Firing seismic airguns to find new oil reserves in the Arctic Ocean is ‘alarming’ and could seriously injure whales and other marine life, according to a new scientific review. The oil industry is increasingly looking towards the region as climate change melts large areas of Arctic sea ice. A Norwegian company operating off east Greenland recently began firing airguns that … [Read more...]
Plastic is killing the planet - here’s how we can turn the tide
“EVERY single piece of plastic that has ever been created since the 19th century is still SOMEWHERE on our planet. So if it never goes away, where does it go?” — this is the startling idea behind the eye-opening documentary, Plastic Paradise. Plastic is difficult to escape. Simply walk through your local supermarket and take in the sheer number of products housed in plastic. … [Read more...]
Protect our oceans from seabed mining!
Massive companies are rushing to mine the fragile ocean floor. But the twenty-four people who make the rules are meeting this week, and we can stop this plunder if we back scientists’ warnings with a massive wake-up call. For years they’ve poisoned rivers, devastated forests and displaced communities, and now massive companies are rushing to dig up the seabed for precious … [Read more...]
Saving the world’s seventh largest economy - the ocean
These are the most challenging times in our history. With a thirst for higher living standards and the need to support a global population set to hit 9bn by mid-century, we are overwhelming nature. Science tells us that we are pushing natural limits on climate, biodiversity, nutrient cycles, freshwater and ocean health. While research has never been clearer on defining … [Read more...]
Collective efforts needed to reduce plastic litter in the oceans
“South Africa has what it takes to become one of the world leaders in reducing the amount of litter that ends up in our oceans. Not only do we possess some of the most beautiful, diverse and dramatic coastlines in the world – teeming with a wide variety of different marine animals – but we also have private individuals, companies, research institutions and government … [Read more...]
Shell’s Arctic oil rig departs Seattle as ‘kayaktivists’ warn of disaster
After a final protest by kayak-paddling activists, Shell’s deep-sea oil drilling rig left the port of Seattle, headed for Alaska’s Chukchi Sea – and, environmentalists say, towards imminent disaster. Called the Polar Pioneer, the ship arrived in Seattle in mid-May, shortly after the Obama administration’s controversial approval of exploratory oil drilling in the Arctic. It … [Read more...]
How oil spills can literally break fish hearts
There is a new plight to hit our shores - that of the baby fish altered for life by the oil spills off the Gulf of Mexico. Oil-slathered birds were a potent symbol of the ecological cost of millions of gallons of oil that flowed into the Gulf of Mexico five years ago. But the less-visible plight of baby fish may offer a more far-reaching legacy. Lab experiments show that … [Read more...]
New eco Rainbow Warrior in Cape Town for renewable power
Greenpeace’s iconic ship - the Rainbow Warrior – has arrived in Cape Town for a month long tour of the South African coastline, as part of a Greenpeace campaign to highlight the fact that renewable energy investments are the solution to the current electricity crisis. The environmentally friendly ship will dock at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront in South Africa from the 9th – … [Read more...]
Report highlights need to invest in marine protected areas
South Africa’s 24 marine protected areas (MPAs) are critical for the health of future fish stock. Yet their significance is not fully appreciated. From coastal residents and fishers through to government prosecutors and judges, a lack of understanding of the importance of these areas continues to hamper efforts to manage MPAs effectively. These are among the findings … [Read more...]
Environmentalists seek more comprehensive microbead ban
If you think it's OK to use the popular exfoliants to scrub your face or body, think again. Where do these undigestable pellets end up? In the oceans and tummies of sea creatures. The push is on in Washington state to ban synthetic plastic microbeads, the tiny pieces of plastic sometimes used in face washes and bath products as an exfoliant. But in a twist, an environmental … [Read more...]
2014 officially the hottest year on record
NASA and NOAA scientists report 2014 was 0.07F (0.04C) higher than previous records and the 38th consecutive year of above-average temperatures. The numbers are in. The year 2014 – after shattering temperature records that had stood for hundreds of years across virtually all of Europe, and roasting parts of South America, China and Russia – was the hottest on record, with … [Read more...]
Parasite in fish’s mouth becomes his tongue
A parasite that lives in a fish's mouth and becomes its tongue? Sixty million viruses in a teaspoon of sea water? A shimmering sunset glistening through the curl of a golden barrel? Just a few snippets from the Wavescape Slide Night night in Cape Town. More than 200 people sat enthralled through 10 inspirational talks by 10 ocean thought leaders who shared their science, … [Read more...]
Underwater robot shows Antarctic ice thicker than thought
Groundbreaking 3D mapping of previously inaccessible areas of the Antarctic has found that the sea ice fringing the vast continent is thicker than previous thought. Two expeditions to Antarctica by scientists from the UK, USA and Australia analysed an area of ice spanning 500,000 metres squared, using a robot known as SeaBed. The survey discovered ice thickness average … [Read more...]
