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The future of the world’s oceans is our future. Yet the present state of the oceans is troubling.

The history of Lake Cahuilla before the Salton Sea

Today, the Salton Sea is an eerie place. Its mirror-like surface belies the toxic stew within. Fish skeletons line its shores and the ruins of a once thriving vacation playground is a reminder of better days.

The impacts of destructive fishing practices, unsustainable fishing, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing on marine biodiversity and habitats

Achieving a viable balance between human use of marine living resources and conservation of marine biodiversity and habitats is essential to secure long-term ecosystem service delivery, including healthy and productive fish populations. This side event will present a report prepared by FAO,UNEP ...

The importance of protecting coastal environment gradients ～How can we attain marine Aichi targets ～

The Japanese NGOs in marine fields(Marine and Coastal Biodiversity network-Japan, Nakatsu Waterfront Conservation Association, Kaimin Network, NPO Omotehama network, and Nature Conservation Society of Japan) would like to hold a side event for information exchange of status of coastal areas of J ...

The last hunt? Future in peril for ‘the unicorn of the sea’

Age Hammeken Danielsen has hunted narwhals since he was a child. He and his father would travel along Greenland’s fjords on a small motorboat, armed with rifles and harpoons and dressed in polar-bear fur trousers and sealskin boots to insulate them against the freezing weather.

The limits of ocean heavyweights: Prey curb whales' gigantic size

At 100 feet long and weighing more than 100 tons, blue whales are the largest creatures to have evolved on the planet. Other whales, like killer whales, are larger than most terrestrial animals but pale in comparison to the size of blue whales.

The lobster rush

The iconic crustaceans have disappeared in waters to the south. If they keep heading north to Canada, high-flying young lobstermen may pay the biggest price.

The models of climate change on marine ecosystems

Modelling is a necessary tool for assessing future impacts of climate change. A major comparative study Sarmiento simulated the effect of greenhouse gas emissions using six Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Models (AOGCMs) to examine which aspects of the models determine how ocean biology res ...

The nation finding peace underwater

For many South Africans, the quiet and calmness that can be found in the water – one of the rare places with few, if any, human-related threats – has been transformational.

The new humpback? Calf sighting sparks hope for imperilled right whale

It was a memorable finale to a day out on the Atlantic: a four-metre whale calf gliding past the boat as the divers returned to the Spanish island of El Hierro in the Canaries. Their incredible luck, however, would be made clear hours later, as researchers around the world clamoured for more det ...

The ocean has lost half its coral reef coverage, study finds

A Canadian-led team of scientists has concluded that tropical coral reefs that feed millions around the world have lost about half their ability to support human communities since 1950.

The ocean is not a quiet place

For a long time, the great ocean explorers used sight to reveal the secrets of the marine environment, downplaying its acoustic aspects. Indeed, the ocean has long been considered a place devoid of any sound.

The oceans absorbed an unfathomable amount of heat this decade

That's because the sprawling seas — some 321,003,000 cubic miles of them — soak up over 90 percent of the heat trapped on Earth by human-created carbon emissions, which are still growing. This colossal heat absorption tempers the continued atmospheric warming of the remote, pale blue dot we inh ...

The oceans have long captured the hearts and minds of people around the world. The mysteries of its depths, the wonder of its creatures and the power of its waves have fed our curiosity and imagination since ancient times.

The radical coral rescue plan that paid off

When Hurricane Iris hit southern Belize in 2001, the country's magnificent corals were wrecked. But within 10 years, a radical restoration project brought the reef back to life.

The seaweed swamping the Atlantic Ocean

A sargassum bloom the width of the Atlantic Ocean caused havoc on beaches, but locals in Mexico and the Caribbean are fast finding ways to turn the seaweed invasion to their advantage.

The secret world of pygmy seahorses, where males give birth – photo essay

In his new book, marine biologist and photographer Richard Smith reveals the tiny, magical world of pygmy seahorses, one of the most elusive fish on the planet

The secret world of seagrass meadows

Countless marvelous marine critters live in seagrass meadows which are easily seen in places like the Buccoo Reef marine protected area in Tobago. Dr Anjani Ganase encourages us to learn about their connections to reef and mangrove, and to allow the children to explore them.

The sharks of the St. Lawrence, managers of the ocean pantry

The basking shark feeds on the surface with its mouth wide open to filter plankton, explains the St. Lawrence Shark Observatory (archives).

The three global agreements that could change the future of the oceans

The oceans cover about 70% of the planet’s surface and are the main regulators of global climate. They produce much of the oxygen we breathe and support enormous biodiversity, far richer than what we see on land. But they don’t always get the recognition they deserve.

The tiny sponge that could help preserve our deep oceans

Scientists have collected data on a tiny sponge thought to be at risk from seabed mining. This newly discovered species could be a 'canary in a coal mine' to allow scientists to monitor the impacts of this new industry.

The wonder trees that nurture marine biodiversity

This 2020 theme for the International Day of Forests on 21 March is Forests and Biodiversity. It’s an often-quoted fact that forests are home to 80 per cent of terrestrial biodiversity, but did you know that one type of tree also supports marine biodiversity—the mangrove tree?

The world's oceans are warming faster than predicted

The oceans are warming faster than previously estimated, setting a new temperature record in 2018 in a trend that is damaging marine life, scientists said on Thursday.

The world's shellfish are under threat as our oceans become more acidic

For the past few million years the world's oceans have existed in a slightly alkaline state, with an average pH of 8.2. Now, with carbon emissions escalating, there is more CO₂ in the world's atmosphere. This dissolves in the oceans, altering the chemistry of the seawater by lowering the pH and ...

