Whaling licenses granted, deep sea mining halt, and a rotten river
Big Blue Bulletin #37
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 -
🇮🇸 Dark day for Iceland as new kill licences granted
“The caretaker prime minister of Iceland has just signed a death warrant for fin whales and minkes.”
🥤 Coca-Cola accused of quietly dropping its 25% reusable packaging target
“Campaigners say company’s apparent abandoning of 2030 pledge is a ‘masterclass in greenwashing’.”
🇪🇸 Spain to grant workers ‘climate leave’ after devastating floods
“Workers instructed by civil protection agencies to stay home due to unsafe conditions will be entitled to four days of paid leave.”
🌨️ Italy, Slovenia, Austria: Some countries have lost almost half their Alpine snowfall in 100 years
“The study is one of the first to cover the entirety of the Alps over a long period, revealing a much wetter picture from 1980 onwards.”
⛏️ Deep seabed mining: Bad for biodiversity and terrible for the economy
“The debate around deep seabed mining has been gaining attention as concerns mount about its potential impacts on ocean ecosystems.”
🛢️ Global plastic talks collapse as oil states rebel
“Countries have failed to reach a landmark agreement on tackling plastic pollution after more than two years of negotiations.”
🇳🇴 Arctic deep sea mining plans stopped in Norway
“After more than a year of massive pressure from activists, scientists and the international community, the Norwegian government has agreed to stop the first licensing round for deep sea mining in Arctic waters.”
☮️ Greenpeace activists board tanker demanding cut in plastic production
“Activists scaled ship’s mast, painted ‘PLASTIC KILLS’ on the side of the vessel, and set up tents to sustain their protest.”
🐋 ‘It’s nonstop’: how noise pollution threatens the return of Norway’s whales
“Recordings by biologist Heike Vester reveal how oil and gas exploration as well as cruises, fishing boats and even whale-watchers are adding to the din underwater.”
🎓 UK universities are divesting from fossil fuels while the rest of Europe lags behind
“While the pledges have been praised by campaigners, investigations show universities have still accepted millions of euros in funding from fossil fuel companies in recent years.”
🥤 Brazilian vet hopes to rescue heron with cup stuck in throat
“A Brazilian biologist who spotted a heron with a plastic cup stuck in its throat is on a mission to find the bird and save its life.”
🐋 Anti-whaling activist to learn if he will be extradited to Japan within 14 days
“Paul Watson, an early Greenpeace member, says his imprisonment in Greenland is a ‘political case’.”
“One of the biggest mysteries of all is how these animals make decisions to determine what they do and where they go.”
💰 COP29 climate finance: Will rich countries pay the $300bn a year they have promised?
“Developing nations slammed the deal as woefully inadequate but rich countries set to pay the bill praised it as ambitious.”
🐋 How citizen scientists are uncovering the secret lives of blue whales
“For about two months each year, fisherman Faustino Mauloko da Cunha transforms his home along the South Pacific coast into a whale monitoring station.”
🐘 Saving ‘old and wise’ animals vital for species’ survival, say scientists
“Hunting bigger, more experienced animals eradicates memories and knowledge crucial to group survival, research suggests.”
🧊 The Arctic could be ice-free by summer 2027
“The Arctic Ocean may see its first ice-free day before 2030, earlier than scientists predicted.”
🏞️ ‘The smell hurts’: why has the supreme court washed its hands of Argentina’s ‘rotten river’?
“Campaigners fear ruling on the toxic Matanza-Riachuelo basin will worsen the region’s many health crises and sends the message that environmental damage is not a priority.”
☀️ Climate-vulnerable countries push for credit rating overhaul
“A group of climate vulnerable nations is using a U.N. meeting this week to push for a credit ratings overhaul, arguing ratings should reflect climate resilience measures.”
📚 Ocean Research
🚢 Ship collision risk threatens whales across the world’s oceans
“Most whaling ended more than 20 years ago, but human activities, including direct collisions between whales and ships, continue to negatively affect whale populations.”
🎙️ Ocean Audio
🐬 How animals respond to death
“Animal behaviour suggests a complex relationship with death.”
Have a great weekend! 📸
Cover image by Hard-to-Port.
Really interesting this roundup. Thanks for sharing. I am very interested (as expected!) in the news about the development of a model of whale migration. I have recently read several articles on the use of computational analysis to positively impact climate change.
Basically, in addition to the way of models used by scientists, new analysis techniques can also be used to positively influence people's behavior. I would be really interested in discovering different research on the topic, which in my opinion are really fascinating when they combine computational approaches with disciplines related to climate change.
The whole veneer of corporate green washing and sustainability posturing has long revolted me. Shame on Coke and all the other pretenders.