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Ocean Unite

Recent Reports

Recent Reports

GENERAL

POLLUTION & PLASTICS 

  • April 2020 –Microplastics found in greater quantities than ever before on seabed, study finds
  • March 2020 – Ocean Plastic Smells Like Food to Sea Turtles, Study Finds
  • November 9 2019 –Can microplastics pose a threat to ocean carbon sequestration? Study shows. 
  • February 28 2019 – WWF Guide Shares Practical Options for Businesses to Achieve “No Plastic in Nature”.
  • February 26 2019 – UNEP Report Finds Positive Trend Towards Marine Litter Reduction.
  • November 22 2018 – Tyres and synthetic clothes ‘big cause of microplastic pollution’.
  • October 22 2018 – Microplastics found in human stools for the first time.
  • June 8 2018 – This briefing highlights the work and results of the Marine Litter Watch clean-up activities held on the beaches of Europe’s four regional seas between 2014 and 2017
  • June 6 2018 – More than 50 nations are taking action to reduce plastic pollution, says the UN in the biggest report so far.
  • May 17 2018 – A new report from the international nonprofit World Animal Protection (WAP) estimates that at least 700,000 tons of new ghost gear enter the sea each year.
  • March 21 2018 –The amount of plastic in the ocean is set to triple in a decade unless litter is curbed, a major report has warned.
  • March 15 2018 –WHO launches health review after microplastics found in 90% of bottled water.
  • March 5 2018 –Nine leading non-profit conservation organizations joined together to produce a series of reports that identify the world’s most dangerous plastics
  • February 23 2018 –Marine Plastic Waste Pollution Could be Cut by 77%, according to a new report.
  • February 21 2018 –A staggering number of golf balls wind up in the ocean. What happens to them?, read the study.
  • February 20 2018  – Report: Bahamas Marine Protected Areas Valued in Billions – Builds Case For Network Expansion
  • February 15 2018 –Economic incentives reduce plastic inputs to the ocean, according to study. 
  • January 26 2018 – A new study has highlighted the scope of plastic pollution.
  • 26 October 2017 – How to cut ocean plastic pollution? Start with these billions of bottles, straws and coffee cups.
  • September 29 2017 – Researchers discover that plastic nanoparticles build up in fish brains and alter their behaviour.
  • September 8 2017 – Sea salt around the world is contaminated by plastic, studies show.
  • September 6 2017 – Plastic fibres found in tap water around the world, study reveals.
  • August 31 2017 – New research delivers hope for reef fish living in a high CO2 world.
  • July 19 2017 – New publication and first global analysis of all mass-produced plastics that have ever been made.
  • July 2017 – Report shows that microplastic from synthetic fabrics that are being washed in washing machine are most common form of microplastic in Ocean.
  • July 6 2017 – Ocean acidification expected to significantly reduce fish diversity, with small ‘weedy’ species dominating marine environments.
  • July 2017 – Researchers study the production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made.
  • June 20 2017 – Ocean pollution in Antarctic 5 times worse than previously thought.
  • June 7 2017 – A study by Dutch researchers in the journal Nature found that rivers in Asia are responsible for 86% of the plastic trash flowing into the oceans and that most of the world’s top 20 polluting rivers are in the region.
  • May 13 2017 – Synthetic fibers are polluting the world’s oceans – but a new report shows how apparel companies have been far too slow to respond
  • April 20 2017 – Scientists find BP oil spill did $17.2 billion in damage to natural resource.
  • Mar 27 2017 – Researchers find that later is present throughout the world’s oceans, affecting 1,220 species.
  • Mar 14 2017 – Greenpeace UK new report
  • Feb 2017 – Trash Free Seas Alliance and Ocean Conservancy release report “Investment strategies for Plastic Free Seas”
  • Dec 5 2016 – New UN report finds marine debris harming more than 800 species, costing countries millions
  • Nov 23 2016 – News study finds tuna’s declining mercury contamination is linked to U.S. shift away from coal
  • Nov 3 2016 – New research says that birds like the taste of ocean plastic because it smells like food
  • Jul 5 2016 – Experts analyzing ocean currents say that majority of UK’s ocean waste ends up in the Ocean within 2 years
  • Jun 3 2016 – Study shows micro-plastic pollution is harming fish
  • May 2016 – Study on Great Barrier Reef assesses potential impact of a coal spill on the corals
  • Feb. 2016 – Research shows that human-made underwater noise could change the behaviour of seabed creatures that play a key role in marine ecosystems as well as killer whales and dolphins.
  • Jan. 2016 – New study shows that fish living in our oceans are full of pollutants – not just mercury and the insecticide DDT, but also flame retardants and coolant liquids.
  • Jan. 2016 – A new study from the World Economic Forum and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates by 2050, plastic waste floating in the Ocean will outweigh fish
  • Nov 2015 – New report by the UN Environment Programme says that biodegradable plastics are not the answer to the marine pollution problem as they “do not degrade rapidly in the Ocean”
  • Nov. 2015 – UN report says that increase in use of products that are labelled “biodegradable” will not make big difference to amount of plastic entering the Ocean or the  risks that plastics pose to the marine environment.
  • Nov. 2015 – New scientific study examines the fatal effects of oxybenzone, ingredient found in 60% of all sunscreens, on corals and coral reefs.
  • Oct. 2015 – New report Lost at Sea: The urgent need to tackle marine litter  by Environmental Investigation Agency calling on governments, industry, retailers and consumers to end the appalling damage plastic waste inflicts on marine environments
  • Oct. 2015 – Exeter university study says that all 7 species of the world’s turtles are under threat from marine plastic
  • Oct. 2015 Study finds tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in waters off Svalbard, raising more concerns about Arctic Ocean pollution and plastic litter are entering Arctic food web
  • Oct. 2015 – Plastic litter taints sea surface in Arctic according to new study, posing new problems for marine life
  • Oct. 2015 – Study gives review of sources, occurrence and effects of plastic waste in the Ocean
  • 2015 – New solutions-oriented report Stemming the Tide: Land-based strategies for a plastic-free ocean by Ocean Conservancy and McKinsey

