Aquaculture animal welfare, dam removal records, and hopes for COP16
Big Blue Bulletin #32
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
💡 Thought piece -
🐟 The Guardian view on wild salmon: falling numbers point to a deeper malaise
“These remarkable fish need clean rivers to breed in. Their decline highlights the collapse of environmental regulation.”
🏞️ Sewage dumped illegally in Windermere over 3 years
“A water company repeatedly dumped millions of litres of raw sewage illegally into one of England's most famous lakes over a three-year period, the BBC can reveal.”
🇪🇺 Can COP16 move countries to protect 30% of land and water by 2030?
“The whole world will be watching to see how the EU delivers on its global commitments, Greenpeace says.”
🔥 Global coral bleaching event expands, now the largest on record
The mass bleaching of coral reefs around the world since February 2023 is now the most extensive on record.”
🌳 Trees and land absorbed almost no CO2 last year. Is nature’s carbon sink failing?
“The sudden collapse of carbon sinks was not factored into climate models – and could rapidly accelerate global heating.”
🐧 Oasis stars inspire names of 'little terror' penguins
“Two endangered African penguin chicks, known as the "little terrors", have been named after rock star Oasis brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher to recognise their "mischievous personalities".”
🐟 Aquaculture could harm animal welfare or protect it, depending on what species the farms raise
“Our newly published study shows that these welfare risks are not uniform: Aquaculture is likely to have severe effects on welfare for some species, but negligible impacts on others.”
🐬 ‘Surprising’ study finds more fish may not be key to orca survival
“A key assumption about dwindling numbers of southern resident killer whales pins the blame on a lack of salmon, but a study by the University of British Columbia has found they have twice the number of chinook available in summer as their much healthier cousins, the northern residents.”
🏞️ Largest dam removal ever, driven by Tribes, kicks off Klamath River recovery
“The largest dam-removal project in history was completed in October, freeing 676 kilometres (420 miles) of the Klamath River and its tributaries in California and Oregon.”
🐶 Hero spaniel who protects endangered seabirds on Scots islands crowned 'Animal of the Year'
“A specialist detection dog who protects endangered seabirds from rats in the Scottish islands has been crowned "Animal of the Year".”
🐬 Dolphins are inhaling microplastics just like humans, study finds
“All 11 dolphins tested showed traces of microplastics in their breath.”
🐋 'Hopes high' for stranded humpback whale after refloating
“Rescuers say they are hopeful a humpback whale found stranded on the south of Scotland coastline will make a full recovery after it was refloated.”
🌡️ Deep ocean marine heatwaves may be under-reported, study says
“Heatwaves deep in oceans may be "significantly under-reported", highlighting an area of marine warming that has been largely overlooked.”
☣️ ‘The health of Europe’s waters is not good’: Why it’s time to crack down on chemical pollution
“The experts suggest making water more expensive as a way to cut use.”
🌍 About 80% of countries fail to submit plans to preserve nature ahead of global summit
“Countries promised to save 30% of land and sea for nature - but as their deadline approaches, only 24 have followed through with a plan.”
🌞 How do solar railways work? Startup gets green light for pilot project in Switzerland
“After long delays, the removable PV system will finally be tested on a western track next spring.”
🦈 Massive great white shark washes up dead on Cape Cod beach
“Massachusetts police had to call in a tow truck to remove a giant great white shark after it washed up dead on a beach in Cape Cod.”
🌊 ‘Scramble for the oceans’: how countries are racing to name and claim remote parts of the seabed
“Newly ‘discovered’ underwater topographical features are paving the way for nation states to exploit previously untouched marine resources.”
🎨 Ocean Artwork
📸 The incredible marine life of the Azores
“It looked like something out of Star Trek – I expected it to go at warp speed”
📚 Ocean Research
Have a great weekend! 📸
Cover image by Shane Anderson / Swiftwater Films.