An acid test for policy

There's more this week on the critical but in some ways under-covered issue of ocean acidification.

bbc.co.uk, Thursday 26 January 2012

Fishing rules must cover EU vessels in foreign waters, campaigners say

WWF says reform of fishing policy must ensure that European vessels exploit stocks in international waters sustainably

guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 25 January 2012

Accidents highlight risks for Antarctic fishery

Environmental campaigners are again calling for a clampdown on fishing in one of the world’s most remote and untouched oceans after two ships suffered serious accidents in the icy waters. 

Nature News Blog, 18 January 2012

UK marine protection moves delayed

Conservationists criticise delay as 'unacceptable' and say the government is failing to protect important habitats and wildlife

guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 15 November 2011

We must suffer short-term economic pain to make our seas sustainable

Easing the pressure from fishing and shipping will hurt – but collapse of our oceans will hurt a great deal more.

guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 15 November 2011

Under 1% Atlantic shark species protected by conservation efforts

Most shark species are heading towards extinction, while many are still being caught and killed, an Oceana report says.

guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 15 November 2011

Minister seeks fish discards action

More than a third of white fish caught in Irish waters by the domestic fleet is dumped back into the sea dead or dying.
[Ireland's] Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney called on Europe to lift bans and change quotas and catch quantities in favour of species-specific rules.

Irish Times 8 November 2011

New offshore windfarm technologies in the battle against seasickness

Giant robotic arms among ideas to win financial backing from the Carbon Trust to fight major obstacle to wind energy: stormy seas

guardian.co.uk 19 September 2011

Global warming brings exotic fish to British waters but at a cost

Cod, haddock and other fish traditionally eaten in UK are on the decline but warm water fish are thriving, study claims

guardian.co.uk 15 September 2011

Marine species discovered on Gorringe seamount - in pictures

Dense kelp forests, deep-sea sponge fields, black coral and extensive oyster beds are among the more than 100 marine species discovered on Gorringe seamount in the Portuguese Atlantic. See the gallery here.

guardian.co.uk 25 August 2011

Species return sparks fresh interest

New species are not just discovered in exotic places – even temperate climates such as Ireland still yield discoveries of new plants and animals. Scientists at the Natural History Museum in Paris have recently named a new species of chimaera, an ancient and bizarre group of fishes distantly related to sharks, from the west coast of Ireland.

Irish Times, 24 August 2011

Scientists name world's most important marine conservation hotspots

Study reveals 20 sites that are key to ensuring the survival of marine mammals

guardian.co.uk, 1 August 2011

Protest urges EU to end overfishing

Campaigners stage demonstration as fisheries commissioner prepares to unveil the most radical fisheries reform in decades

guardian.co.uk, 13 July 2011

Ocean2012 EU fisheries exhibition – in pictures

To mark the launch of the second annual European Fish Week, Ocean2012 will launch a photo and documentary exhibit at London zoo aquarium. The event is one of more than 100 being organised by the Ocean2012 coalition, which is gathering support across Europe to call for an effective reform of the EU's common fisheries policy. A new proposed policy will be presented in mid-July

guardian.co.uk, 8 June 2011

Information is Beautiful: Plenty More Fish In The Sea?

Over-exploitation. Destructive fishing techniques. Polluting fish farms. How do you know which fish are fine for your fork?

guardian.co.uk, 24 June 2011

Information is Beautiful: Plenty More Fish In The Sea?

What were the oceans like before over-fishing? David McCandless visualises the Atlantic's past.

guardian.co.uk, 3 June 2011

World's oceans in 'shocking' decline

The oceans are in a worse state than previously suspected, according to an expert panel of scientists. In a new report, they warn that ocean life is "at high risk of entering a phase of extinction of marine species unprecedented in human history".

bbc.co.uk, 20 June 2011

Shetland shellfish land coveted eco label

Islands' sustainable fishing practices win recognition from the Marine Stewardship Council.