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MARINE PROTECTED AREAS & MARINE RESERVES

  • April 2020 – Study: The global costs and benefits of expanding Marine Protected Areas
  • April 2020 – Study: Failures in the design and implementation of management plans of Marine Protected Areas: An empirical analysis for the North-east Atlantic Ocean
  • January 2020 – Mobile protected areas needed to protect biodiversity in the High Seas: should they be included in the High Seas Treaty?
  • December 2019 – Greenpeace’s new 30×30 report ‘In Hot Water‘ 
  • March 2019 – Research Key to Boosting Benefits of Large Marine Protected Areas.
  • July 2018 – Study looks into Ecological connectivity across ocean depths: Implications for protected area design.
  • May 9 2018 – Study finds marine protected areas help coral reefs.
  • May 2018 – New study finds climate change threatens marine protected areas.
  • February 22 2018 – Coral reef fishes exhibit beneficial phenotypes inside marine protected areas, according to study.
  • January 15 2018 – New study on Hydroacoustics as a tool to examine the effects of Marine Protected Areas and habitat type on marine fish communities.
  • September 7 2017 – Increasing effective decision making for coastal marine ecosystems.
  • August 21 2017 – New review of all knowledge published to date of deep sea invertebrates shows shocking gap in knowledge.
  • August 9 2017 – Dead zones are spreading, killing marine life or causing them to flee according to new study.
  • June 13 2017 – No-take sanctuaries proven to be most effective way to resuscitate and protect ocean life.
  • June 7 2017 – An international review finds that marine reserves are helping ecosystems cope with climate change.
  • June 5 2017 – Study shows benefits extend beyond sea lift communities on land.
  • May 12 2017 – Governance of areas beyond national jurisdiction for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use
  • Mar 23 2017 –Global study reveals that a lack of staffing and funds hamper protected areas
  • Feb 12 2017 – New study highlights potential for deep-sea mining damage
  • Feb 6 2017 – Study shows that size matters for MPAs to help coral reefs recover from overfishing
  • Feb 6 2017 – Research shows size matters for marine protected areas designed to aid coral
  • Jan 31 2017 – Study finds large marine protected areas effectively protect reef shark populations
  • Jan 30 2017 – Canadian study looks at the cumulative effects of deep-sea bottom trawling on seafloor marine life in the naturally low oxygen waters of the north Pacific.
  • Jan 25 2017– New research says seamounts on the high seas should be managed as vulnerable marine ecosystems
  • Dec 1 2016 – Study examines marine protection in America’s ocean areas
  • Nov 11 2016 – New IUCN report shows how MPAs are important for climate mitigation and adaptation
  • Sept 30 – Conservationists call for further 48 new marine protected areas o fill gap in UK’s blue belt coastal network in new report
  • Jul 29 – Largest study of protected areas globally shows they benefit a large range of species
  • Jul 2016 – New report highlights that 100% renewable energy supply is possible without deep-sea mining for rare earth minerals
  • Jun 29 2016 – New study on UK’s deep water corals says due to slow recovery time it is best to put in place deep-water MPAs before damage occurs
  • Jun 01 2016 – Assessment on North American marine protected areas concludes that less than 1% of the North American continental ocean is currently properly implemented
  • May 27 2016 – Study on the benefits of EU MPAs shows that they are important in the development of a sustainable “blue-green economy”, increasing livelihood opportunities and well-being.
  • Apr. 3 2016 – New study shows that banning fishing in the Great Barrier Reef is helping recovery of corals, highlighting the benefits of no-take marine reserves for Ocean recovery
  • Mar. 2016 – A new scientific study that looks at effective targets for Ocean protection shows we urgently need to scale-up action. It analysed a raft of existing scientific studies on marine reserves and confirmed what many scientists have been saying: that more than 30% of the world’s Ocean needs to be protected if we want to avoid large-scale problems and a sick Ocean.
  • Mar. 2016– Study by University of Miami shows that expanding marine protected areas would protect sharks from overfishing and other threats.
  • Jan. 2016 – A study finds MPAs are not supporting coral reefs and fish, as they tend to be “where humans want them and not where they are needed”.
  • 2016 – Social and economic significance of coastal habitats is highlighted in new report giving recommendations on how to measure and account for the protective services of mangroves and coral reefs.
  • Dec. 2015 – New study says that permanent MPAs and wilderness–places where fish can grow old–are critical to the effective conservation of marine ecosystems.
  • Oct. 2015 – University of British Columbia study shows that only 4% of Ocean is currently within MPAs suggesting need to increase global efforts for protection.
  • Oct. 2015 – New report by Oregon State University still only 1.6% of the world’s ocean is “strongly protected”
  • Sept. 2015 – Report on progress in establishing MPAs in Europe’s seas (5.9% up to and including 2012), shows large regional differences in coverage and few no take sites.
  • Apr. 2015 – Thousands of marine species are threatened worldwide as they remain largely outside of current marine protected areas according to a new study by a team of international marine scientists.

