Marine snow plays an important role in carbon storage and nutrient recycling in our oceans, but our impacts are starting to alter this natural phenomenon in a big way. Every day large amounts of waste materials generated by natural processes fall through the water column in our oceans and settle on the seafloor. This is … More The snow that falls to the bottom of the sea
After months of extreme burning and a resulting ecological crisis that has caught the attention of the entire world, the Australian bushfires are starting to die down. However there may still be some serious problems to follow in the marine environment surrounding the continent. There has been no escaping it in recent weeks. Extreme conditions … More What are the potential impacts on marine life from the Australian bushfires?
The pacific island nation of Palau has become the first country in the world to ban sun creams containing chemicals toxic to corals and other reef animals. It is hoped that similar bans in other tourist hotspots could help reduce pressure on struggling reefs. There aren’t many things as synonymous with tropical holidays as sun … More Palau bans ‘toxic’ sun creams to protect coral reefs
New research has shown that simply adding LEDs to the gillnets of small scale fisheries can drastically reduce number of dolphins and turtles that get caught as unintentional bycatch. It’s that time of year again where just about everything in sight is covered with thousands and thousands of twinkling lights. But this year a new … More Using LED lights to reduce bycatch in gillnet fisheries
If unchecked climate change is going to affect just about every aspect of our lives over the next century. But new research has shown that one thing that might seriously change is the size of waves in different parts of the world. For many people the sight and sound of waves can be a soothing … More How will climate change affect waves?
Written by George Brett In 2019 most of us are becoming more aware of humanity’s ever-increasing carbon output and its subsequent impacts on the natural world. It seems like nowadays you cannot turn on the TV without hearing mention of climate change and all its associated nasties. But when was the last time you remember … More Ocean acidification & coral reefs
A new autonomous submersible device from the mind behind the Roomba could do to invasive lionfish what its predecessor does to dirty floors – get rid of them. If successful it could be a major environmental boost to Caribbean coral reefs. In the last couple of decades an invasion of non-native lionfish in the Caribbean … More The ‘Roomba of the sea’ hoovering up invasive lionfish
In a surprising twist to the new Pokémon games Sword & Shield, Nintendo have re-designed the coral Pokémon Corsola to have bleached due to ‘sudden climate change’. It is a stark and symbolic reminder of how we are changing the planet form an unlikely source. Nintendo’s ‘Pokémon’ is a hugely popular global franchise featuring a … More Even Pokémon are suffering from coral bleaching
The design for a new onshore whale watching venue inside the Arctic Circle has just been revealed. ‘The Whale’ aims to help change whaling practices in Norway by giving people a chance to fall in love with the majestic animals. Situated 300km inside the Arctic Circle, on one of Norway’s most northern islands, the town … More The Arctic attraction hoping to change whaling opinions in Norway
Over the last few months Brazil has been the epicentre of an unusual and highly damaging oil spill. Although the country is not directly responsible, the lack of action by those in power highlights why the country has been so heavily criticised for its conservation policies in recent years. You may or may not be … More Mysterious oil spill highlights lack of conservation efforts in Bolsonaro’s Brazil
