How did human 💩 reach a reef 100 miles offshore?!
Plus some important guidance for tourists visiting the coast
Happy Monday pod!
Are you jumping into the week with as much enthusiasm as this stampede of dolphins? Let’s hope so!
And are you ready to stampede into this week’s ocean news?
🐳 Whales 🐳
RIP Humpy: The death of a humpback whale in the North Sea has caused increased concerns around bycatch (BBC)
Hopeless or ropeless? Could new fishing tech protect Northern right whales? (Guardian)
Extinction risk: Are three species of whale on the path to extinction? (The Hill)
Unusual mortality event: An alarming number of gray whales have been washing up in the USA (CNN)
Not yet over the hump: Experts are encouraging the Australian government not to remove the humpback whale from its list threatened species list (Guardian)
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🐬 Other marine animals 🐙
So emotional: Octopus might feel pain physically and emotionally (IFL Science)
Unicorn of the sea: A study of narwhal tusks reveals climate change may be forcing them to change their diets (Smithsonian)
Huge loss: Half of the ocean’s creatures could be lost if greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase (MSN)
Wally the Walrus: Authorities are reminding tourists to give him plenty of space while he’s still on holiday in Pembrokeshire from the Arctic (BBC)
Give them space: Not to mention seals (Gov.UK) and dolphins! (WDC)
Unique neurons: Comb jellies have unique nervous systems which could tell us more about how animal brains evolved (New Scientist)
Mrs Vicar: A seal had a plastic ring removed from its neck… after 2 years! (Metro)
Lost or found (or found again?): Local fishers have helped scientists solve the mystery of the sand octopus (Hakai)
🚯 Plastic & pollution 🚯
Take it back: Malaysia has returned hundreds of containers of illegal plastic waste back to their source countries (Reuters)
Biodegradable plastic: Scientists have discovered a way to transform fish waste into a plastic-like material (Independent)
Houston human waste: Bacteria from human 💩 has been found on coral reefs 100-miles offshore following Hurricane Harvey (Science Daily)
🐚 Ecosystems 🐠
Mass extinction event: Marine life is responding to global warming by leaving the equator for cooler waters. This could spell trouble… (The Conversation)
Shrinking seagrass meadows: Scientists have concerns over the loss of these important carbon sinks (NBC News)
Natural capital: The UK’s seabed is more valuable as an environmental asset than as a source of oil (Bloomberg)
Ghost forests: Trees killed by rising sea levels are creating vast barren lands in North Carolina which can be seen from space (The News & Observer)
Quiet ocean: Scientists to investigate the pandemic’s impact on noise pollution (BBC)
Collapsing ice caps: One third of Antarctic ice sheets could melt if temperature increases continue (Sky News)
🎣 Fisheries 🎣
Million dollar losses in Ghana: Chinese fishing companies in Ghana have been accused of pretending to be local operators to avoid license fees (EJF)
Effective fisheries management: A new study finds sustainable fishing, while essential, can’t generate enough income to give all fishers a living wage (Wiley)
No blue tick: A fishing industry appeal to certify the orange roughy as sustainable has failed (Australian Marine Conservation Society)
📣 Campaigns 📣
Sand art: Surfers Against Sewage has launched its million mile beach clean campaign with a giant sand art seal! (BBC)
Mining Moratorium: Companies including Google, Samsung and BMW are supporting the call for a ban on deep-sea mining (EcoWatch)
Blue Belt: Blue Marine Foundation is calling for national parks to be created to protect UK waters (The Herald)
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🌊 Other ocean news 🌊
Earth300: Check out this new, high-tech ocean research vessel (Yahoo!)
Daily Climate Show: has now launched - have you watched yet? (Sky News)
The deep dive 🤿
It’s definitely on my list this week to watch National Geographic’s Secrets of the Whales (EcoWatch). The trailer looks amazing:
If you watch it too, I’d love to hear your thoughts! 📺
That’s all for this week, folks. If you’ve enjoyed Baleen this week, do give it a like, share or comment - it helps other ocean-lovers find us and join the pod! Have a great week and I look forward to seeing you next Monday!
Melissa
📢 If you’d like to chat about how my comms consultancy or copywriting services can help you (from May), please get in touch 🤓
Baleen is provided completely free each week to help you keep on top of the latest marine conservation news - if you find it useful, shout me a coffee (thanks!)