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The world must take decisive actions to protect oceans now - Akufo-Addo

President Nano Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has made an urgent appeal to countires the world over " to take decisive actions now" to safeguard the ocean's capacity to regenerate and to continue to deliver substantial economic, environmental, and social value for human development.

ONE OCEAN SUMMIT – An Opportunity For Blue Transformation

The ocean covers more than 70 percent of our planet. There is no question it is critical for our health and well-being. It provides half the earth’s oxygen supply and every organism in existence depends on it to survive.

These innovations are pulling plastic pollution out of rivers to stop it reaching our ocean. Here’s how

Protecting ocean ecosystems from plastic pollution is one of the defining environmental imperatives of our time.

Could Protein-Based Bioplastics Bring Relief for Oceans and Landfill?

More than eight million tons of plastic end up in the oceans every year—a serious danger for the environment and health. Biodegradable bioplastics could provide an alternative.

Oceans are better at storing carbon than trees. In a warmer future, ocean carbon sinks could help stabilise our planet

We think of trees and soil as carbon sinks, but the world's oceans hold far larger carbon stocks and are more effective at storing carbon permanently.

Teaching key to better ocean protection, says UNESCO chief

“If we want to protect the ocean better, we must teach it better”, said Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO’s Director-General, speaking at the One Ocean Summit, taking place in the French city of Brest

High squid numbers in the Pacific Northwest linked to climate change

A new study, published in the journal Marine and Coastal Fisheries, has found that the rising amount of ocean heatwaves, triggered by climate change, has a direct effect on the population numbers of the squid species Doryteuthis opalescens which primarily was known to inhabit the warmer waters o ...

Which African country is providing the world with a blueprint for ocean protection?

Gabon is in a world-leading position when it comes to protecting oceans, say experts. The country on Africa’s west coast provides a blueprint that could be used in many other nations, according to a new paper compiled by Gabonese policymakers and researchers from the University of Exeter, UK.

It’s Arabian Leopard Day And AlUla, Saudi Arabia Is Working To Rewild The Endangered Species

February 10, 2022 is the first Arabian Leopard Day and it’s one of several initiatives to help save this critically endangered species from extinction.

World leaders at France summit mull ways to protect oceans

World leaders met on France's Atlantic coast Friday to discuss protecting the planet's oceans from threats such as overfishing and plastic pollution, and finding fairer ways to manage the seas.

World leaders descend on France for ocean summit as Macron puts spotlight on seas

Up to 40 world leaders are due to make “ambitious and concrete commitments” towards combating illegal fishing, decarbonising shipping and reducing plastic pollution at what is billed as the first high-level summit dedicated to the ocean.

5 reasons why eating insects could reduce climate change

We've been conditioned to think of animals and plants as our primary sources of proteins, namely meat, dairy and eggs or tofu, beans and nuts, but there's an unsung category of sustainable and nutritious protein that has yet to widely catch on: insects.

Endangered Animals Species Spotlight: Whale Sharks

Whale sharks are found broadly across tropical and warm temperate seas, with major subpopulations in the Atlantic Ocean and the Indo-Pacific Ocean.

Our oceans are hotter than ever. Scientists say they worry about what that means for our future

Amid another record warm year for the planet, one of the most dramatic and alarming changes occurred in our oceans, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Research shows how Mars lost its oceans

It is a well-known fact that Mars once had oceans in part due to a protective magnetic field similar to Earth's. The layer of ice on the cap of the planet says it all. However, the magnetic field disappeared, and a new research may finally be able to explain why.

Accidental implosion yields new measurement for ocean's deepest point

A faint pop punctuated the sound of crashing waves—the first hint something was amiss. Sitting on board the R.V. Falkor in December 2014, David Barclay heard the sound through headphones plugged into an underwater microphone on the ship's hull.

Plastic pollution in oceans growing dramatically, WWF warns

Wildlife group WWF said on Tuesday that plastic has infiltrated all parts of the ocean, calling for urgent efforts to create an international treaty on plastics.

