Today as I ate lunch, Titanic, Terminator and Avatar director James Cameron was at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the deepest point in the ocean. We know this for a couple of reasons. Not only did he…
Warmer temperatures mean more female than male turtles, but it's not all good news for the guys.
Dave Scriven
Many species have dubious futures in the face of climate change. But sea turtles have a particularly pressing problem: their sex is determined by temperature.
Australia has ecologically and culturally…
How many jellyfish are there really?
ImipolexG/Flickr
It seems that every day you read in the scientific literature and global media about the human destruction of our oceans, through impacts such as climate change, eutrophication, overfishing and urban sprawling…
The wrecking of the MV Tycoon happened just as Christmas Island's famous crabs began spawning.
Justin Gilligan
Christmas Island has been once again in the headlines: not because of incidents involving asylum-seekers, but because of the recent sinking and breaking up of the Panamanian phosphate carrier MC Tycoon…
It takes just two generations to adapt to warmer ocean temperatures.
Jennifer Donelson
The average temperature of the oceans has already increased significantly due to global warming and will continue to warm rapidly in coming decades. If we are going to effectively manage and conserve fish…
Stromatolites are among the most ancient records of life on earth.
Ellie Gee
Climate change – resulting in more frequent flooding of the Wooramel River that leads into Shark Bay – may threaten the unique stromatolites that make Shark Bay a World Heritage site. These stromatolites…
Coral bleaching is a serious issue, but we're learning how reefs can best recover.
AFP/Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Coral reefs around the world are under pressure from multiple threats. A burgeoning gas industry – such as that near Gladstone – is one of the newest of these. Pollution, sedimentation, declining water…
Culling sharks is unlikely to make our beaches safer.
Hermanus Backpackers
In Western Australia, politicians and members of the public are calling for a shark cull in response to the state’s recent shark attack fatalities.
The most recent of these attacks was on a diver off…
Shark nets have been proven to hurt sharks, but does that help humans?
AAP
Western Australia’s Cottesloe Beach has been closed due to concerns a swimmer there was taken by a great white shark.
The public is understandably worried, but the local mayor says no shark nets will…
Oil gets into the ocean in all sorts of ways, but oil spills are the most visible.
AAP
Responding to oil spills, like that in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty, is a very complex, high pressure situation. Decisions must be made based on whatever data are available at the time.
One of the difficulties…
Why deplete a country's mineral resources when its natural capital is worth so much more?
Muhammad Erdi Lazuardi
“Natural capital” is the resources in nature’s bank. Nature’s capital is not evenly spread across the world: some areas are “richer” than others. Raja Ampat in Papua is one of the richest. Currently under…
Southern bluefin tuna are critically endangered, but the fishing industry wants to catch more.
AAP
The Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna is meeting today to discuss raising Australia’s tuna fishing quota.
The tuna industry is expected to ask for a 30% rise in Australia’s allocated…
Seals, turtles, sharks and dolphins are killed by abandoned fishing nets.
tedxgp/Flickr
Pollution from human activities has major impact on the world’s marine ecosystems. Plastic refuse is one of the most pervasive types of pollution.
More than 80 million tons of plastics are estimated to…
It will take more than science to save the last tuna from becoming sashimi.
x v r/Flickr
Fisheries provide animal protein for much of the world’s population, and provide livelihoods for the millions of people who work in fishing industries. But overfishing, in conjunction with other human…
Simple seagrass can answer some complex climate problems.
Joanne Saad
Reducing carbon emissions is necessary, but what about the carbon that has already been released into the atmosphere? Many countries are turning to “biosequestration” for the answers: using nature – including…
Ocean acidification is most acute in the polar regions.
Enzofloyd/flickr
Ocean acidification is often referred to as the “evil twin” of climate change.
Greenhouse gasses are doing more than just warming the globe. Increasing C0₂ levels are also changing the chemical make-up…
Marine parks are an evidence-based way to stop trashing ocean environments.
Urban Woodswalker/flickr
Given the growing evidence of catastrophic extinctions in the world’s oceans due to climate change and overfishing (see, for example, the recent IPSO report) one would expect a groundswell of demand for…
With the release of the US Government’s “Report regarding the causes of the Macondo Well blowout”, it may be time to take another look at whether Australian legislation can prevent a Deepwater Horizon…
What has your ocean done for you recently? Lots, actually.
AAP
Whether it’s sailing across turquoise waters, admiring a sea view or being able to pop a shrimp on the barbie, on World Oceans Day it is fitting to reflect on how most people derive some benefit from our…
The availability of oil has led to changes in Arctic governance.
AAP
Recent Wikileaks cables detailing diplomatic jostling over the Arctic region only confirm how hotly contested it has become.
There are three principal reasons for this tension:
-The dynamic created by…