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ILLEGAL UNREGULATED UNREPORTED FISHING

  • February 2020 – study: Illicit trade in marine fish catch and its effects on ecosystems and people worldwide
  • January 2020 –  EDF report ‘Caught in the Net’ shines a light on illegal fishing and child labour in Vietnam’s fishing fleet
  • October 11 2018 – China’s hidden fleet: Illegal practices in Ghana’s industrial fishery.
  • June 6 2018 – Satellite tracking shows the economics of much high seas fishing does not add up.
  • April 2018 – Report argues that there are rapid and lasting gains from solving illegal fishing.
  • August 7 2017 – Commercial fishermen may be able to catch more of the profitable fish they want with marine reserves than without them, according to study.
  • Feb 22 2017 – Oceana report exposes thousands of suspected vessel rendezvous at sea.
  • Feb 14 2017 – World Bank updated report “Sunken Billions revisited” says global profits from fishing could grow by tens of billions of dollars if depleted fish stocks were allowed to recover
  • Feb 5 –Ten years after the adoption of the EU IUU Regulation, a new report examines how the EU’s carding system has impacted the flow of seafood products into and within the EU
  • Jun 7 2016 – New report urges Insurers to stop giving illegal fishing vessels access to insurance
  • May 11 2016 –New report estimates global sustainable seafood market at $11.5 billion per year
  • Apr. 2016 – MRAG Report: Technical Recommendations To Improve the EU IUU Regulation Catch Certificate System
  • Apr. 2016 – WWF release report that says about half of the 229 World Heritage sites are slowly being destroyed by activities such as mining, oil exploration, overfishing and illegal logging
  • Apr. 2016 – Greenpeace releases report highlighting that illegal fishing and human rights abuses in the Taiwanese fishing industry is rife.
  • Feb. 2016 – WWF releases report showing that “remote electronic monitoring” that keep tabs on fishing activities through the use of onboard cameras, GPS and sensors, is more efficient and cost-effective than traditional methods such as aerial and boat surveillance, onboard observers and port checks.
  • Feb. 2016 – New report says the Pacific region is robbed of around US$600 million (and possibly more) each year due to illegal fishing, with licensed vessels being responsible for most illegal catch, showing an urgent need for more resources going into policing and monitoring in the region.
  • Jan. 2016 – Report shows that dynamic ocean management can reduce fisheries bycatch
  • Dec. 2015 – Study commissioned by Pew “Fish Landings at the World’s Commercial Fishing Ports” – ranks world’s top 100 ports by volume of commercial fish landed, showing where Port State Measures can be most effective in deterring IUU fish entering the market.
  • Oct. 2015 – Ocean Conservancy released a new study identifying 20 most deadly forms of plastic killing sea life, including lost fishing gear, bags, bottle caps, food packaging and straws.
  • Oct. 2015 – WWF report says that more than 85% of global fish stocks are are at risk from illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing.