"...Shetland's inshore fishermen have access to some of the most detailed maps and sealife data of any waters in Europe, collated by the North Atlantic Fisheries College on Shetland. Armed with that data, they voluntarily close down areas of their inshore waters to allow stocks to recover, and have agreed to permanent closures to protect delicate maerl, eelgrass beds and coral across 10.5 square miles of seabed."

guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 15 June 2011

Explosion in jellyfish numbers may lead to ecological disaster, warn scientists

A dramatic global increase in jellyfish swarms could damage the marine food chain.

Ocean acidification is latest manifestation of global warming

Carbon dioxide pollution adds to threat to world's oceans and marine species.

How to choose sustainable fish - interactive

Cut through confusion over supermarket labels and follow our guide to buying the right sustainable fish species

Fashion meets fish at Selfridges exhibition

Lady Gaga's lobster hat is among the aquatic-inspired gladrags in a show that aims to raise awareness of overfishing

Fishing for plastic to save our seas

An EU plan to pay fishermen to catch plastic will help save our waters from waste while providing fleets with alternative income

Unexpected patterns of fisheries collapse in the world's oceans

Researchers in the US and Canada have analyzed two fisheries datasets to determine the life-history traits of species that have suffered dramatic population collapses. Contrary to expectations, their data suggest that up to twice as many fisheries for small, low trophic-level species have collapsed compared with those for large predators. These patterns contrast with those on land, suggesting fundamental differences in the ways that industrial fisheries and land conversion affect natural communities. Even temporary collapses of small, low trophic-level fishes can have ecosystem-wide impacts by reducing food supply to larger fish, seabirds, and marine mammals. Their paper is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

Exploring the 'oceans crisis'

Alex Rogers of CoralFISH organised a big meeting in Oxford last week, attended by many prominent Marine Scientists, to talk about the state of the worlds oceans. A press event is planned for next month to coincide with the report and recommendations coming from the meeting, but in the meantime, this has appeared on the BBC's Earth Watch blog.

bbc.co.uk, Thursday 14 April 2011

Seamounts: Undersea mountains 'litter' ocean floor

A new global survey has revealed that the seafloor is littered with underwater mountains. Almost 5% of the ocean is covered by seamounts, with 16% covered by smaller knolls. Seamounts and knolls are important and little studied habitats for marine life, say the survey's scientists, who include Chris Yesson and Alex Rogers of CoralFISH.

bbc.co.uk, Wednesday 2 March 2011

EU ministers to ban fish discards

Reform is expected for the fishing quotas system which requires fishermen to throw away large amounts of their catch

[UK] Government attacks EU fishing rules

Fisheries minister Richard Benyon calls for reform of common fisheries policy, which currently forces fisherman to throw millions of dead fish back into the sea

guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 1 March 2011

Eat more anchovies, herring and sardines to save the ocean's fish stocks

We should consume less of the fish at the top of the food chain and more of their prey to rebalance the marine ecosystem, says fisheries scientist

guardian.co.uk, Friday 18 February 2011

The End of the Line: How a film changed the way we eat fish

Ecologist: Report highlights the lasting impact of The End of the Line in raising awareness of unsustainable fishing practices - and illustrates how radical new film funding models can work

Tom Levitt and Ali Thomas, www.theecologist.org, Friday 18th February, 2011

EU urged to overhaul fishing policy

Unprecedented alliance of retailers and conservationists urges drastic reform to prevent fish stocks from passing point of no return

EU fisheries commissioner pledges to end 'nightmare of discards'

Maria Damanaki calls for new fishing policy to end the wasteful practice highlighted in Channel 4's recent Fish Fight campaign

guardian.co.uk, Thursday 3 February 2011

We need to eat less fish – not more sustainable fish

Simply encouraging people to be more adventurous with new species will not ease the pressure on fish stocks

guardian.co.uk, Friday 28 January 2011

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall attacks government's sustainable fish target

Fish Fight campaigner says central government's sustainable fish target of 60% target is 'wholly unacceptable'

guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 25 January 2011

James Cameron dives deep for Avatar

Only once before has anyone made the seven-mile descent into the Pacific's Mariana trench, the deepest point on earth. Now film-maker James Cameron wants to repeat that incredible journey for his Avatar sequel.

guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 18 January 2011

Supermarkets accused of 'misleading' fish labelling

Report finds around a third of sustainability claims on fish products were either 'unverified or misleading'.

