Marine science news covering oceanography, coral reefs, fisheries science, sea level rise, and marine ecosystems.
The California Beach Shark Safety program at Cal State Long Beach will run out of funding and may close in September. The program tags great whites and shares locations with lifeguards along 500 miles of coastline. An unseasonably warm spring led to more great whites near beaches.
The author expresses personal anxiety about encountering toxic pufferfish and sharks in European waters, but interviews marine experts who contextualize the risks. The piece argues that while sightings are increasing, the actual danger to swimmers remains low, and public fear is often disproportionate to the threat.
The commentary argues that sharks are vital to ocean health as top predators and do not deserve their negative reputation. It contends that shark attacks are rare and that humans pose a greater threat to sharks, emphasizing the need for conservation.
This commentary argues that the Faroe Islands' traditional dolphin hunt, the grindadráp, is increasingly indefensible due to its scale and cruelty, as evidenced by a recent mass slaughter of over 700 animals. It contends that the practice persists due to cultural inertia and inadequate regulation, and calls for international pressure to end it.
A marine biologist explains that Neil the Seal's viral antics, such as pushing traffic cones and chasing people, are actually attempts to attract other seals. The article argues that these behaviors stem from the seal's need for rest and social interaction, and emphasizes the importance of respecting marine wildlife during their haul-out periods.
This commentary argues that marine heatwaves, such as those recently hitting UK waters, have significant and often overlooked impacts on marine life, from plankton to whales. It contends that these events disrupt ecosystems, cause species migration, and can lead to harmful algal blooms, with consequences for fisheries and food safety.
This commentary argues that the discovery of a blacktip shark nursery in Brazil's Ilha Grande bay has shifted local fishing community perceptions from viewing sharks as food to recognizing their ecological importance. It contends that protecting such nurseries is vital for global ocean conservation, given Brazil's high shark consumption and the species' vulnerability.
Unprecedented large groups of bull rays are threatening mussel farms in the Gulf of Trieste. A trial using magnetic deterrents, run by Amp Miramare and co-financed by the EU's Life programme, aims to drive the rays away. The protected species' surge is linked to warming seas and policy changes.
This commentary argues that Neil the Seal, a southern elephant seal in Tasmania, offers a unique opportunity to understand seal behavior and improve human-wildlife coexistence. It explains the seal's need for rest during haul-out periods and warns against disturbing them, while contextualizing his antics as typical young male behavior.
A study led by Dr Se-Joo Kim and Dr Jinyoung Jeong at KRIBB found microplastics in 92% of deep-sea animals from hydrothermal vents in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Indian Ocean specimens carried up to 14.7 times more particles than Pacific ones. Polystyrene was the most abundant polymer detected.