The world’s largest-ever octopus gathering was just discovered in California

Octopuses don’t hang out in posses, or at least that’s what marine biologists thought. Now, however, after spotting a convention of thousands of such cephalopods deep in the seas of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in California on Oct. 23, scientists might have to rethink this contention.

The world’s oceans are gasping for breath

The oceans of the world are in deep trouble, a report issued at the annual global climate talks in Madrid has concluded.The report represents the combined efforts of 67 scientists from 17 countries and was released by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Thematic Workshop on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity for the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

13 - 15 November 2019, Montreal, Canada

Thematic consultation on marine and coastal biodiversity for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, 6-8 November 2019 – Montreal, Canada

Reference: SCBD/SSSF/AS/SG/JA/JMQ/88234 (2019-060)
To: CBD National Focal Points; SBSTTA Focal Points; Marine and Coastal Biodiversity Focal Points; relevant organizations; indigenous peoples and local communities

There's One Vast, Ancient Swathe of Ocean That's Actually Getting Colder

In the depths of the Pacific Ocean, where the water runs cold dark and cold, temperatures are continuing to fall - and it's all because of a period of significant cooling that began in the 16th century.

There's a growing focus on ocean resilience in China – and the positive impacts could be global

Like many coastal nations, China has also been facing an acute decline in the health of the ocean along its coastline caused by both terrestrial and marine development. The rapid expansion of the ocean economy, as well as increasing discharge of land-based pollutants, have exerted a heavy toll o ...

These Billionaires are Helping the Oceans

Climate activists have come together to support the ocean in a special way. A group of philanthropists has gotten together to start the Philanthropic Ocean Research Vessel Operators, according to Robb Report. Many of the group are former business executives and they’re hoping to apply business k ...

These corals could survive climate change — and help save the world’s reefs

Ocean warming threatens to wipe out corals, but scientists are trying to protect naturally resilient reefs and are nursing some others back to health.

These corals love the warming oceans

Ocean temperatures have risen an average of 0.13 degrees Fahrenheit per decade, threatening many of the world’s coral reefs

These facts about America's oceans will blow your mind

Our oceans cover more than 70% of our planet and not only do they play a huge role in our climate and weather patterns, they're also home to some of Mother Nature’s most curious creatures and mind-bending natural (and man-made) phenomena. From underwater volcanoes to unique attractions, here are ...

These underwater photos show Norfolk Island reef life still thrives, from vibrant blue flatworms to soft pink corals

Two weeks ago, I found myself hitting the water on Norfolk Island, complete with a survey reel, slate and camera.Norfolk Island is a small volcanic outcrop located between New Caledonia and New Zealand, 1,400 kilometers east of Australia's Gold Coast.

Third Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts and Islands

23 - 28 January 2006, Paris, France

Third Meeting of the Scientific, Technical and Advisory Committee to the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife in the Wider Caribbean Region

4 - 7 October 2005, Caracas, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)

Third meeting of the Informal Advisory Group on Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas

12 - 13 April 2022, Online

Third meeting of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI) Global Dialogue with Regional Seas Organizations and Regional Fishery Bodies

25 - 28 October 2022, Busan, Republic of Korea

Thirty years of unique data reveal what's really killing coral reefs

Study is world's longest record of reactive nutrients, algae concentrations for coral reefs

Those in peril in the sea

Human beings have been altering habitats—sometimes deliberately and sometimes accidentally—at least since the end of the last Ice Age. Now, though, that change is happening on a grand scale.

Thousands of salmon fry released in B.C. river to restore populations devastated by Big Bar landslide

Thousands of salmon fry have been released in a river west of Prince George, B.C., in the hope they will help restore the salmon population devastated by the Big Bar landslide. Monday's effort is part of an ongoing release of 101,000 chinook salmon fry that Fisheries and Oceans Canada says will ...

Tide turning as indigenous groups help steer global effort to save oceans

A global push to conserve vast swathes of ocean – 18 million square kilometres – over the next five years was launched Tuesday, as the world seeks a landmark deal to protect a third of its oceans by the end of the decade.

Tide turns for an Italian coastal wasteland

Torre Guaceto, an eight-kilometre long stretch of coastline north-west of Brindisi, used to be known as a centre for poor fishing practices, black market smuggling and a drop-off point for illegal immigration.

Time to get out of the water! Swarm of hundreds of hammerhead sharks are caught on video by marine biologist off the Galapagos islands

A marine biologist had the 'most amazing day' when he captured rare footage of hundreds of the world's most sensitive sharks. Dr Simon Pierce, 39, filmed the herd of hammerheads in the Galapagos National Park with a remote camera so he did not disturb the shy creatures.

To Help Corals Fight Back, Scientists Are Breeding Populations Separated by Hundreds of Miles

A new study demonstrates that assisted reproduction using cryopreserved sperm leads to offspring that might be more resilient in the face of climate change.

Top threats to seabirds identified

Scientists reviewed more than 900 studies and found that seabirds face big threats both on land and at sea.

Towards a sustainable Blue economy: A Plan to restore the health of our oceans

Samba Lahy recalls the time when, as a young man, he used to go fishing with his parents off the coast of Tampolove, one of the fishing villages dotting the southwestern coast of Madagascar.

Towards the Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea: The Living Ocean and Coast

Montreal, 19 October 2011 – The contribution of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity to Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea: The Living Ocean and Coast was discussed in Seoul on 14 October 2011 at a meeting between Mr. Samuel Koo, United Nations Co-Commissioner-General for the Expo, and M ...

Trade in ocean goods shows resilience, UNCTAD data reveals

Trade in ocean-based goods showed remarkable resilience during the recession induced by COVID-19 in 2020, according to the latest available data from a new UNCTAD database. Such goods include resources either sourced from the ocean, made from marine resources or manufactured for marine activities.