BusinessGreen, guardian.co.uk, Monday 10 January 2011

Sustainable fish customers 'duped' by Marine Stewardship Council

Certification granted to controversial fisheries has prompted severe criticism of the sustainable fisheries organisation

guardian.co.uk, Thursday 6 January 2010

Fish industry next target for celebrity chefs' campaign

New campaign aims to educate both retailers and consumers over more sustainable choices of seafood

guardian.co.uk, Thursday 23 December 2010

EU cuts Atlantic cod fishing quota

Environmentalists say European commission's 50% cut in cod quota is not enough to prevent stocks from collapsing

guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 15 December 2010

China seeks to mine deep sea riches

Beijing joins the race to the bottom to harvest massive sulphides and other rare mineral resources

Guardian Weekly, Tuesday 7 December 2010

Scallop ban angers Scottish fishermen

Isle of Man officials ban big Scottish trawlers, saying shellfish beds are at risk

The Guardian, Tuesday November 23 2010

Scientists Discover Dying Corals and Creatures Near Deep Water Horizon Oil-Spill Site in the Gulf

On a research ship in the Gulf of Mexico, seven miles south-west of the site of the Deep Water Horizon oil-spill, a team of scientists discovered a community of corals that includes many recently dead colonies and others that clearly are dying.

Pennsylvania State University, Eberly College of Science, Friday 5 November 2010

Enter the depths of the abyss in 3D

A new atlas features 3D images of the most extensive deepwater survey of its type in Europe, extending from the Irish edge of the continental shelf 1,000km into the Atlantic

The Irish Times, Thursday 4 November 2010

Papua New Guinea gives green light to deep-sea mineral mine

Plans for a new mine for ore that contains copper, zinc and gold have caused alarm among scientists and indigenous people

guardian.co.uk, Thursday 21 October 2010

Are there plenty more fish in the sea?

The pristine waters of British Columbia's Fraser River, a few hours drive upstream from Vancouver, belies the activity beneath.

Susan Watts, Newsnight, bbc.co.uk

Marine ecoystems at risk from pollution

Marine ecosystems around the world are at risk of substantial deterioration in coming decades as oceans face growing threats from pollution, over-fishing and climate change, according to a report from the UN's environment programme presented at a biodiversity summit in Nagoya.

guardian.co.uk Wednesday 20 October 2010

European Atlas of the Seas

Maps usually show Europe as a group of countries surrounded by the seas. They focus on cities, roads and landscapes – the seas fall into the background. The new European Atlas of the Seas takes the opposite perspective: it puts the seas and all their different uses in the foreground. In the Atlas you can find reliable data on topics such as the European fishing fleet, motorways of the seas, the relief of the ocean floor, coastal erosion, maritime transport… It is regularly being updated as new data becomes available.

European Commission > Maritime Affairs

A climate warning from the deep

The dispersal of tiny sea creatures in Antarctica has alerted scientists to the vulnerability of Earth's ice sheets

The Observer, Sunday 5 September 2010

Appeal for 'a new understanding' on fishery stocks

Galway conference hears how data from fishing industry would benefit sustainability.

Lorna Siggins, Marine Correspondent, Irish Times, Thursday 2 September 2010

Scientists plumb the depths to ask how many fish in the sea

First global census of marine life logs 230,000 species – but 10-year study by 360 scientists warns of mass extinctions. (Article & Gallery)

Study warns that Mediterranean marine life in greatest peril.

Interactive map.

How did they count all the fish in the sea?

guardian.co.uk, Monday 2 & Tuesday 3 August 2010

Census of marine life released

New species are continually emerging from the ocean depths, comprehensive record of biodiversity reveals.