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CLIMATE CHANGE AND OCEANS

  • May 2020 –Sea level ‘on course to rise by one metre by 2100’ if global emissions targets are missed, according to study 
  • April 2020 – Study: Changes in fish communities due to benthic habitat shifts under ocean acidification conditions
  • March 2020 – Study:Global Patterns in Marine Sediment Carbon Stocks
  • March 2020 – Report:WWF Warns of Global and Country Specific Losses from Ecosystem Service Declines
  • March 2020 –Report highlights signs of climate change including accelerating sea level rise, melting ice and ocean warming
  • January 2020 – Study: Climatic and local stressor interactions threaten tropical forests and coral reefs
  • December 2019 – IUCN report ‘Ocean deoxygenation: everyone’s problem’ is a wake up call to save our suffocating seas
  • December 2 2019 – Great Barrier Reef world heritage values damaged by climate change, report shows. 
  • November 25 2019 –Climate change is reshaping communities of ocean organisms, study finds. 
  • October 29 2019 –New elevation data triple estimates of global vulnerability to sea-level rise and coastal flooding. 
  • October 8 2019 –Global ocean methane emissions dominated by shallow coastal waters, study shows.
  • March 4 2019 – Heatwaves sweeping oceans ‘like wildfires’, scientists reveal.
  • February 28 2019 – Ocean warming has caused ‘sustainable’ fish stocks to drop by 4% since the 1930’s.
  • February 27 2019 – Benefits of the Paris Agreement to ocean life, economies and people.
  • February 25 2019 – The Ocean is Running out of Breath, Scientists Warn.
  • February 21 2019 – How coral bleaching threatens Caribbean communities.
  • November 30 2018 – New report explores science of interventions to save coral reefs.
  • November 28 2018 – Past warming events in the Arctic linked to shifting winds in the Antarctic.
  • November 24 2018 – Government climate report warns of worsening US disasters.
  • June 7 2018 – Researchers find the daily migrations of brine shrimp is strong enough to mix ocean waters in new study.
  • May 16 2018 – Warming Waters to Force Dramatic Shifts in Marine Species’ Habitats, according to research.
  • April 10 2018 – Marine heatwaves have become ‘34% more likely’ over past century, according to study.
  • March 16 2018 – New research from UBC’s Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries suggests that larger reef areas may help protect the Caribbean’s coral reef fish communities from the impacts of ocean warming.
  • February 20 2018 – The next five years will shape sea level rise for the next 300 years, study says.
  • February 14 2018 – A study warns that the penguin population could drop by almost a third by the end of the century due to changes in krill biomass.
  • February 13 2018 –Sea level rise is happening now, and the rate at which it is rising is increasing every year, according to a study.
  • February 1 2018 –Polar bears could become extinct faster than was feared, study says.
  • January 2018 – A heatwave that struck a quarter of the world’s oceans in 2016 was made far more likely by climate change, according to a new study.
  • January 11 2018 – The unseen way in which climate change is altering the Arctic.
  • January 9 2018 – Climate change drives collapse in marine food webs.
  • January 8 2018 – 99% of Australian Green Sea Turtles studied turning female from climate change.
  • January 6 2018 – Researchers warn that climate change has quadrupled ocean ‘dead zones’.
  • January 5 2018 – New Study: Big Ag, Climate Crisis Key Drivers of Ocean ‘Dead Zones’ Quadrupling in Size Over Last 60 Years.
  • January 4 2018 – The window for saving the world’s coral reefs is rapidly closing.
  • December 1 2017 – Mangroves lack the generic diversity to adapt to climate change.
  • November 28 2017 – Melting ice could mess up deep-sea chemistry.
  • November 15 2017 – Pacific Island countries could lose 50 – 80% of fish in local waters under climate change.
  • November 9 2017 – Beluga whales modifying what they eat due to climate change, study finds.
  • November 13 2017 – Climate change imperils one in four natural heritage sites says report.
  • November 10 2017 – Technologies shine spotlight on climate role of undersea canyons.
  • November 3 2017 – White House releases report contradicting its own position on climate change.
  • November 1 2017 – By 2100, climate change could alter key microbial interactions in the ocean, according to new study.
  • October 26 2017 – A network of divers made possible a groundbreaking coral reef.
  • October 2 2017 – New study calls for unified research to understand changing ecosystems.
  • September 29 2017 – Preserving coral reefs needs new technologies.
  • September 13 2017 – Climate change challenges the survival of fish across the world.
  • July 31 2017 – More losers than winners in a century of future Southern Ocean seafloor warming.
  • July 18 2017 – Disease outbreaks continue to reduce coral populations worldwide.
  • June 22 2017 – Least developed countries and Small Island Developing States are among most vulnerable to climate change impacts on fisheries, under an analysis of a vulnerability index of 147 countries.
  • August 21 2017 – New UBC research shows fish will shrink due to climate change.
  • July 6 2017 – Rising temperatures are curbing Ocean’s capacity to store carbon according to new study.
  • May 26 2017 – Marine species distribution shifts will continue under ocean warming.
  • May 18 2017 – Sea level rise will double coastal flood risk worldwide.
  • May 3 2017 – New study shows that some corals are adapting to changing climate.
  • April 26 2017 – New study shows sea levels could rise by more than three metres.
  • April 11 2017 – Australia’s Climate Council has released a report on the value of marine environments.
  • April 3 2017 – Climate scientists find there will be an early climate ‘payback’ with higher emission reductions
  • Mar 16 2017 – New research into deep-sea corals reveals why atmospheric carbon was reduced during colder time periods
  • Mar 15 2017 – New study says coral reef survival hinges on ‘urgent and rapid’ emissions cuts
  • Mar 10 2017 – Study reveals that the rate of ocean warming quadrupled since late 20th century
  • Mar 7 2017 –Study says warming may disrupt four-fifths of world’s oceans by 2050
  • Feb 27 2017 – Scientists just measured a rapid growth in acidity in the Arctic ocean, linked to climate change
  • Feb 22 2017 – New research says marine ‘hotspots’ under dual threat from climate change and fishing
  • Feb 15 2017 – Large research synthesis reveals a decline in the amount of dissolved oxygen (vital for survival of marine organisms) in the Ocean around the world world
