1. Whalers Seek International Okay for Continued Harvest of Bowhead Whales
At a reception hosted by U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK), speakers argued that sustainably harvesting and sharing the bowhead whale is fundamental to the Iñupiat culture; thus, it is a practice that should continue. This meeting was held as the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission (EWC) prepares to request the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to renew Alaska’s subsistence whaling quota.
Eskimo Commission Chairman John Hopson Jr., Iñupiaq, highlighted that subsistence harvest differs from commercial activities, especially considering how Iñupiat stewardship of the bowhead involves collaborating with the U.S. Coast Guard to protect the whales. Assistant Administrator Janet Coit for NOAA Fisheries claimed receiving renewal of the harvest is “a top priority for the Biden-Harris administration, honoring our commitment to the Alaska Natives who depend on whaling for their culture, for their subsistence, (and) to the Macaw tribe and the state of Washington.”
2. Grey Seal Population Soars in North Wales, New Survey Shows
WALES — Natural Resources Wales has completed the first comprehensive aerial census of seals around the entire Welsh coast, revealing a significant increase in the grey seal population in North Wales. The survey involved photographing and counting seals at various haul-out sites along the coast and offshore islands, providing an unprecedented estimate of the total seal population in Welsh waters.
The survey counted 1,313 grey seals at 58 haul-out sites, estimating a total population of at least 5,300 seals in Welsh waters. The data will aid in future conservation efforts, ensuring the protection of grey seals in Wales. This survey addresses the need for more historical data on seal populations in Wales, especially outside the pupping season. Want to read the In-Depth Details of this study? Click the Link!
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3. Fish on the Move: Uncovering the Home Turf of Our Ocean Wanderers
Ever wondered where marine fish like to hang out? To keep our oceans healthy and fish populations thriving, it’s crucial to know where these underwater wanderers roam. But tracking them isn’t easy—it’s tricky, pricey, and until now, we’ve had a serious data drought on their home range sizes. Enter the Marine Fish Movement dataset!
This amazing resource brings together home range estimates for 193 fish species, thanks to 179 studies spanning over five decades. It covers 63 fish families and even uses some fancy math (hello, random forest regression!) to predict home ranges for 664 more species that didn’t have the spotlight before. Why does this matter? This treasure trove of data helps us design smarter marine protected areas and manage fisheries better, so we can ensure a vibrant and sustainable ocean for generations to come!
4. You Otter Be Kidding Me, Sea Otters in Point Reyes, California? Research Uses New Predator-Prey Model to See if it Could Work
Southern sea otters are critical coastal predators that help maintain underwater ecosystems. And they’re a federally threatened species, still struggling to fully recover after a brush with extinction. Recently, a team of scientists chose these otters to test if predator-prey population dynamics modeling could help conservation planners figure out where predator reintroductions could work. The team, partially funded by the National Park Service and Point Reyes National Seashore Association, published their results in Biological Conservation in June.
They found that two Point Reyes National Seashore estuaries could probably feed lots of water weasels one day! The team set out to model sea otters returning to Drakes Estero and Tomales Bay because of their protected status and natural protection against white sharks. They collected drone imagery at the two estuaries to map the amount of sea otter seagrass habitat.
5. In Nepal, Innovative Women Use Plastic Ban to Build Cottage Industry
KATHMANDU, Nepal — Experts say that since Nepal’s hotels have decided to ban single-use plastics effective January 1, 2025, as they join the fight against plastic pollution and a campaign to promote sustainable tourism, the demand for environment-friendly plates and bowls could rise. Women generally pick green leaves from the sal tree (Shorea robusta) and stitch them into plates and bowls. Until recently, the process was all manual.
They use machines to mold sal leaves into plates and bowls, which are eco-friendly and used in fairs, festivals, and religious ceremonies. This initiative helps women support their families and children’s education by providing an additional source of income. With Nepal’s hotels planning to ban single-use plastics by January 2025, the demand for these sustainable plates and bowls is expected to increase. Women’s groups work together, receive training, and plan to expand their market reach beyond local villages.
6. Tiger Cowries Bred Successfully for the First Time in Singapore
A species of large sea snail native to Singapore waters has been successfully reared to adulthood for the first time by marine biologists from the Tropical Marine Science Institute at the National University of Singapore. Tiger cowrie are endangered due to habitat loss and shell overharvest. Rising temperatures contribute to coral bleaching, compromising habitats and the creatures that live in them, including the tiger cowrie.
