Deep-sea support, forever chemicals, and a river water oath
Big Blue Bulletin #22
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 -
🐋 A humpback whale in Washington state is missing its tail
“A humpback whale that is missing its tail and was spotted in Washington state’s inland waters likely lost its iconic flukes after becoming entangled, possibly in some kind of line or fishing gear, experts say.”
🏞️ Almost 500 chemicals found in England’s rivers and groundwater
“More than half classed as very toxic, toxic or harmful to aquatic life, with 20 categorised as ‘substances of very high concern’.”
💧 Struggling Thames Water faces £104 million fine over sewage spills
“Britain's water regulator plans to fine debt-laden Thames Water 104 million pounds, close to the maximum penalty allowed, after an investigation into historic sewage spills.”
🦈 Big sharks equal big impact, but there’s a big problem
“FIU-led study reveals those most affected by fishing are most needed for healthy oceans.”
🧊 World's biggest iceberg spins in ocean trap
“Something remarkable has happened to A23a, the world's biggest iceberg.”
🌊 Five nations add to growing concerns about deep sea mining at key international meeting
“Tuvalu, Austria, Honduras, Guatemala and Malta have all added their calls for a pause or moratorium on deep sea mining at key talks in Jamaica.”
🐋 Whale breach steals show during Paris Olympics surfing in Tahiti
“As Tatiana Weston-Webb from Brazil and Brisa Hennessy of Costa Rica competed in a semi-final match, the huge marine mammal breached in a mesmerising spectacle for both competitors and spectators.”
🐢 Pig-nosed turtle and Pugh’s frog among new species added to Australia’s endangered species list
“The number of species recognised as threatened with extinction rises by 13 and now stands at 2,224.”
🇨🇭 ‘It made me cry’: Swiss glacier photos taken 15 years apart reveal staggering loss
“Returning to the Rhône glacier on a camper van trip this summer, the family found a drastically different landscape.”
⚖️ Juror swears oath on river in legal first
“Mr Powlesland explained that his devotion for the river, which includes planting trees along its banks, removing litter and campaigning against water pollution, is like a religion.”
“Studies show that sunscreens can induce coral bleaching, damage marine life and influence water quality even at environmentally relevant concentrations.”
🇱🇰 ‘It’s nice to help a life to live’: meet Sri Lanka’s turtle guardians
“Volunteers are helping save baby sea turtles as the endangered species’ favourite nesting spots come under pressure from development, poaching and tourists.”
🇺🇸 Climate change deniers make up nearly a quarter of US Congress
“Climate denialists – 23 in Senate and 100 in House – are all Republicans and make US an outlier internationally.”
“Glaciers and ice sheets have only a few species which can live on them, from ice worms to snow fleas and snow algae. When the ice melts, these species have to retreat with them.”
🌱 Small steps towards larger goal of protecting East African wetlands
“Conservation NGO Wetlands International had lofty ambitions when it rolled out its Source to Sea project in East Africa in 2021, covering the Rift Valley wetlands and the Indian Ocean mangroves.”
🏞️ Utah’s Great Salt Lake rings climate alarm bells over release of 4.1m tons of carbon dioxide
“Study has found that the lake, which has lost 73% of its water, released climate-warming emissions.”
🗑️ More than 60kg of waste picked up from beach in Dorset
“Volunteers combed the English beach for litter in July and racked up 60kg worth of waste. It comes as the new government hints it will bring in a deposit return scheme to boost recycling of things like plastic bottles.”
🏊♀️ Paris delivers Seine swimming, but some still sceptical
“Parisians will swim in the River Seine by the foot of the Eiffel Tower next year, Paris City Hall has pledged, although the high bacteria levels that delayed Olympic triathlon events this summer have left some residents and tourists hesitant over diving in.”
🇵🇫 Olympic surfing kicks off in Tahiti: Why has Teahupo'o been a controversial choice of venue?
“A wooden judging tower has stood on this surf break for two decades but organisers had plans to build something bigger.”
🔥 Hottest ocean temperatures in 400 years an ‘existential threat’ to Great Barrier Reef
“Researchers say coral analysis shows recent extreme temperatures would not have happened without greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels.”
🦭 Sea lion cameras record amazing predator's view of the ocean
“Eight Australian sea lions were fitted with cameras and trackers to capture unprecedented insights into their behaviour and the marine habitats where they hunt.”
🟠 'A dark day for UK human rights,' says UN adviser after Just Stop Oil activists jailed
“Protesters now face up to two years in prison, but there has been international condemnation of the increasing severity of sentences for non-violent protest.”
🛥️ A boater drove through a pod of killer whales, turns out a wildlife videographer was filming
“A Washington man has agreed to pay a $1,000 civil penalty after a nearby wildlife videographer recorded his 51-foot recreational vessel passing through a pod of killer whales.”
🔥 In Alaska, advocates say reducing prison population is a key climate strategy
“Ageing correctional centers and the people within are threatened by floods, extreme heat, and building collapses due to snowfall and thawing permafrost.”
🐦 Animal apocalypse: Deadly bird flu infects hundreds of species pole-to-pole
“Scientists say this virus now presents an existential threat to the world’s biodiversity, with the risk to humans rising as it continues to leap the species barrier, reaching new host species.”
🌳 Forests destroyed by wildfires emit carbon long after the flames die – new study
“Even in Earth’s high northern-latitude forest, climate change is predicted to make wildfires more frequent and severe.”
🦭 Sick sea lions stranded on California coast as experts fear algae poisoning
“At least 23 sea lions with suspected domoic acid poisoning rescued from Santa Barbara and Ventura beaches.”
🗣️ ‘Massive disinformation campaign’ is slowing global transition to green energy
“UN says a global ‘backlash’ against climate action is being stoked by fossil fuel companies.”
📚 Ocean Research
🐧 New study finds PFAS in remote penguins
“A recent study has found PFAS in penguin eggs in the remote Ross Sea Marine Protected Area (Antarctica). This is the first time PFAS have been reported in penguins from this region.”
Have a great weekend! 📸
Cover image by Flint Journal
My new favorite animal = the pig nosed turtle
That oath on a river ~ ! 🥹