Reef sharks are in major decline worldwide
In the biggest study of its kind, scientists found an absence of sharks that live near coral reefs in 58 countries. But there is hope.
Number of overfished stocks in the U.S. reaches all time low
The number of domestic fish stocks listed as overfished has reached an all-time low, with three species of West Coast rockfish rebuilt to sustainable levels, according to the 2017 Status of U.S. Fisheries report to Congress.
Alarm over discovery of hundreds of Chinese fishing vessels near Galápagos Islands
Ecuador has sounded the alarm after its navy discovered a huge fishing fleet of mostly Chinese-flagged vessels some 200 miles from the Galápagos Islands, the archipelago which inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.
Trump administration signals controversial mine can move ahead, reversing Obama-era position
A controversial gold and copper mine proposed in Alaska was given a major push forward Friday as the Trump administration issued a final report concluding the Pebble Mine project would not cause long-term harm to one of the world’s largest remaining salmon runs.
Could Colombia’s Escobar escaped hippos help the environment?
When drug lord Pablo Escobar was killed more than 25 years, the Colombian government took control of his luxurious estate in northwestern Colombia, including his personal zoo. The hippos have escaped Escobar’s former ranch and moved into Colombia’s main river, the Magdelena.
Climate change could make toxic algal blooms in our oceans more deadly
Late spring and early summer in California bring thousands of marine mammals to the state’s beaches, as groups of California sea lions, elephant seals and harbor seals give birth along the shore. But toxic algal blooms are increasingly poisoning these marine mammals.
Crowds removing sea creatures from San Pedro tide pools put delicate ecosystem at risk
An unprecedented number of people have been harvesting edible sea creatures. In prior years, animal harvesting was far less common, and tidal pool etiquette held that creatures should not be disturbed.
Deforestation in Brazil Continues to Surge, Up 10.7 Percent in June
Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest rose 10.7 percent last month compared to June 2019, the 14th consecutive month of worsening tree loss, according to new data from the country’s national space research agency, INPE. In the first half of 2020, deforestation was up 25 percent.
First direct evidence of ocean mixing across the Gulf Stream
New research provides the first direct evidence for the Gulf Stream blender effect, identifying a new mechanism of mixing water across the swift-moving current. The results have important implications for weather, climate and fisheries because ocean mixing plays a critical role in these processes.