The entanglement and ingestion of plastic is killing marine life at an alarming rate. Thousands of seabirds, sea turtles, seals, and other marine mammals die from this each year. Endangered wildlife like Hawaiian Monk Seals and Pacific Loggerhead Sea Turtles are among nearly 700 species that swallow or get caught in plastic waste. On top […]
Warning: Trashing the Ocean is Killing Marine Life Read Post »
Environment, Health, Sustainability
The ocean is the largest ecosystem on the planet and a crucial component for much life on Earth. The ocean generates about 50 percent of the oxygen we need to survive. Our oceans also act as the planet’s largest carbon sink – a crucial buffer against the impacts of climate change. Additionally, the ocean is
Recent Technologies in Marine Life protection Read Post »
Environment, Innovation, Science, Sustainability, Technology
The History of Whaling and whaling laws An estimated 2.9 million whales were killed during the twentieth century, obliterating global whale populations (EIA, 2018). Japan is one of the largest contributors to this. They have fiercely protected their right to whaling, despite global outcry (Catalinac and Chan, 2005). The International Whaling Commission (IWC) has been
Whaling Laws: Is Commercial Whaling Sustainable? Read Post »
Environment, Government, Strategy, Sustainability
Humans have traditionally held the firm belief that we are the ‘sentient beings’ and we are highly superior to other species on planet Earth. We put this down to ideas about consciousness, feeling, thinking and reasoning. However, in recent decades, scientists and animal rights activists have given more weight to sentience in animals. Many legal
Sentient Sea Creatures: Recognising Consciousness Read Post »
Environment, Science, Society, Sustainability
What are the High Seas? The high seas are an important part of earth’s network of ecosystems as they are home to many marine and pelagic species. Conserving these resources and stopping overfishing in the high seas is therefore very important. The high seas cover 2/3 of the ocean, so the area is home to
Stopping Overfishing in the High Seas: 30% by 2030 Read Post »
Environment, Government, Sustainability
Environmental Pollution is Still a Problem The earth is undergoing a lot of changes primarily due to human activity. Global development continues to negatively impact the environment at many scales (Rhind, 2009). The consequences of human activity are wide-ranging and far-reaching, including deforestation, desertification, biodiversity loss, environmental pollution, land degradation, global warming and climate change,
Environmental Pollution: are we on course to stop it? Read Post »
Environment, Health, Science, Sustainability
Microplastics in the sea have become one of the biggest threats to our planet. Millions of tons of plastic waste continue to make their way to our oceans every year. It takes years for plastic to degrade in the environment. However, when it degrades it breaks down into tiny pieces and remains in the ecosystem indefinitely. Unfortunately,
Microplastics In The Sea: Is There A Way Out? Read Post »
Environment, Innovation, Science, Technology
what is a Methane Hydrate? Ocean methane hydrates are white, icelike solids that consist of methane and water. They are an untapped potential future energy source. Ocean methane hydrate deposits are a kind of shortcut fossil fuel. Methane gas is primarily formed by microorganisms that live in the deep sediment layers and slowly convert organic substances into
Is Global Warming Causing Methane Hydrates To Escape? Read Post »
Energy, Environment, Science
There is a strong relationship between climate and the conditions for life underwater. As the earth’s climate changes, so does water temperature, ocean currents, and sea levels. These changes directly impact all life underwater, from plankton at the bottom of the marine food chain to the largest mammals in the oceans. As long as we
Life Underwater: How Climate Change Affects Marine Life Read Post »
Environment, Science
The Earth’s oceans are currently under attack from dangerous human activities like overfishing and oil spillages, as well as the effects of marine debris pollution and climate change. (Gall & Thompson, 2015; Sigler, 2014). Marine life, in particular sea turtles, cetaceans, reef inhabitant fish species, and marine birds, are at severe risk. This article describes
3 Innovations that Protect Marine Life Read Post »
Environment, Innovation, Science, Sustainability, Technology
