Big Blue Bulletin #6
Abandoned climate targets, whale talk, and 30% protection
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 -
🇬🇷 Greece becomes first European country to ban bottom trawling in marine parks
“The law will come into force in national parks within two years and in all of the country’s marine protected areas by 2030.”
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic pledges to protect 30 per cent of its waters
“The country has now become one of only a handful of countries in the world to have formally committed to protecting over 30% of its waters.”
🏴 Scotland to ditch key climate change target
“The Scottish government is to ditch its flagship target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030.”
🐋 Scientists claim to have successfully ‘conversed’ with a whale
“By studying whales, researchers hope to develop filters to any future extraterrestrial signals humans may receive.”
🐼 WWF-Norway takes legal action against the Norwegian government
“Norway stands as one of the first countries to open areas for deep seabed mining, despite warnings from its own environmental agency and international research communities.”
🏞️ Record number of river barriers removed across Europe in 2023
“Removal of nearly 500 barriers last year will help restore disturbed waterways to their natural state, says Dam Removal Europe.”
🔥 Coral reefs suffer fourth global bleaching event, NOAA says
“Along coastlines from Australia to Kenya to Mexico, many of the world's colorful coral reefs have turned a ghostly white.”
🏙️ Green cement production is scaling up – and it could cut the carbon footprint of construction
“Concrete production releases carbon dioxide (CO₂), one of the greenhouse gases that drives climate change.”
🪧 GP could be struck off after attending Just Stop Oil protest
“A doctor could be struck off the medical register after taking part in a Just Stop Oil demonstration.”
💩 Steve Coogan blasts water company ‘greenwashing’ over Lake Windermere pollution
“The comedian accused United Utilities of “greenwashing” and “PR spin” as he criticised the company for putting sewage into Lake Windermere.”
🇧🇿 Belize becomes the first Caribbean nation to ratify the High Seas Treaty
“The High Seas Alliance congratulated Belize for joining Palau and Chile as the leading countries in the global Race for Ratification.”
🌱 Seagrass planted to tackle global warming
“Dwarf Eelgrass has been described as a "superpower plant" thanks to its ability to capture carbon and mitigate global warming.”
🇧🇷 Brazil braces for worst coral bleaching ever
“Brazil is bracing for what may be its worst-ever coral bleaching event as extremely warm waters damage reefs in the country's largest marine reserve.”
🇰🇭 ‘We found 700 different species’: astonishing array of wildlife discovered in Cambodia mangroves
“Hairy-nosed otters and cats that catch fish are among the startling diversity of creatures making their home in threatened habitats.”
🐬 Stranded baby orca rescue attempt off B.C. coast ‘close but unsuccessful’
“Dozens of people attempted the rescue operation in a remote lagoon on Vancouver Island.”
🦅 Returning osprey lays first egg of the year
“The first egg of the year has appeared in an osprey nest in a wetland nature reserve in South Cumbria.”
🪨 Sediment flows offshore from the Yangtze River
“Today’s Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features a large sediment plume from the Yangtze River that extends hundreds of kilometres off the coast of China.”
🥤 Plastic crisis 'out of control' as 1.7 billion pieces thrown away weekly in UK
“The most commonly counted plastic items thrown away were packaging for snacks, fruit and vegetables.”
☣️ Steve Backshall describes River Thames pollution as 'toxic'
“Bangor University analysis found high levels of norovirus and E. coli in water taken near the border between Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.”
🌱 Caribbean startups are turning excess seaweed into an agroecology solution
“Over the past decade, entrepreneurs and scientists have found ways to turn sargassum into nutrient-rich biofertilizers, biostimulants and other organic products.”
🌊 Ocean heat is driving a global coral bleaching event, and it could be the worst on record
“Coral reefs around the world are experiencing a mass bleaching event as the climate crisis drives record-breaking ocean heat, two scientific bodies announced.”
🇸🇨 Seychelles becomes the first African nation to ratify the High Seas Treaty
“The High Seas Alliance congratulated Seychelles today for becoming the first African nation to officially ratify the new High Seas Treaty at the UN headquarters.”
💰 Climate crisis: average world incomes to drop by nearly a fifth by 2050
“Cost of environmental damage will be six times higher than price of limiting global heating to 2C, study finds.”
🐠 Protected areas in high seas can help fish grow bigger
“A new study has found that establishing no-fishing zones far from densely populated cities can provide open water fish with a safe haven to grow older and larger.”
🧊 Scientists probe the secrets of mega icebergs
“UK scientists are seeking to understand the triggers that result in the production of giant Antarctic icebergs.”
🐬 The killer whale trainers who still defend captivity: ‘I’m an endangered species myself’
“The 2013 documentary Blackfish turned orca trainers into pariahs in the US. Now some are hitting it big in China.”
⛴️ Why is France protesting a UK ban on bottom trawling in protected areas?
“Fishermen in northern France say that the ban threatens their livelihoods but UK officials have stressed it applies to all boats.”
🌊 Climate crisis increasing frequency of deadly ocean upwells, study finds
“Intense patches of cold water rising from the depths are killing sharks, rays and other creatures, researchers say.”
⏰ It will take 880 years to achieve UN ocean conservation goals, at this rate
“Ocean conservation has lost momentum toward protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030 and a lot more needs to be done to address the human dimensions of conservation.”
🐦 RSPB hopes fishing ban will boost Bempton numbers
“A ban on sandeel fishing could boost kittiwake and puffin numbers on the East Yorkshire coast, conservationists have said.”
🦎 Ancient marine reptile found on UK beach may be the largest ever
“The jawbone of an ichthyosaur uncovered in south-west England has been identified as a new species.”
🏝️ Panama delays promised relocation of sinking island community
“The lack of space on the tiny Caribbean island of Gardi Sugdub means there’s no room to relocate, and a new site on the mainland has been in the works since 2019.”
🪵 Sumatra villages count cost of deadly river tsunami swelled by illegal logging
“Deforestation upstream of the affected areas has exacerbated the risk of landslides and flash floods, according to officials.”
🦩 East Africa’s ‘soda lakes’ are rising, threatening their iconic flamingos
“The causes of the population decline have been difficult to identify due to the remoteness of many soda lakes and the nomadic nature of the birds.”
🎨 Ocean Artwork
🧑🎨 Snorkelling artists showcase Scotland’s diverse marine life in thought-provoking exhibition
“In the vibrant ebb and flow of Glasgow’s Byres Road, a new residency of snorkelling artists shines a light on the hidden deep.”
❗ Ocean Action
✍️ Ban the sale of plastic flying ring toys to help protect seals
“Plastic rings can cut into a seals neck causing life threatening open wounds and often death.”
Have a great weekend! 📸
Cover image of Koufonissia, Greece, by Katerina Katopis
As always, Amie, thank you so much for your research and writing.