New thermal imaging cameras are being trialled on boats and harbours in an attempt to prevent collisions between whales and boats. But just how successful can they be at detecting whales and how far can they go in protecting them? Collisions between whales and boats have unfortunately become a very common occurrence in today’s oceans. … More Using infrared cameras to avoid whale collisions
In a beautiful new video an octopus named Heidi can be seen rapidly changing between multiple colours and patterns as she hangs suspended in a deep sleep. But does this fascinating behaviour mean she is dreaming? It is safe to say that marine biologist David Scheel has a rather unique house guest living in a … More Sleeping octopus shows off spectacular colour changes, but is it dreaming?
This week the IPCC released a special report focusing on how climate change is impacting our oceans and predicting the scale of future problems. Here I provide a summary of the key findings and clearly explain some of the bigger issues. On 25th September at the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) meeting in Monaco … More Breaking down the IPCC special report on climate change and our oceans
In one of the more bizarre stories of this week a female walrus capsized and sank a Russian Navy landing vessel to protect her calf. Whilst this is admittedly quite funny it also very symbolic of the problems facing walruses across a changing Arctic circle. Last week whilst exploring the Franz Josef Land archipelago a … More Walrus mother sinks Russian Navy ship to protect her calf
White ‘albino’ orcas have historically been one of the rarest sights in our oceans, but an increase in the number of sightings has worried some scientists about the whole species’ future. The bold black and white markings of killer whales are one of the most distinctive sights in the natural world. Therefore the existence of … More White orcas: beautiful anomalies or a worrying trend?
This weekend people up and down the country will be taking part in the first ever ‘Great British Jellywatch Weekend’ in an attempt to learn more about the jellyfish surrounding our coastlines. After coming across a human-sized jellyfish whilst diving off the Cornish coast earlier this year, naturalist and broadcaster Lizzie Daly realised there is … More The Great British Jellywatch Weekend!
A video of a fish transport system shooting salmon through a pneumatic style tube went viral over the weekend. But the comical contraption actually serves a very important role in helping the fish migrate. Footage of wild salmon flying through the air in plastic tubing has been unleashed onto the internet this weekend, and people … More The ‘salmon cannon’ helping fish to migrate (yes really)
A new study looking into the reproduction of clown fish has found that artificial light at night can prevent any eggs from hatching. It’s just another in the long line of ways we are polluting our oceans and disrupting marine life. When you think of pollution in our oceans there are plenty of things that … More Fish eggs failing to hatch in a brighter ocean
Last summer a record bloom of sargassum seaweed stretched almost 9000km across the entire Atlantic Ocean. It normally plays an important role in helping protect marine life but a drastic increase is now threatening the species it used to support. But what is it? Why is there so much of it? And what’s the big … More Sargassum blooms: the Atlantic’s algae nightmare
A new study has found that not only are corals filling up with plastic, but they may even be doing it on purpose. It is the latest in a long line of human driven factors that are pushing corals to the very brink. There is just no escaping it. From the Arctic to Antarctica, on … More The latest threat to corals? Unsurprisingly it’s plastic