  • Feb 08 2017 – Researchers determine why the ocean has absorbed more carbon over the past decade
  • Feb 06 2017 – Recent study shows that HFCs may remain in the oceans for far longer than originally thought
  • Feb 01 2017 – Very little research into how males and females respond differently to climate change
  • Jan 28 2017 – Swedish researchers say rising temperatures could boost mercury levels in fish by up to seven times the current rates
  • Jan 11 2017 – Study finds warming ocean causing increase in toxicity of seafood
  • Jan 10 2017 – Report says Polar Bears will struggle to survive if climate change continues
  • Dec 22 2016 – 1.5°C Paris Agreement target could net six million tonnes of fish annually
  • Dec 09 2016 – Study shows Great Barrier Reef under threat from warming
  • Dec 08 2016 – Study of clam gives climate change clues
  • Nov 28 2016 – New study shows that climate change could wipe out deep-sea coral population in the North Atlantic
  • Nov 2016 – New study shows increase in shark finning and overfishing can increase rate of climate change
  • Nov 18 2016 – NASA nears finish line of annual study of changing Antarctic ice
  • Nov 18 2016 – New research shows that Arctic seabird poop plays an important role in Arctic climate
  • Nov 16 2016 – Tuna containing less mercury due to coal emission reductions according to a new study
  • Nov 2016 – New research on the coastal blue carbon ecosystems and the important role they play as a natural solution to climate change
  • Sept 2016 – Greenland’s ice disappearing faster than previously estimated, according to new research
  • Aug 2016 – Closing the high seas to fishing could increase fish catches in coastal waters by 10%, helping to recoup the expected losses of fish due to climate change
  • Aug 2016 – New report compiled by more than 450 scientists from 62 countries confirms the world is getting hotter
  • Jul 15 2016 – Warming waters, rather than rising air temperatures could be reason for melting Antarctic, according to new research
  • Jul 06 2016 – Report says: mussels off the menu within 85 years due to climate change
  • June 19 2016 – Pacific mussels may die out due to thinning of shells from ocean acidification
  • May 26 2016 – Study finds World Heritage icons are at risk from climate change
  • May 19 2016 – Study finds miniscule ocean microbe (500,000 for every teaspoon of seawater) has a major role in how the Ocean regulates the climate
  • May 16 2016 – Study says reducing overfishing in reef ecosystems is crucial not only to promote food supply, but also to resist the impacts of warming waters
  • May 16 2016 – Study shows that air pollution from fossil fuels and wildfires is dumping the same amount of the toxic chemicals produced by the deep water horizon oil spill into the sea every week
  • May 11 2016 – Oil giant Shell publishes report on below 2C climate change scenarioMay 6 2016 – Study shows deep-sea microbes are sensitive to the effect of climate change and warming waters
  • Apr. 29 2016 – Study highlights that the cumulative impacts of warming waters, ocean acidification and decreased oxygen will have a big impact on deep-sea biodiversity
  • Apr. 12 2016 – New report on the impacts of climate change on marine fisheries, aquaculture, coastal tourism and human health.
  • Apr. 2016 – New climate models predict that sea levels could rise as much as 2 times previous predictions if CO2 emissions continue unabated because of melting glaciers.
  • Mar. 2016 – Study published in journal Nature finds that coral reefs are already being damaged by Ocean acidification. 
  • Mar. 2016 – Study shows that the Ocean’s “Twilight Zone” carbon services are at risk from fishing practices.
  • Mar. 2016 – UN’s World Meteorological Organization’s new report says that global warming is happening at an “alarming rate”, “sending a powerful message to world leaders” to take urgent action on reducing global emissions.
  • Feb. 29 2016 – New Study says that oxygen levels are decreasing in the ocean as a result of climate change, increasing stress on species in deoxygenated areas
  • Feb. 2016 – Study reveals that rising levels of carbon dioxide in the ocean could lead fish to become “drunk” and disorientated.
  • Feb. 2016 – Multi-species assessments by US scientists show that of the 82 species assessed off the NE US waters, where ocean warming is happening at an accelerated speed, most will be affected, with some proving more resilient to changes than others.
  • Feb. 2016 – New studies (Bristol University and Ohio State University) show how species of tiny plankton play a big role in the Oceans’s carbon-absorbing capability.
  • Jan. 2016 – Geoengineering study shows that the controversial technology would not work in all areas of the Ocean.
  • Jan. 2016 – Research shows 90% of heat trapped by greenhouse gas pollution since 1970s now in oceans, with around a third trapped down in deeper water.
  • Jan. 2016 – New research shows that the Atlantic Ocean is acidifying at rapid rates, with 50% more carbon being absorbed than 10 years ago, threatening marine life.
  • Jan. 2016 – A new study warns “unprecedented climate change poses a considerable threat” to First Nations’ food, cultural, and economic values, with aboriginal catches expected to decline significantly by 2050.
  • Dec. 2015 – New research by Colombia University shows climate change may cause sea ice in Arctic to travel longer distances at faster speeds, risking wide ecological damage if oil spills occur in region.
  • Dec. 2015 – Recent analysis finds ability of fish populations to reproduce and replenish is declining across the globe, probably due to lack of food caused by climate change.
  • Dec. 2015 – International study led by Indian scientists shows warming of Indian Ocean affecting productivity, resulting in dwindling fish catch rates.
  • Dec. 2015 – In a report released for the Paris climate talks, scientists outline how climate change, overfishing, and habitat destruction could have devastating effects on the world’s seafood supply, due to smaller fish and change of location.
  • Dec. 2015 – Researchers report large increases in microscopic organisms due to increasing C02 levels, with probable impacts on the food chain.
  • Dec. 2015 – New report on plankton-oxygen dynamics warns increasing greenhouse gas emissions will cripple ocean phytoplankton’s ability to produce oxygen, threatening the world’s breathable air supply.
  • Nov. 2015 – New study by the National Science Foundation finds “dead zones” in the North Pacific are linked to large-scale warming events earlier in history.
  • Sept. 2015 – Research shows global alteration of ocean ecosystem functioning due to increasing human CO2 emissions.