Dynamite fishing is another destructive practice that has affected this giant snail’s population. Collectors and aquarium hobbyists also enjoy harvesting the tiger cowrie for its beautiful shell, which is then sold in a marine curio market. Over ten months, the research team had 25 failed attempts before successfully breeding the large snail. The research team’s main challenge was the high mortality rate of tiger cowrie larvae due to algae growth on the shells.
7. Whales on a Mission: Financing Global Biodiversity, One Migration at a Time
As the world rallies to halt biodiversity loss under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), the path forward hinges on strategic financing—particularly to bridge the gap between the Global North and South. Enter the ocean’s greatest travelers: highly migratory marine vertebrates, or marine megafauna. These creatures weave together distant ecosystems, crossing borders where conservation priorities and economic capabilities diverge. Their journeys reveal a unique challenge but also a profound opportunity. Imagine a majestic whale, navigating vast oceans, its route connecting wealthy nations with those still developing.
This connection, though fraught with difficulty, holds the key to financing the GBF. By leveraging the ecosystem services these species provide, we can craft a nature-based solution—deploying Official Development Assistance (ODA) to ensure their global protection. In doing so, we not only safeguard these charismatic, threatened species but also create a powerful funding mechanism for the GBF, uniting the world in a shared mission to protect our planet’s biodiversity.
8. Shark Fin Consumption Wanes in Thailand, yet Demand Persists
A new study in Thailand reveals that the consumption of shark fin has declined by more than one-third since 2017, according to a new report from the wildlife advocacy group WildAid. Despite this good news, significant demand for shark fin and shark meat persists: more than half of surveyed citizens said they plan to consume such products in the future, despite their understanding of the ecological risks associated with killing sharks.
Besides shark fin soup, a popular dish served at social gatherings and weddings, conservationists are increasingly concerned about emerging markets for shark parts in pet food sold in Thailand. Marine conservation groups say that, besides continued public awareness campaigns, policymakers must do more to curb shark bycatch and improve the traceability of products in the shark trade to protect vulnerable species at risk of extinction.
9. From Delicacy to Destruction: A Shark Fins Tale in Taiwan
In Taiwan today, shark fin soup is still popular among hotel banquets and specialized high-end Shark-fin restaurants, and there are no signs of it slowing down despite policies banning finning and illegal shark fishing implemented. In this essay, author Brian Lai recounts his childhood experiences of eating Cantonese delicacies from the sea, including shark fin soup. He points out that due to the misleading naming of shark fins on the Mandarin menu (Fish Wings), he had trouble identifying the dish as shark fins.
The Chinese are notorious for the consumption of rare exotic animals. This tradition is amplified through the need to defend your so-called “face value” over valuable dining scenarios like wedding banquets and business meetings. The practice of sharks headlining the dinner menu is only growing more substantial, with contemporary China’s immense middle-class population now able to afford it, too.
10. Marine Safety Unit Gets Expanded Authority to Inspect Vessels in Long Island Waters
CORAM, N.Y. — The Coast Guard said Friday it will give expanded authority to the team that oversees marine safety and environmental protection from New York City to Montauk. Marine Safety Unit Coram — formerly a Marine Safety Detachment — inspects ports and hundreds of vessels from Long Island’s commercial fishing fleet.
It also responds to environmental incidents like oil spills on the water. The 21-person team’s re-designation from detachment to unit will enable more operations and better cooperation on Long Island with maritime companies and enforcement agencies, said commanding officer Lt. Pablo Ortiz, who led the detachment and now leads the unit.
11. Tourist Litter in India Endangers Local Biodiversity
VISAKHAPATNAM, India — As tourists flock to the Srisailam Reservoir and the Nagarajunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve, their reckless behaviour leaves a devastating impact on the environment. Irresponsible actions such as littering, feeding wildlife, and over-speeding disrupt the delicate balance of nature. To counter this, the forest department has intensified efforts to make the Nallamala forest plastic-free. Dedicated forest staff, officers, and the Chenchu tribes work on highways, at checkposts, and deep within the tiger reserve to clean up the litter left behind.
The forest department has employed 700 to 800 Chenchus to patrol deep inside the forest, tiger tracking, and ensuring protection. Nearly 800 protection watchers and river patrollers are also involved in these efforts. Indian Foreign Service probationer officer Shiva Kumar Gangal emphasized, “People must act responsibly to avoid endangering themselves and the wildlife. People must stop putting their lives and others at risk.”
