Antarctic seafloor at risk as ship anchors crush unique marine life: study
WELLINGTON, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Ship anchors are causing significant damage to the fragile Antarctic seafloor, crushing unique marine life and leaving long-lasting scars, a new study revealed on Monday.
Video footage from 36 Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia Island sites shows that ship anchoring leaves areas nearly lifeless, with crushed sponges and scarred seafloor, while nearby undisturbed zones remain biodiverse, according to scientists from New Zealand, Canada and the United States.
"Anchoring impacts are understudied and underestimated globally. It's so important to recognize and mitigate the impacts across all industries and limit planned anchoring," said the study's co-author Sally Watson, a marine geophysicist at New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.
Using underwater cameras, the research found that the problem is growing as shrinking sea ice opens up more of Antarctica to cruise, research, fishing, and private vessels, the scientists said, adding that anchor damage is almost entirely unregulated in Antarctica, despite strict conservation rules for other activities.
During the 2022-2023 Antarctic summer, at least 195 ships anchored in Antarctic waters, likely underestimating the true number, said the study published in Frontiers in Conservation Science.
Footage revealed crushed ancient sponges and a lack of benthic animals in disturbed areas, while undamaged sites were rich in unique, slow-growing species highly vulnerable to such impacts.
While research on anchor impacts is increasing in tropical reefs, Watson highlighted a major knowledge gap in Antarctica. Each vessel anchoring in 30-40 meters of water could disturb at least 1,600 meters of seabed, not accounting for additional damage from chains dragging if ships move, she said.
Scientists caution that recovery from seafloor damage in Antarctica could take decades or longer, as similar harm in warmer regions has persisted for over ten years.
The loss of sponges and other seafloor life disrupts key ecosystem functions like water filtration, carbon storage, and habitat provision, threatening the broader Antarctic food web, including species such as penguins and seals that draw tourists, said the study's lead author, Matthew Mulrennan, who founded the California-based ocean exploration and conservation nonprofit KOLOSSAL.
"Anchoring is likely the most overlooked ocean conservation issue in terms of global seafloor disruption; it is on par with the damages from bottom trawling," Mulrennan said.
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Canada Standard
5 hours ago
- Canada Standard
Antarctic seafloor at risk as ship anchors crush unique marine life: study
WELLINGTON, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Ship anchors are causing significant damage to the fragile Antarctic seafloor, crushing unique marine life and leaving long-lasting scars, a new study revealed on Monday. Video footage from 36 Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia Island sites shows that ship anchoring leaves areas nearly lifeless, with crushed sponges and scarred seafloor, while nearby undisturbed zones remain biodiverse, according to scientists from New Zealand, Canada and the United States. "Anchoring impacts are understudied and underestimated globally. It's so important to recognize and mitigate the impacts across all industries and limit planned anchoring," said the study's co-author Sally Watson, a marine geophysicist at New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research. Using underwater cameras, the research found that the problem is growing as shrinking sea ice opens up more of Antarctica to cruise, research, fishing, and private vessels, the scientists said, adding that anchor damage is almost entirely unregulated in Antarctica, despite strict conservation rules for other activities. During the 2022-2023 Antarctic summer, at least 195 ships anchored in Antarctic waters, likely underestimating the true number, said the study published in Frontiers in Conservation Science. Footage revealed crushed ancient sponges and a lack of benthic animals in disturbed areas, while undamaged sites were rich in unique, slow-growing species highly vulnerable to such impacts. While research on anchor impacts is increasing in tropical reefs, Watson highlighted a major knowledge gap in Antarctica. Each vessel anchoring in 30-40 meters of water could disturb at least 1,600 meters of seabed, not accounting for additional damage from chains dragging if ships move, she said. Scientists caution that recovery from seafloor damage in Antarctica could take decades or longer, as similar harm in warmer regions has persisted for over ten years. The loss of sponges and other seafloor life disrupts key ecosystem functions like water filtration, carbon storage, and habitat provision, threatening the broader Antarctic food web, including species such as penguins and seals that draw tourists, said the study's lead author, Matthew Mulrennan, who founded the California-based ocean exploration and conservation nonprofit KOLOSSAL. "Anchoring is likely the most overlooked ocean conservation issue in terms of global seafloor disruption; it is on par with the damages from bottom trawling," Mulrennan said.
