters under protection to help safeguard marine ecosystems.

Australia has established its first Indigenous Sea Country protected area, strengthening conservation of marine environments along its coastline under Indigenous management.

Researchers have developed an AI approach that mimics the decision making of wildlife traffickers to better identify and prevent illegal marine species trade.

A study by Norway’s Institute of Marine Research found that escaped farmed salmon entering a Norwegian river can influence wild populations, with analyses showing they may compete with and interbreed with native fish, potentially affecting their growth and survival.

Conservation

A new global partnership has been launched to strengthen conservation of Atlantic leatherback turtles by aligning protection efforts across the countries they travel through. 

On a Cabo Verde island, long-term conservation measures have led to a dramatic rise in loggerhead turtle nesting, with one island reporting an approximately 80-fold increase in nests thanks to sustained protection efforts. Even former turtle hunters are helping to protect vulnerable sea turtles and support their recovery.

A rare sighting of a great white shark in the Mediterranean has renewed attention on efforts to monitor and protect the species.

Climate Crisis

Antarctic surface melting is projected to increase sharply this century, potentially becoming up to tenfold more intense and expanding in coverage under high emissions.

Experts argue that international efforts are falling short in tackling ocean acidification, saying current global policies are not sufficient to match the scale of the problem.

A Nigerian coastal town is being steadily swallowed by the sea as coastal erosion and rising waters destroy homes and disrupt local livelihoods, with one resident saying, “It breaks my heart watching our young people trying to plan their future in a town that is steadily losing land to the sea.”

Misc

This week’s wildlife photos.

“Legal courtrooms are becoming a new battleground in the fight to save whales.”

“What happens in Antarctica affects the global ocean. That means the whales migrating along African shores, the resilience of our coastal communities, and the health and livelihoods of our coastal communities. Please join me in calling for an end to krill fishing now.”

“The world agreed to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030 – but marine protection can’t be judged by area alone.”

 

Photo credit: Lewis Burnett / Ocean Image Bank