12. Mangrove Magic: Turning Roots into Reef Fish Havens
In the sheltered waters of Laucala Bay, southeast of Viti Levu in Fiji, individual mangrove trees are quietly making waves. These sturdy trees aren’t just standing tall—they’re creating vital habitats for reef fishes, offering an unexpected refuge in the backreef areas where structural complexity is low. In a groundbreaking study, researchers combined field surveys with experiments, uncovering a fascinating dynamic: fish numbers near these mangroves were 3.7 times higher than in areas without them.
The secret lies in the mangroves’ sprawling root systems, which provide a haven for both juvenile and adult fish, especially during incoming and high tides. These findings highlight the remarkable role of mangrove trees in supporting marine life, turning otherwise barren backreefs into bustling fish sanctuaries. By sheltering shoals of fish, these mangroves are offering an alternative reef habitat, showing that even a single tree can make a world of difference in the underwater ecosystem.
13. Conference in China to Address Pressing Challenges Facing the Oceans
The development of the ocean crisis is outpacing our understanding of it. To bridge this knowledge gap, urgent measures are needed, including establishing international marine science programs to deepen our understanding of the oceans, promoting international dialogue to form a global consensus, and accelerating marine technology transfer to drive innovation and progress in global ocean governance.
The 2nd Hainan Free Trade Port International Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Forum (ISTICF) & Deep-Sea Science and Technology Innovation Conference (DSSTIC) 2024 is set to convene from August 23 to 25, 2024, at Ya Zhou Bay District, Sanya City, Hainan Province, China. With a forward-looking theme, “Gathering Wisdom in the Deep Sea, Sharing the Blue Ocean,” the conference aims to bring together the brightest minds in marine science, technology, policy, and conservation to address the pressing challenges facing our oceans.
14. Fisherman Fined $33K for Harvesting in ‘Globally Unique’ Glass-Sponge Reefs
The owner of a commercial halibut vessel in British Columbia has received more than $33,000 in fines for fishing in a marine protected area containing glass sponge reefs unique to the waters of the Pacific Northwest. Fisheries and Oceans Canada says a provincial court judge handed down the fine in May to Brent Belveal, who pleaded guilty to offences under the Fisheries Act.
It says Belveal, operator of the vessel Gypsy Soul, harvested and sold his illegal catch from within the Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reef Marine Protected Area near Bella Bella off B.C.’s central coast. The department describes the reefs as “globally unique ecosystems.” The government statement issued Thursday says parts of the reefs are about 9,000 years old, and they’re considered to be the largest living example of glass sponge reefs that were “abundant” millions of years ago.
15. Are Marine Protected Areas Safeguarding the Tohorā—the Southern Right Whale?
Marine protected areas are widely used conservation tools intended to reduce anthropogenic pressures, particularly fishing activities. However, their effectiveness is rarely evaluated, or they are found to provide insufficient or only partial protection from threats such as fisheries interactions. A University of Auckland—Waipapa Taumata Rau study has used a three-year data set on whale and vessel movements in southern Aotearoa, New Zealand, including the subantarctic islands.
The research is published in the Journal of Environmental Management. By combining whale locations and vessel tracking data during the peak breeding period for southern right whales (June to October), we found high spatiotemporal overlap between whales and vessels within several marine protected areas, suggesting the whales could still be vulnerable to multiple anthropogenic stressors even when within areas designated for protection.
16. Sea of Opportunity: Protecting Mangroves, Seagrass Could Boost Indonesia’s New Climate Targets
Indonesia has signaled it could include blue carbon ecosystems—carbon-rich coastal and marine areas, like mangroves and seagrass—in its new climate targets. This shift follows years of relying heavily on the forestry, land, and energy sectors. Indonesia’s blue carbon ecosystems are crucial, housing 22% of the world’s mangroves and 5% of seagrass meadows. However, due to changes in land use, it has lost its mangroves and seagrass in recent years.
As of 2019, only 16% of mangroves and 45% of seagrass were inside protected areas. Damage to mangrove and seagrass ecosystems can release carbon into the atmosphere. A 2023 Climateworks Center study highlighted how Indonesia could prevent up to 60 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year by 2030 by protecting 39,000 hectares per year of mangroves and 8,600 hectares per year of seagrasses.