Plastic waste has now infiltrated all parts of the ocean

In this file photo taken on 21 January, 2020 a man paddles on a boat as plastic bags float on the surface of the Buriganga river in Dhaka. WWF sought to bolster the case for action in its latest report, which synthesises more than 2,000 separate scientific studies on the impacts of plastic pollu ...

Fishing, pollution and rising temperatures: How marine science can help us save the oceans

A healthy sea determines the planet's balance and, in turn, the health and well-being of its people. That is why ocean science has never played a more vital role, helping us to grasp today's deterioration of the world's biggest ecosystem—and find solutions.

‘Blue diplomacy’: France summit puts world’s spotlight on oceans

Up to 40 world leaders are due to make “ambitious and concrete commitments” towards combating illegal fishing, decarbonising shipping and reducing plastic pollution at what is billed as the first high-level summit dedicated to the ocean.

New species described in 2022

From a tree named after Leonardo DiCaprio to a bamboo-dwelling tarantula, discover some of the new species around the world that have been recently described by scientists.

No silver-bullet solutions for saving used planet

With much of the planet already "used-up", the world has hard choices to make over how to use land in the most sustainable and effective way.

Genome of Steller's sea cow decoded

During the Ice Age, giant mammals such as mammoths, saber-toothed cats and wooly rhinoceroses once roamed Northern Europe and America. The cold oceans of the northern hemisphere were also home to giants like Steller's sea cow, which grew up to eight meters long and weighed up to ten tons, and ha ...

Gabon provides blueprint for protecting oceans

Gabon's network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) provides a blueprint that could be used in many other countries, experts say. Since announcing a new MPA network in 2014, Gabon has created 20 protected areas—increasing protection of Gabonese waters from less than 1% to 26%.

Eco-friendly and ultra-luxury: How Bahrain hopes to revive its natural pearl industry

An island kingdom just off the Arabian Peninsula, known as the first emirate nation to discover oil in 1932, wants to re-establish itself as the global center for sustainable pearls.

'Make sustainable farming, biodiversity election issue'

With climate, ecology and agricultural sustainability not being poll plank of any party till the 2022 election, NGO Kheti Virasat Mission has come up with its own people’s agenda and a 21-page green manifesto to pressurise political parties into acknowledging environment protection and sustainab ...

Gen Z in China and India more environmentally conscious: Report

Gen Z and millennial consumers in China, India and other emerging economies are more environmentally conscious, more likely to buy sustainable products and more distrustful of corporate sustainability claims than their counterparts in developed countries, according to a Credit Suisse Research In ...

In honour of World Wetlands Day, Caribbean wetlands in photos

World Wetlands Day, marked on February 2 — the day on which the Convention on Wetlands was adopted in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971 — is an annual acknowledgement of the importance of wetlands to life and sustainability on our planet.

World Wetlands Day: Sanctuaries in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh listed as Ramsar sites

The Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary near Jamnagar in Gujarat and Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh have been listed as Wetlands of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.

Scientists uncover 'missing' plastics deep in the ocean

About 51 trillion microplastics are floating in the surface waters of oceans around the world. Originating from various types of plastics, these tiny fragments (less than 5 millimeters in length) pollute natural ecosystems.

Svalbard's Arctic heritage is threatened by climate change

Cultural heritage sites are irreplaceable sources of historical information, providing insight into the social, religious, and economic life of our ancestors. They are important markers of identity, and constitute attractions to both locals and visitors, and can thus play an important role in a ...

Microplastics: The ‘Missing Plastics’ of the Ocean Uncovered by Scientists

Plastics that are for one-time use are called Single Use plastics, like utensils, wrappers, and other items. Out of the 300 million tons of plastics that are produced yearly, there is 50% contributed by single-use plastics.

Ocean eddies could explain Antarctic sea-ice paradox

Despite global warming and the sea-ice loss in the Arctic, the Antarctic sea-ice extent has remained largely unchanged since 1979. However, existing climate model-based simulations indicate significant sea-ice loss, contrary to actual observations.

