Category: Longreads

More than just a pretty reef: why corals are so important and how they might be saved

5th Jan 2021

Written by Alicia Shephard In 2020 it was announced that the Great Barrier Reef had lost more than half of its corals since 1995, due mainly to warmer seas driven by climate change. But it was also the year that plans for a huge coral biobank were announced in Australia. The purpose? To provide a … More More than just a pretty reef: why corals are so important and how they might be saved

Circadian rhythms within aquaculture: on the path for a sustainable future

4th Dec 2020

Written by Charlie Gregory Sustainable and efficient aquaculture practices will be essential to meet the demands of a growing human population. However, to achieve this the natural biological clocks of the organisms being cultivated must start to be properly taken into account. All organisms share a common theme, whether it’s a plant closing its leaves … More Circadian rhythms within aquaculture: on the path for a sustainable future

The effects of offshore wind farms on marine life

14th Aug 2020

Written by Owen Harris Increasing awareness about anthropogenic climate change and mounting public pressure has led to many countries committing to reduce their use of fossil fuels and increase their development of renewable energy sources. Although the switch to renewable energy will have an overall positive effect on the global climate and natural world, the … More The effects of offshore wind farms on marine life

The potential benefits of COVID-19 on marine wildlife

17th Jun 2020

Written by Rebecca Greatorex As we continue to experience a global pandemic on a scale many of us have never seen before, I would like to discuss a rather overlooked group of animals which have also been affected by this global crisis – marine creatures. However, unlike us, they are likely to be affected in … More The potential benefits of COVID-19 on marine wildlife

How low can we go? The importance & impacts of deep sea mining

14th May 2020

Written by Jenny Hickman For centuries, the high seas have been a place of exploitation and misuse. The “out of sight, out of mind” attitude that pervades offshore activity has resulted in the ocean becoming steadily depleted of fish stocks and filling up with anthropogenic waste. For far too long it was believed that the … More How low can we go? The importance & impacts of deep sea mining

Applying sensory ecology to fisheries & aquaculture: maximising efficiency whilst achieving sustainability

8th May 2020

Written by Zuzanna Dusza Fisheries are critical to supplying a large proportion of the world’s animal protein, with demand for fish products increasing annually. As such, well maintained, sustainable and efficient fisheries and aquaculture systems will be crucial in order to continue meeting this demand in the future. However, it is clear that sustainable management … More Applying sensory ecology to fisheries & aquaculture: maximising efficiency whilst achieving sustainability

Microbes transform shipwrecks into ‘underwater islands’

13th Mar 2020

Research into microbial communities on and surrounding deep-sea shipwrecks reveals just how important these lost vessels can be for marine life. Last year the world was stunned after the first crewed dive in over 14 years revealed brand new images of the wreckage of the Titanic. The two halves of the infamous ship, resting at … More Microbes transform shipwrecks into ‘underwater islands’

Friends or foes? The media’s portrayal of sharks & the influence on human perspectives

7th Mar 2020

Written by Janey Sellars The media presents a huge platform of which to relay information in a way that influences the way people perceive things. Since the 21st century, technology and online databases have developed significantly and the global media is expanding as a result, reaching more people than ever before. Human perceptions, values and … More Friends or foes? The media’s portrayal of sharks & the influence on human perspectives