17. Long-term Coral Reef Monitoring Continues to Deliver Crucial Insights
Many coral reefs are experiencing severe disruptions and poor recovery predictions due to climate change and other ecological insults. Due to this, Dr. Peter J. Edmunds of California State University, Northridge, argues in his published BioScience article that there needs to be continuous monitoring of coral reefs, even if the seascapes they exist in are extremely degraded. Edmunds claims that “only consistent, rigorous, and detail-oriented monitoring can document the losses of coral that have already taken place and provide constrained glimpses of the benthic communities that will dominate shallow, tropical marine habitats in the future.”
The past monitoring efforts of Edmunds have revealed unforeseen resilience, disappointing losses, and various other ecological surprises that challenge our current comprehension of reef dynamics. With this, Edmunds claims coral reef monitoring remains a vital tool that can be used to create management opportunities that ensure their future.
18. Effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas in Safeguarding Important Migratory Megafauna Habitat
While Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a standard management tool used to protect marine life from anthropogenic impacts, their efficacy frequently remains untested. In this research article published by The Journal of Environmental Management, researchers studied southern right whales (Eubalaena australis, SRWs) that inhabit waters off Aotearoa/New Zealand. Due to whaling, this species declined from 30,000 whales to fewer than 40 mature female whales.
Many nursery and socializing areas for this population are in different MPAs, but the ability of these MPAs to protect the whales from vessel traffic has yet to be studied. Researchers used telemetry data from 29 SRWs tagged at the Auckland Islands between 2009 and 2022 to analyze this. They identified two formerly unknown and currently unprotected areas used by the whales, and data suggests these whales remain vulnerable to anthropogenic stressors within protected areas.
19. Uproar Over Plan to Label Endangered Aussie Fish With ‘Sustainable’ Tick
SYDNEY — An Aussie fish that was so popular it was fished to the verge of extinction could soon be sold as a “sustainable” option. Orange roughy can live up to 250 years, so they are slow to reproduce, which makes them particularly vulnerable to overfishing. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) said giving the orange roughy a “blue tick” will come down to a transparent assessment led by independent experts and peer-reviewed science.
A final decision is expected in six months. Despite uncertainty about whether it will be certified, the plan has caused an uproar. The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) has objected, accusing MSC of having weakened its standards by allowing endangered species to be considered for certification. The decision now will be based on whether it is accepted the fish can be fished sustainably in Australia’s Orange Roughy fishery.
20. Casting a Lifeline: Algarve Fishermen Hook Compensation for Marine Park Impact
ALGARVE, Portugal — Change is on the horizon for 166 fishermen along the Algarve coast, as they prepare to share 1.2 million euros in financial compensation. The funds are intended to offset the economic impact of new fishing restrictions introduced by the creation of the Recife do Algarve Marine Natural Park – Pedra do Valado. At a recent meeting in Albufeira’s shelter port, the Environment Minister unveiled the compensation plan. However, the mood was far from celebratory.
Many of the fishermen, representing small ports from Alvor to Olhos d’Água, expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed payouts. The compensation formula considers several factors, including the proportion of fishing effort dedicated to the park, historical landings, and the average value from the best three years within a reference period. Also factored in are the vessel’s size and the distance from the port to the marine park. Despite the financial relief, the fishermen are left weighing the true cost of conservation against their livelihoods, as they adjust to a new reality in the wake of the park’s establishment.
21. Fukushima Fallout: Steering Global Responsibility for Marine Protection
HAINAN, China — The Fukushima nuclear disaster of 2011 sent shockwaves around the world, raising urgent questions about the safety of nuclear energy. As Japan now faces the daunting task of discharging nuclear wastewater into the ocean, concerns are growing over the potential environmental impact—especially for the marine life that connects us all. This paper dives into the heart of the issue, proposing sustainable solutions to safeguard our oceans from irreversible damage. Among the ideas are creating clear international guidelines, ensuring that those responsible for transboundary harm are held accountable, and setting up a global platform for mandatory cooperation.
By emphasizing the shared responsibility of all nations, these solutions aim to protect our oceans and prevent future disasters. The paper also offers actionable steps for the international community to address Japan’s current nuclear wastewater situation and any similar challenges that may arise in the future. It’s a call to action, urging the world to come together and protect our most precious resource—the ocean—from the lingering effects of nuclear energy.