Lungs of the Deep Ocean: Scientists Measure Oxygen Flow in Labrador Sea

The Labrador Sea often referred to as a lung of the deep ocean, is located between Canada and Greenland, northwest of the Atlantic Ocean. The lung of the deep ocean is one of the few bodies of water where oxygen from the atmosphere can reach; even the deepest layers of the ocean.

‘It’s like another world’: Project to unlock secrets of ocean’s deepest trenches

The deep blue covers 70 per cent of the earth and has been a source of intrigue for centuries, swallowing ships and submarines and setting the stage for tales of mythical sea monsters or hidden cities.

Future of coral reefs in the time of climate change

Coral reefs are one of the world's most biologically diverse and productive ecosystems. They provide abundant ecological goods and services and are central to the socioeconomic and cultural welfare of coastal and island communities — throughout tropical and subtropical ocean countries — by contr ...

Farming practices good for the environment and the farmer's pocket

New research conducted as part of the EU-funded LIFT project has shown that ecological practices are the way forward for Europe's farmers. Carried out at LIFT project partner Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), United Kingdom, it suggests that such practices help farmers increase their profits and ...

The world's tiny islands inspiring green action

Small island communities have often been pioneers for sustainability and climate action. Are they a snapshot of a greener future, or a distraction from bigger problems elsewhere?

Relevance of international partnerships in the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals

To achieve Sustainable Development Goal SDG 17, which focuses on international cooperation, partnerships, will be vital. In this comment, we examine the key obstacles such as vested economic interests that will need to be overcome for the successful implementation of SDG 17.

One in five fish dies from passing hydroelectric turbines

Hydroelectric turbines put fish at risk of severe injury during passage. To support an informed debate on the sustainability of hydropower, reliable data of turbine-induced fish mortality are pivotal.

One sea to many oceans: Oxygen flow and its role in sustaining life globally

The Labrador Sea between Canada and Greenland is often referred to as a 'lung of the deep ocean' because it is one of only a handful of locations worldwide where oxygen from the atmosphere can enter the deepest layers of the ocean.

Fossil snail shells offer new tool for analyzing ancient ocean chemistry

A collection of fossil shells from marine snails and clams is challenging a theory that says the world's deadliest mass extinction was accompanied by severe ocean acidification.

NASA Greenland mission completes six years of mapping unknown terrain

To learn how ocean water is melting glaciers, NASA's Oceans Melting Greenland mission extensively surveyed the coastline of the world's largest island.

Ghostly monkey and crocodile newts among new Mekong area species

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) conservation group has published a list of 224 newly discovered species from the greater Mekong region.

Ocean’s gentle giants make welcome appearances this summer

From December 2021 to January 2022 Manta Watch NZ received 99 reported manta ray sightings, concentrated in the Bay of Islands, the Hauraki Gulf, Mercury Island, the Alderman Islands and the Bay of Plenty.

Brest Wishes for the Ocean in 2022

President Emmanuel Macron of France is convening world leaders and ocean advocates for the One Ocean Summit in February 2022. This gathering will take place on board a large vessel moored in the harbour of Brest on France’s Finisterre peninsula. Will the Summit serve as a launch pad for high-lev ...

“It shows there is hope.” Off Svalbard, an encounter with the largest animal that has ever lived

IT'S EARLY August and the research vessel Barba sails at 80 degrees north along the coastline of Svalbard. The endless Arctic sun lies low on the horizon, the ocean is calm, and the temperate a mild 5 degrees.

How protecting plant health is essential to future prosperity and sustainability

From farms to forests, Canada's plants face increasingly complex threats and protecting them is imperative to sustain the health and wealth they provide, according to Cultivating Diversity, a new expert panel report from the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA).

Plastic litter could triple and outweigh fish in the world's oceans by 2040: report

The role of magma in the birth of the Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean was born roughly 200 million years ago when the supercontinent Pangea began to break apart. As continental crust stretched and fractured, oceanic crust took its place. T