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ANTARCTIC

  • May 2020 –Satellites reveal clearest picture of ice-melting in Antarctica
  • March 5 2019 – Technology provides new insights to Antarctic blue whales and krill.
  • November 26 2018 – Scientists prepare for the ‘most detailed whale poo expedition ever’.
  • November 2018 – Governing the Southern Ocean: The science-policy interface as thorny issue.
  • October 9 2018 – New understanding of acidification in the Southern Ocean.
  • September 4 2018  – Japan killed 50 whales in Antarctic protected area, data shows.
  • September 4 2018  –Researchers release the most accurate map of Antarctica terrain.
  • July 18 2918 – In a new report published this week scientists from leading UK and Norwegian research institutions highlights the urgency to further investigate the least understood regions on Earth.
  • July 7 2018 – Arctic, Antarctic waters breed more new species than tropics, study suggests.
  • April 10 2018  –Underwater melting of Antarctic ice far greater than thought, study finds
  • February 26 2018 –King penguins may be on the move very soon, according to new study.
  • February 26 2018 – Climate change and overfishing could push the Antarctica’s king penguin populations to the brink of extinction, a new study shows.
  • December 11 2017 – World-first uses satellites and ocean models to explain Antarctic seafloor biodiversity.
  • August 31 2017 – Global warming doubles growth rates if Antarctic seabed’s marine fauna – study.
  • June 28 2017 – Study says Antarctica’s ice-free areas to increase by up to a quarter by 2100.
  • Dec 12 2016 – Antarctic Ice Sheet study reveals 8,000-year record of climate change.
  • Nov 2016 – Arctic Resilience Report found effects of Arctic warming could be felt as far away as the Indian Ocean.
  • Oct 2016 – WWF report “Tracking Antarctica” shows how well we are doing conserving the Antarctic.
  • Aug 2016 – Research suggests that coastal areas of the Arctic and Antarctic absorb and store more blue carbon as the climate warms.
  • Nov. 2015 – Antarctic sea ice loss of the last decades. This overview by Carbon Brief outlines what the study actually found.
  • Oct. 2014 – New NASA study says Antarctic sea ice reaches new record maximum, however sea ice increases in Antarctica do not make up for the accelerated.
  • 2015 – Report by Antarctic Ocean Alliance on Mapping Progress towards Antarctic Marine Protection.

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ARCTIC

  • December 2 2019 –Why is an ocean current critical to world weather losing steam? Scientists search the Arctic for answers.
  • October 17 2018 – Plankton moving into Arctic waters previously covered with ice could have ‘drastic consequences’.
  • March 12 2018 – Arctic Birds Carry Signs of an “Atlantifying” Ocean, new study shows.
  • March 2 2018 – Arctic spring is starting 16 days earlier than a decade ago, study shows.
  • July 31 2017 – Research shows ongoing Arctic ice loss can play an active role in altering one of the planet’s largest water circulation systems in the Atlantic.
  • June 28 2017 – Ocean Conservancy release report that Reveals the Environmental Risks of Arctic Vessel Traffic.
  • April 2017 – ICUN World Heritage report stresses urgency of protecting the Arctic from ships and oil as ice melts
  • April 2017 – As Trump dismantels Obama’s climate legacy, new report urges action to save the Arctic
  • Jan 2017 – Latest edition of The Circle, by the WWF Arctic Programme.
  • Jan 2017 – Research shows melting Arctic turning Oceans into graveyards
  • Dec 2016 – Grim results from the annual Arctic report card
  • Aug 2016 – Research suggests that coastal areas of the Arctic and Antarctic absorb and store more blue carbon as the climate warms
  • May. 3 2016 – The Arctic Institute gives an overview of the EU’s new Arctic Policy
  • Apr. 7 2016 – Report says Arctic ice is younger and thinner
  • Mar. 2016 – Greenpeace’s recent report monitoring trawling activities in the Arctic waters of the northern Barents Sea shows that rich cod stocks are at risk from bottom trawling methods that could cause long-term damage to ecosystems.
  • Dec. 2015 – New study shows Arctic fish might benefit from shrinking ice as sunlight in previously darkened ice-covered waters could help species like Atlantic cod, salmon, mackerel, and herring see and catch prey.
  • Nov. 2015 – Greenland’s melting ice sheets contributing to even greater amounts of sea-level rise around the world, according to new research. (Nov. 2015)
  • Nov. 2015 – Arctic Council report says reducing short-term pollutants such as black carbon and methane emissions could reduce Arctic warming by 0.25c by 2050.

