Marine parks without protection, a ghost fish, and seafaring Samoans
Marine parks without protection, a ghost fish, and seafaring Samoans
Big Blue Bulletin #33
Welcome to the latest edition of the Big Blue Bulletin – a weekly roundup of marine conservation news and updates. Expect good news, bad news, and a cute creature in your inbox every Friday.
Let’s dive in 🐬
Ocean news
🗞️ Big news of the week -
🌿 Biodiversity declining even faster in ‘protected’ areas, scientists warn
“Just designating key areas will not meet 30x30 target on nature loss, study says, pointing to oil drilling in parks.”
🇵🇹 Azores creates Europe's largest Marine Protected Area
“An area covering almost 300,000 square kilometres, the newly designated Marine Protected Area is now the largest in the North Atlantic network.”
🇺🇳 World ‘paying terrible price’ for climate inaction, UN’s Guterres warns
“Current policies will result in global warming of more than 3 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, new report finds ahead of COP29 summit.”
🌊 What are the High Seas (and why should we care?)
“High seas cover over half of our planet’s surface, and represent two-thirds of the entire ocean. They serve as a crucial habitat for countless marine species, many of which remain undiscovered.”
❄️ Doomsday Arctic seed vault gets deposit of 30,000 new samples
“An Arctic seed vault on Norway's Spitsbergen island has received new samples from the largest number of depositors since 2020, reflecting fear about the threat of conflict and climate change to food security.”
🌊 Dangers of Atlantic Ocean current collapse have been ‘greatly underestimated’
“AMOC collapse would bring severe global climate repercussions, with Europe bearing the brunt of the consequences.”
🐟 Should we all stop eating salmon? Why it’s suddenly become endangered
“Why have Atlantic salmon populations dropped so dramatically in British rivers, and is fish farming a help or hindrance?”
👻 Ghost fish river monster thought to be extinct is spotted again
“Researchers say the sightings give them fresh hope for the species.”
🐻❄️ Polar bears face higher risk of disease in a warming Arctic
“As the Arctic warms, polar bears face a growing risk of contracting viruses, bacteria and parasites that they were less likely to encounter just 30 years ago, research has revealed.”
🇼🇸 Seafaring Samoans adapt to climate change as ocean custodians
“Aboard a Gaualofa, a traditional Polynesian canoe, one of only seven of its type in the world, Leota Fitimaula Donna Aiono Le Tagaloa-Ioane runs a workshop passing on knowledge of her Samoan maritime legacy to tackle today's issues.”
🇵🇹 EU makes leap towards 30x30 with massive ocean protection project
“An estimated 190,000 small MPAs in coastal regions and 300 large MPAs are needed to reach the UN target of protecting 30% of oceans and land by 2030.”
🐋 One of the rarest species of whale in the world sees population increase
“Conservationists called on shipping and fishing industries to do more to bring the animals back from the brink of extinction.”
☄️ Mega meteorite tore up seabed and boiled Earth's oceans
“A huge meteorite first discovered in 2014 caused a tsunami bigger than any in known human history and boiled the oceans, scientists have discovered.”
🇦🇺 Disrupted: Brightening the future of the Barrier Reef
“Scientists at Southern Cross University are developing technology to protect the Great Barrier Reef from extreme heat by reflecting sunlight back into space.”
❗ Ocean Action
🪧 March for Clean Water in London on Sunday 3rd November
“March to reclaim our right to clean, healthy and abundant water for all people across the UK.”
Have a great weekend! 📸
Cover image by Nuno Sá
So great to see the news about right whales. 👍🏻
One thing I do not understand about MPAs is how enforcement is carried out against violators. And assuming there is a means of enforcement, what are the results on record of any such enforcement? Laws and regulations are fine if violators are compelled to pay painful fines or jail time, otherwise ineffectual. I’m hoping MPAs really do help guard natural resources.