Solar energy, climate hope, and setting whales free
Big Blue Bulletin #35
Welcome to the latest edition of the Big Blue Bulletin – a weekly roundup of marine conservation news and updates. Expect only good news this week, because we could all use some.
Let’s dive in 🐬
Ocean news
🗞️ Big news of the week -
“In recent years, locals of Madeira have made it their task to reconcile the past with a sustainable, research-focused whale watching industry. With around a third of all known cetacean species visiting the Madeira archipelago throughout the year, it is needed.”
☀️ 6 Questions You Asked Yourself about Solar
“How fast will it take over, how fast are costs shrinking, why is it so cheap, what industries will it birth, how much surface will it take up, where will it appear first?”
🇿🇦 The Earthshot Prize winners 2024 revealed in star-studded Cape Town ceremony
“The winners of The Earthshot Prize 2024 were unveiled at a prestigious ceremony celebrating finalists in South Africa.”
🌍 50 years of geographic insight: Esri’s journey and the future of GIS
“The digital mapping platforms developed by Esri, including ArcGIS, have revolutionised conservation and environmental planning, management and policymaking.”
🐋 Alaska fisher could get six months in prison after attempting to kill sperm whale
“Federal prosecutors are recommending that an Alaska fisher serve six months in prison, pay a $25,000 fine and be banned from commercial fishing for a year after lying about fishing catches and trying to kill an endangered sperm whale.”
🌡️ How the IPCC’s vice-chair keeps her head cool on a warming planet
“In the past months, the planet has experienced the hottest months of June and August, boreal summer and day on record, with a global average temperature of 17.16°C on 22 July.”
💚 Don't lose hope: Climate experts on how to keep your head up after Trump victory
“Activists are getting busy organising rallies and reminding us that the energy transition is already well underway.”
🐋 Humpback whale tangled in creel lines set free
“A humpback whale which had become tangled in creel lines anchored to the seabed has been freed.”
🧫 Sea angels and devils: could plankton unlock the secrets of human biology?
“Scientists use new technology to sequence the DNA of microscopic ocean creatures for the first time.”
🦈 A project has successfully rallied fishers to reduce endangered shark and ray bycatch
“Thanks to the vital data collected, the marine protected area authority has introduced new regulations, protective measures, and a code of conduct for recreational ray-watching.”
“From Wabasha, Minnesota to Rock Island, Illinois, the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge stretches across 261 river miles and protects more than 240,000 acres of Mississippi River floodplain.”
🐢 Transatlantic rescue mission bringing endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtle home
““Boeier” the sea turtle to be released back into the Gulf of Mexico in November after being found stranded in the Netherlands.”
🔆 Silicon solar panels are hitting their limit. This UK lab is making perovskite the next big thing
“Rooftops and ‘flying wings’ could be fitted with these more powerful perovskite-on-silicon solar panels.”
💸 Group given £50k to turn land into nature reserve
“A city council has awarded £50,000 to a group planning to buy 35 acres of natural habitat to create a nature reserve.”
🎨 Ocean Artwork
📸 This week in wildlife pictures
“A strolling pelican, a venomous newt and a psychedelic swamphen.”
🎨 Chris Austin - Painter
Have a great weekend! 📸
Cover image by AP Photo/Sait Serkan Gurbuz.
Some inspiring stories, and I especially liked reading about the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.