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FISHERIES AND OVERFISHING

  • October 16 2018 – Ending overfishing could also end modern day slavery, study finds.
  • October 5 2018 – ICCAT issues report declaring Atlantic bigeye tuna overfished.
  • July 2018 – Oceana report: IUU fishing rife in Mediterranean.
  • July 9 2018 -A third of the world’s oceans are overfished, with fish consumption at a record high, according to report.
  • July 9 2018 – One in three fish caught never makes it to the plate – UN report.
  • June 6 2018 – High Seas Fishing As Economically Unsustainable As It Is Ecologically, new study finds. 
  • June 5 2018 – Australia’s large fish species declined 30% in past decade, study says.
  • May 21 2018 – Loss of marine habitats is threatening the global fishing industry, according to new research.
  • May 15 2018 – Industrial fisheries that rely on bottom trawling wasted 437 million tonnes of fish and missed out on $560 billion in revenue over the past 65 years, new UBC research has found.
  • April 27 2018 – Report on EU progress towards implementation of the reformed common fisheries policy has confirmed a negative outlook.
  • April 14 2018 –Bottom Trawling Implicated in Fish Population Collapse, according to study.
  • March 30 2018–Dolphins forced to break into nets to find food by overfishing in the Mediterranean, report says
  • March 19 2018 –Researchers explore an alternative pathway to fast-tracking the global recovery of fisheries.
  • March 12 2018 –Greenpeace investigation exposes the krill fishing industry “waging tug-of-war for food” with Antarctic penguins and whales.
  • March 8 2018 –Seafood giants ‘let thousands of whales, dolphins and seals die in agony each year from discarded fishing equipment’, according to a new report.
  • March 8 2018  –Global fisheries to be, on average, 20 percent less productive in 2300, study finds. 
  • January 16 2018 – Small no-fishing zones around colonies of African penguins can help this struggling species, new research shows.
  • November 14 2017 – Rebuilding overexploited Danish fisheries could generate 248 million euros annually to fisheries sector.
  • November 13 2017 – New report, Thrown Away: How Illegal Discarding in the Baltic Sea is Failing EU Fisheries and Citizens, published by campaign group Our Fish, finds EU government responses to the Landing Obligation have in some cases made discarding worse, while clear advice on effective tools to monitor and control the law is being ignored.
  • October 24 2017 – New seafood sustainability report ranks 15 foodservice companies.
  • October 17 2017 – The top 10 Latin American seafood companies.
  • October 9 2017 – Official fish trade ‘hugely underestimates’ global catches.
  • September 26 2017 – A new study of fish traders in coastal Kenya shows that fisheries sustainability linked to gender roles among traders.
  • September 18 2017 – Catching diversity of fish species means more stable income for fishers.
  • September 14 2017 – Study finds small-scale fisheries have big impact on oceans.
  • September 12 2017 – Oceana’s investigation exposes EU countries having authorised their vessels to fish unlawfully in Africa waters.
  • August 7 2017 – Commercial fishermen may be able to catch more of the profitable fish they want with marine reserves than without them, according to study.
  • August 1 2017 – Study shows high risk of illegal seafood imports entering Japanese market.
  • July 2017 – Oxford University synthesis of major marine science findings since 2012 on the role of the high seas and concludes new rules urgently needed.
  • June 26 2017 – Industrial fishing fleets dump nearly 10 percent of the global catch, according to a new study.
  • June 1 2017 – New Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) report highlights the role of certification in delivering sustainable development goals.
  • May 5 2017 – WWF says the EU is a ‘driver of change’ for sustainable tuna fishing.
  • May 4 2017 – Women have a crucial-yet overlooked-role in fisheries.
  • April 30 2017 – China’s appetite pushes fisheries to the brink.
  • April 29 2017 – Japan exceeds annual juvenile Pacific bluefin limit.
  • April 27 2017 – UBC researchers find that a third of global fishing goes unreported.
  • March 29 2017 – New report finds that women are a major but overlooked part of fishing economies
  • March 21 2017 –New research paper says fish evolve to reap the rewards of protected waters
  • March 1 2017 –Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have found that up to 90% of predatory fish are gone from Caribbean coral reefs due to overfishing
  • Feb 27 2017 –ISSF report assesses the state of Tuna stocks worldwide
  • Feb 21 2017 – New research, titled Fish to 2050 in the ASEAN Region says policies could generate 24pc of global fish production in 2030
  • Jan 25 2017 – Study analyzes subsidies for fishing in major non-EU fishing nations
  • Jan 19 2017 – Study warns that overfishing is driving dozens of species into extinction threatening African food crisis
  • Nov 03 2016 –New book – Global Atlas of Marine Fisheries released giving a clearer view on fisheries data. Check out this website with publicly accessible database on fisheries data
  • Oct 05 2016 – Canada’s fishing industry at risk of collapse of major stock collapse according to new report
  • Aug 19 2016 – Overfishing of large fish negatively affects coral reef health due to the reduction of fish pee
  • May 23 2016 – Report by Pew on progress made by tuna regional fisheries management organizations on implementing UN Fish Stocks Agreement says that after 15 years many stocks remaining overfished.
  • May 12 2016 – Greenpeace investigates into overfishing denier scientist Ray Hilborn, whilst he fights back saying there are no conflicts of interest with his work with the fishing industry
  • May 11 2016 – New World Bank report says better management of Pacific tuna fisheries could create US$344 million in extra revenue per year, and up to 15,000 jobs by the year 2040
  • May 4 2016 – FAO report shows that abandoned fishing nets are a big threat to marine life
  • May 2016 – New report by Pew Charitable Trusts estimates the global tuna industry at more than $42 billion but warns it is under threat from overfishing.
  • Apr. 2016 – Latest scientific assessment paints bleak future for the Pacific bluefin tuna whose population has dropped by more than 97% from its historic levels.
  • Mar. 2016 – Global Fishing Watch report says fishing ban in the Pacific around the Phoenix Islands is a success.
  • Mar. 2016 – Oceana releases report “Fish Stories: Success and Value in Seafood Traceability” featuring testimonials from seafood industry pioneers that are already tracking seafood – successfully adding value to their business.
  • Jan. 2016 – Updated estimate of global fisheries subsidies shows they were about US$35 billion in 2009, similar to 2003 estimates, with “harmful” subsidies constituting the highest categories at over US$20 billion.
  • Jan. 2016 – Study by EIA “Dual Extinction” shows China’s demand for bladders from giant Mexican fish – the totoaba and world’s smallest porpoise- the vaquita putting species at risk of extinction.
  • Oct. 2015 – New study shows the majority of the world’s wild fisheries could be at healthy levels in just 10 years, and global fish populations could double by 2050, with better fishing approaches compared to “business as usual”. Click here for a summary of the findings.
  • Jan. 2016 – The University of British Columbia’s report states overfishing has caused catches to fall globally 3 times faster than estimated by the UN.
  • Nov. 2015 – University of British Columbia study shows how territorial disputes in the South China Sea hampering efforts to coordinate urgent action among Asian governments on overfishing with significant declines in species, and increase in prices in next 30 years if no action is taken overfishing in South China Sea.
  • Sept. 16 2015 – Most comprehensive report on Somali Fisheries to Date
  • 2015 – New research from Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future (CLF) suggests that as much as 47% of the edible U.S. seafood supply is wasted every year

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SHARKS AND RAYS 

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Safiya Sawney is currently the Caribbean Policy Lead for Ocean Unite. Most recently she was the Ocean and Climate Policy Advisor to the Mission of the Republic of Palau to the United Nations representing the President of Palau at the High-Level Panel for the Sustainable Ocean Economy and leading Palau’s engagement at the UN Secretary General’s 2019 Climate Action Summit. Safiya was also the project coordinator for the UN Office of Project Services providing strategic support towards the 2020 Our Oceans Conference.