3 August 2010 Nature doi:10.1038/news.2010.386

Biggest marine biology project in the world

The Irish Times, Thursday, September 2, 2010

Coral doctor sounds the alarm about more acidic seas

The critical role of the microscopic plants that act as a 'carbon sink' comes at a potentially devastating cost for the world's oceans: acidification.

from Grist, part of the Guardian Environment Network, guardian.co.uk Monday 23 August 2010

Britain prepares for mackerel war with Iceland and Faroe Islands

Scottish fishermen and politicians call for EU action after two countries raise combined quota from 27,000 to 215,000 tonnes

guardian.co.uk Sunday 22 August 2010

Fragile habitat of French mystery island 'risks being trampled underfoot'

Scientists say 'wonderful biological laboratory' of island that rose from stormy seas is under threat until official status guarantees protection

guardian.co.uk Wednesday 11 August 2010

Jellyfish sting hundreds on Costa Blanca beaches

Biologists blame climate change and overfishing for attacks along coast near eastern city of Elche

guardian.co.uk Wednesday 11 August 2010

Plankton decline across oceans as waters warm

The amount of phytoplankton - tiny marine plants - in the top layers of the oceans has declined markedly over the last century, research suggests.

bbc.co.uk, Wednesday 28 July 2010

Lionfish boom threatens Atlantic ecosystems

Population explosion of Pacific species is threatening wildlife in western Atlantic and Caribbean waters.

guardian.co.uk, Monday 26 July 2010

Eel checks out Deepwater oil leak

An eel has been caught on camera investigating the oil streaming from the damaged underwater well in the Gulf of Mexico.

guardian.co.uk, Thursday 10 June 2010

Red Sea coral growth 'to halt by 2070'

A species of coral in the Red Sea could stop growing by 2070 if current warming trends continue, say scientists.

bbc.co.uk, Friday, 16 July 2010

Marine scientists emerge from the deep with 10 newly discovered species

A six-week voyage into the deep seas of the Atlantic Ocean has yielded 10 possible new species which have revolutionised thinking about deep-sea life. Among the scientists on board the ECOMAR cruise were Monty Priede, Mark Shields & Thomas Linley. All also work on CoralFISH from OceanLab in the University of Aberdeen.

guardian.co.uk, Friday, 09 July 2010

Deep-sea sponges have healing qualities

Irish researchers have joined forces to search for new drugs and antibiotics retrieved from an unusual source, writes Beth O’Donoghue in the Irish Times

irishtimes.com, Thursday, 10 June 2010

Hooking the high seas' fishing 'pirates'

It's time to close the net on fishing "pirates" who threaten to undermine vital marine ecosystems, says Karen Sack. In this week's Green Room, she highlights the scale of the problem of illegal fishing and calls on the international community to act.

news.bbc.co.uk Viewpoint Tuesday, 1 June 2010

Acidified landscape around ocean vents foretells grim future for coral reefs

Underwater vents allow scientists to assess the acidic effect of carbon dioxide on ocean life.

Robin McKie, science editor, The Observer, Sunday 21 February 2010

Deep-sea trawling is destroying coral reefs and pristine marine habitats

A survey of the world's reefs and submerged mountains has revealed widespread damage from deep-sea trawling.

Ian Sample, San Diego, guardian.co.uk, Thursday 18 February 2010

New marine species discovered

Marine researchers have discovered 5,000 previously unknown species of fish, worms, anemones and other creatures living in our oceans as a result of the Census of Marine Life

Dick Ahlstrom of the Irish Times reports from the American Association for the Advancement of Science's annual meeting in San Diego.

irishtimes.com, Friday 19th February 2010

Meet the creatures that live beyond the abyss

The University of Aberdeen's Oceanlab features in this special on the BBC (UK) website.

news.bbc.co.uk, Friday 22nd January 2009

Shell shock! Octopus spotted using coconuts as shelter in first sign of tool use among invertebrates

Researchers 'gobsmacked' after watching species off Indonesia collecting and adapting shells for use as hiding place.

