Marine ecosystems across Canada’s coasts, such as eelgrass meadows that provide an important habitat for juvenile species, are threatened by human activities and climate change.
(Nicolas Winkler)
It is time to acknowledge and address the rapid shifts in Canada’s oceans. To meet this challenge, Canada’s marine conservation toolbox — starting with the Oceans Act — needs an overhaul.
A researcher at the advocacy group Oceana uses GPS data to trace the activity of fishing boats.
Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images
One of the oldest industries, fishing, is entering the world of advanced analytics and data-driven planning. With oceans under stress and key fish stocks dwindling, can precision fishing help?
It involves a trade-off between seafood production and seabed conservation.
South Africa has an impressive record of marine biological research in protected areas, but the country needs to pay greater attention to the human aspects.
Doug Lang
Judy Mann-Lang, Oceanographic Research Institute (South African Association for Marine Biological Research); Bruce Quintin Mann, Oceanographic Research Institute (South African Association for Marine Biological Research), and George Branch, University of Cape Town
The social, ecological and governance objectives of marine protected areas need to be understood to enhance benefits to both people and the environment.
Coast of Robberg marine protected area at the Robberg Peninsula, South Africa.
Franz Aberham via GettyImages
If the local context and priorities of those who most directly rely on natural resources for their survival isn’t considered, conservation efforts will continue to fail.
Local support might be the most important factor for a successful marine protected area.
Anastasia Quintana
In the design of marine protected areas, new research suggests that it might be better to start small in order to gain local trust and support that leads to larger long-term benefits.
Partially protected areas don’t have more wildlife than unprotected areas. They consume conservation resources and occupy space that could otherwise be allocated to more effective protection.
Global leaders pledged to protect 10% of the oceans by 2020. We’re nowhere close and the goal has proven particularly challenging to achieve in international waters.
The Southern (Antarctic) Ocean is our planet’s primary storage of heat and carbon, and it’s home to extraordinary life forms, from tiny algae and spineless creatures to penguins, seals and whales.
Biodiversity is often highest in places with human activity. The fishing industry has shown we can often have it both ways: maintain important livelihoods while protecting precious marine life.
Under a new proposal, bourzwa fish will only be permitted to be caught and sold in Seychelles.
James Robinson