Scientists are predicting a record sargassum bloom in 2023. It’s already starting to wash up on beaches in Florida and the Caribbean and cause a stink.
Flamingos feeding in salt marsh on an estuary in South Africa’s Western Cape province.
Geoff Sperring/Shutterstock
James Bell, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington; Nick Shears, University of Auckland, and Robert Smith, University of Otago
New Zealand may see more sponge bleaching as the northern coastlines are already experiencing almost continuous marine heatwave conditions, expected to extend into the coming summer.
A new biodiversity index captures the climate risk for nearly 25,000 marine species and their ecosystems and lays the groundwork for climate-smart approaches to management and conservation.
Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania
As the dead whales decompose, an astonishing and rare chain of events is likely to flow through the marine ecosystem – ultimately leading to an explosion of activity and new life.
The photographs show how climate change is disrupting our marine ecosystems – sometimes in ways previously unknown to marine scientists.
Fish stocks are in decline around the world, in part because of the way we value nature and fail to account for their long-term benefits.
(Shutterstock)
As the ocean temperature rises, many marine species are moving toward the north and south poles in search of cooler waters, thus rewriting the menus of seafood restaurants on the West Coast of Canada.
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.
As authorities grapple with the best way to respond to the tragedy, it’s worth remembering all shark mitigation measures come with both merits and drawbacks – and none is a silver bullet.
Certain combinations of genetic material are being conserved through the generations.
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.
Marine alien species from all around the world can arrive attached to the hulls of vessels or in ballast water.
Shutterstock
What scientists learnt from analysing alien marine organisms that hitch-hike around the world on ships and other vessels that make their way into South African shores.
Cold-water coral reefs occur at greater depths than their tropical equivalents.
Sebastian Hennige
Sharks have been around for more than 400 million years — but not all sharks are equally resilient to changes around them. Why do some groups thrive, while others dwindle?
Mats of Sargassum seaweed off the coast of St. Martin in April 2018.
ELY Michel CC BY-SA 4.0,
Huge blooms of brown seaweed have fouled Florida and Caribbean beaches almost every year over the past decade. They originate in Africa and South America. and are fueled by human activities.
Blue sharks, which are prized for their fins, swimming off Cape Point in South Africa.
Morne Hardenberg
Alison Kock, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity
Sharks grow slowly and produce few young compared to bony fishes. In many cases, this means that their populations are fished out faster than can be replenished if not well managed.