Formerly, Safiya was the lead policy advisor on a Blue Economy partnership platform between the Governments of the Netherlands and Grenada with support from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Safiya has fostered many innovative partnerships to spur action on ocean plastics and environmental awareness for small islands states including partnerships with Parley for the Ocean and Adidas, PangeaSeed, UN Environment, United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank, and others.

Safiya has provided policy support to Climate Analytics Inc. on Caribbean climate strategies, was the deputy coordinator for the Caribbean team that executed the 2013 Caribbean Challenge Initiative (CCI) Summit in collaboration with Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Unite and The Nature Conservancy and served as technical advisor to Alliance of Small Island Developing States at the UN.

Jon Bassford, CAE, JD, MBA is an association and nonprofit operations professional. Jon has worked for c3 to c7 organizations across many different roles and responsibilities but has carved out an expertise as an efficient and effective operations professional. Through his consulting firm Lateral Solutions, Jon leads several organizations as a part-time operations director as well as client work in college student/campus outreach, organizational development, innovation, and strategy. Jon has truly carved out an expertise helping organizations launch and run internal operations in an efficient and effective manner using digital tools.
 
Across his membership and operational roles, Jon has 15 years of experience leading organizations.

Renee brings nearly a decade of internal operations experience to the Ocean Unite team. Prior to joining the team, Renee worked for eight years at The Pew Charitable Trusts where she began as an administrative assistant supporting their Shark, Tuna, and Whale conservation campaigns as well as the Senior Director of International Ocean Conservation. Particularly adept at identifying operational issues and developing methods to solve them, Renee moved into an operations role working across Pew’s international Ocean conservation projects, then all their environment conservation projects, and later the breadth of Pew’s programmatic work. She has degrees from California State University, San Bernardino, and Temple University in Philadelphia, and recently relocated from Washington, DC, to the California coast. As hard as this team works to protect our magnificent Ocean, Renee is the only person on the team who lives at the beach and relishes in enjoying the beauty of the Ocean every day.

Brittney is Ocean Unite’s digital and social media manager and is a consultant for Communications Inc. Comms Inc. is an agency which works with the not-for-profit sector, with a particular specialism in the ocean and wider environment. They are well known within the international ocean community and enjoy the trust of, and a working relationship with, most of the large international environmental NGOs and coalitions. Recognised for their ability to deliver fast, cost-effective and productive communications and campaigning, they are particularly valued for their strategic contribution based on a sound understanding of the issues, the political landscape within which the issues exist and a creative approach to bringing about change. (www.communicationsinc.co.uk)

One of the principals of Communications Inc., Sophie has nearly 20 years of experience in strategic communications. Comms Inc., is an agency which works with the not for profit sector, with a particular specialism in the ocean and wider environment. They are well known within the international ocean community and enjoy the trust of, and a working relationship with, most of the large international environmental NGOs and coalitions. Recognised for their ability to deliver fast, cost-effective and productive communications and campaigning, they are particularly valued for their strategic contribution based on a sound understanding of the issues, the political landscape within which the issues exist and a creative approach to bringing about change (www.communicationsinc.co.uk).

Nathalie has almost two decades of experience working in environmental advocacy. She worked for over 15 years for Greenpeace International, focusing mainly on biodiversity issues. For many years she worked as Senior Oceans Political Advisor focusing on international ocean governance and marine conservation. More recently she was the deputy director of the Political and Business Unit. She has wide experience of attending and leading delegations at international environmental meetings, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species, and ocean-related negotiations at the UN General Assembly. When asked why she feels strongly about protecting the ocean, she says that not only is it home to the weirdest and most wonderful creatures on the planet, tomorrow’s life-saving drugs could be found at the bottom of the sea, not to mention the discovery of an anti-wrinkle cream that actually works!

Karen has over 25 years of experience working for international non-governmental organisations on environmental issues around the world with a particular focus on protecting marine biodiversity and building resilience to climate change. In 2015, Sack established Ocean Unite, co-founded by Sir Richard Branson and former Costa Rican President José María Figueres, to engage leadership voices and the business community to accelerate ocean health and resilience. Ocean Unite is committed to helping secure the strong protection of 30 per cent of the ocean by 2030. It has also developed a groundbreaking partnership with the insurance sector to address ocean risk.

She was senior director for international oceans at The Pew Charitable Trusts, where she developed their international oceans program including their ending illegal fishing strategy and initiated and was the managing partner of the Global Ocean Commission. Before that she was head of Greenpeace International’s political and business unit and head of their international oceans programme. In 2004, she was the first person from a non-governmental organization to speak at a regular session of the United Nations General Assembly, where she represented the concerns of over 60 environmental organizations from around the world over the plight of our oceans. Karen is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Expert Network. She has master’s degrees in international environmental law and in international political economy.