Deep sea research uncovers new ‘mystery mollusc’

The discovery of this fascinating creature – named Bathydevius caudactylus but nicknamed the ‘mystery mollusc’ by authors of its new paper published this month in Deep Sea Research Part One – was made by researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). Read more here.

Microplastics: Europe a hotspot for pollution, says The Ocean Race

Sailors and teams competing in last year’s The Ocean Race – a challenge to be the first to cross 60,000km of ocean space – took the opportunity to contribute data and samples to scientific studies on microplastic and microfibre pollution. Read more here.

Latin American countries turning toward Global Fishing Watch to support marine resource management

GFW’s Marine Manager platform includes an interactive map providing fishery stakeholders with a comprehensive analysis of the sea in which they operate, including crucial information like animal telemetry, which tracks the movements of marine species such as sharks, whales, and turtles. It also incorporates topological and environmental maps allowing users to visualize underwater mountains, coral, and mangroves. Read more here.

Talks begin in South Korea to clinch ‘essential’ deal on plastic pollution

“Not a single person” on the planet wants plastic washing up on their shores or plastic particles circulating in their bodies, or their unborn babies, she maintained, adding that it was a sentiment shared by the G20 group of industrialized nations. Read more here.

Sea Shepherd returns to Antarctica to save whales by protecting krill

In recent years, the international scientific community has sounded the alarm that the krill supertrawlers are increasingly coming into conflict with marine wildlife, particularly whales. Read more here.