Associated Press / guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 15 December 2009

2009 Seamounts Cruise

A new project led by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) plans to unveil the mysteries of seamounts in the southern Indian Ocean, and help improve conservation and management of marine resources in the area. A number of CoralFISH scientists are aboard the cruise.

The cruiseblog is at http://seamounts2009.blogspot.com/, and the BBC have also picked up the story and have some galleries of the weird and wonderful marine life that is being discovered on the cruise.

Tuesday 2 December 2009

New deep sea marine creatures revealed

Thousands of newly discovered creatures brought to light by a census of marine life survey, a 10-year study by thousands of scientists from more than 32 countries (link to video and gallery)

guardian.co.uk, Monday 23 November 2009

Commercial fishing threatens survival of albatross, conservationists warn

Scientists call for new measures to protect the seabirds as experts warn one albatross drowns every five minutes after becoming entangled in fishing gear

Press Association guardian.co.uk, Monday 9 November 2009

Protected zones will help to save Britain's marine wildlife

Harmful fishing practices will be banned from UK coastal waters under new legislation to protect endangered species

Lisa Bachelor, The Observer, Sunday 8 November 2009

Mediterranean EU countries block bluefin tuna ban

Malta, Cyprus, Spain, Italy, France, and Portugal block ban at Brussels meeting despite support from 21 EU governments

Ian Traynor, Europe editor, guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 22 September 2009

Fish capture per country

Another link to the Guardian Newspaper's Environment pages, this time looking at the global fishing statistics.

Marine life: Illuminating the ocean

Twelve thousand feet below the ocean surface, biologists have discovered an entirely new family of sea creatures.

This article is by Alex Rogers of the Institute of Zoology in London, scientific director of the International Programme on the State of the Ocean, and leader of WP6 in CoralFISH. In it he argues that 'Europe's fisheries policy is a showcase for mismanagement, characterised by disregard for science and sustainability.'

The murky waters of EU fisheries.

This is a special guest post by Ken Stump of the Marine Fish Conservation Network for Deep Sea News, intended to help build awareness about how political action translates into deep-sea research and fisheries management.

New Habitat Authority for Fishery Managers and a Research Program at NOAA Raise the Profile of Deep-Sea Corals, But Will Protection Follow?

Greenpeace in Stockholm has started dumping boulders into the North sea to prevent seabed trawling.

Associated Press in Stockholm, guardian.co.uk, Tuesday August 11 2009,

Rather than compromise for EU membership, Reykjavik is in a strong position to protect its marine stocks for the future, writes David Cronin in The Guardian

Yes, Iceland can talk fish to Europe (link)

guardian.co.uk, Tuesday July 28 2009

Experts uncover secrets of the seas' past? Global study used to 'backcast' fishing trends ? Findings may help efforts to conserve stocks.

David Adam, guardian.co.uk, Monday May 25 2009

After a long history of overexploitation, increasing efforts to restore marine ecosystems and rebuild fisheries are under way.
Boris Worm and colleagues report in this paper from Science magazine.

Rebuilding Global Fisheries (link)

Science 31 July 2009: Vol. 325. no. 5940, pp. 578 - 585; DOI: 10.1126/science.1173146

The paper was highlighted by David Adam in The Guardian

"The End of the Line began life as a ground-breaking book by the environment journalist Charles Clover in 2004. It was an impassioned description of the wanton destruction being wreaked on fish stocks by industrial fishing round the world. It left me feeling both angry and despondent. Now it's been turned into a film of the same title, and it's a must-see" ...writes Felicity Lawrence in The Guardian.

guardian.co.uk June 19 2009

No tuna, no salmon. No oysters, no skate. No cod and chips.
Imagine a world without seafood for supper. It's nearer than you think.

Andrew Purvis on the decline of seafood

The Observer, Sunday 26 April 2009