In Mexico, world’s smallest turtle faces big threats from trafficking, habitat loss

The Vallarta mud turtle, the world’s smallest turtle, lives only in temporary lagoons in the Mexican city of Puerto Vallarta, which poses a huge challenge for its conservation. Read more here.

Trump administration plans to open Pacific Coast to oil drilling for first time in more than 4 decades

The Trump administration on Thursday announced plans to open the Pacific Ocean to new oil and gas leases for the first time in more than four decades. Read more here.

Canada’s largest marine university research facility opens at Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity

“There is such a variety of marine life that we have here that people haven’t heard of or seen it or have but on their dinner plate. We have flounders here that are alive and we have lobsters here that have behaviour that interact with you,” says Boris Worm, Marine Conservation Professor at Dalhousie University. Read more here.

Saudi Arabia’s blue holes: Geological wonders driving conservation and discovery

Saudi Arabia establishes the Blue Holes Protected Area to preserve unique marine sites. Read more here.

Sino-French ocean cooperation advances clean-energy innovation

China and France have deepened cooperation in ocean conservation in recent years, expanding joint efforts in biodiversity protection, clean-energy development and multilateral climate action. Read more here.