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
The science of sleep paralysis, a brain-body glitch making people see demons and witches
Many people who experience sleep paralysis see frightening hallucinations some call "sleep paralysis demons." Illustration by Leah Abucayan/Alberto Mier/CNN via CNN Newsource Baland Jalal lay in bed terrified, experiencing his own real-life horror film. Newly awake, the 19-year-old could see his surroundings but couldn't move or speak, and he didn't know why. He thought, ''My God, what do I do?'' Jalal, now 39, said of that moment in 2005. 'I tried to call my mom (and) dad, but no words would emerge from my throat. … I had this ominous presence of a monster, and it lifted my legs up and down. 'It strangled me, trying to kill me. And I was 100% sure that I was going to die,' Jalal added. 'It literally feels like all the evil of the universe is condensed into a bubble, and it's in your bedroom.' This type of hallucination is a hallmark for many people with sleep paralysis. It occurs during transitions into or out of rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep, similar to a traffic jam at a busy intersection — your brain, awake and alert, and body, still asleep and immobilized, collide momentarily, said Dr. Matthew P. Walker, director of the Center for Human Sleep Science at the University of California, Berkeley, via email. Following deep sleep, REM sleep is the next critical phase of sleep cycles, characterized by more dreaming that's also extra vivid and lifelike, and by faster heart rate and breathing. It's essential for memory, concentration, mood regulation and immune function. Jalal's experiences propelled him to study this phenomenon around the world. He aimed to discover the cause of sleep paralysis, he said, and why some people with the diagnosis 'have these powerful encounters where it feels like evil of epic proportions.' He has since earned a doctorate in psychiatry and is now a researcher in Harvard University's psychology department and a leading expert on sleep paralysis. He also treats patients struggling with it. An estimated 30% of people worldwide experience at least one episode of sleep paralysis in their lifetime, according to the Cleveland Clinic. How many of those people have recurring and impairing sleep paralysis isn't clear, but the percentage is likely low, Jalal said. Here's what else you should know about sleep paralysis and how it can be managed. The science and symptoms of sleep paralysis In REM sleep, our bodies are paralyzed so we don't act out our dreams and risk hurting ourselves or others, Jalal said. Sleep paralysis episodes are usually only a few minutes long but can last up to 20 minutes, according to the Cleveland Clinic. During sleep paralysis, however, 'we regain consciousness before the muscles regain their freedom from REM-induced paralysis,' said Walker, who is also a professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley About 40% of people with sleep paralysis have visual, auditory or tactile hallucinations, such as pressure on one's chest or feeling out of body, Jalal said. For about 90% of those individuals, the illusions are terrifying. They can include ghosts or cat- or alien-like creatures, and their actions can be as innocuous as simply approaching them or as nefarious as molesting or trying to kill them. In Jalal's academic travels, he discovered the contents and interpretations of hallucinations, views on what causes sleep paralysis, and episode frequency and duration can all also have a cultural basis. People living in Egypt and Italy, for example, would often see witches and evil genies, hold them responsible and think they could die from sleep paralysis, Jalal said. People in Denmark, Poland and parts of the United States, on the other hand, have less supernatural or exotic explanations and less fear. 'Why do we see these monsters? Is it the dreaming imagery … that's spilling over into conscious awareness?' Jalal said. 'My answer to that is, according to my research, no, not exactly. But it's part of it.' When you're aware yet paralyzed and confused, your natural reaction is to escape that situation. Your brain is bombarding your body with signals to move, but your body can't return any feedback. Jalal's theory, in short, is that your brain says, 'to hell with it' and concocts a story it thinks your body must be facing to be experiencing such bizarre symptoms. The reduced activity in your prefrontal cortex — responsible for reason and logic — also contributes to hallucinations becoming 'extremely realistic and emotionally charged, amplified by an overly active amygdala, the brain's emotional alarm center,' Walker said. Causes and risk factors of sleep paralysis Though scientists know that wake-sleep glitch is what's happening during a sleep paralysis episode, they're not entirely sure why. But there are several factors that can increase the risk of fragmented sleep and sleep paralysis. Those factors include stress and related conditions such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder and panic disorder, experts said. Much of Jalal's sleep paralysis occurred when he was in school. Now when he has an episode once or twice per year, it's usually during a high-stress period, he said. (Once you've experienced sleep paralysis, you can be conscious of that during an episode but still feel afraid.) Other common contributors are sleep deprivation, jet lag, an irregular sleep schedule, sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, and genetic factors, Walker and Jalal said. Obstructive sleep apnea, substance use disorder and some medications — such as those for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder — can also raise risk, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Is sleep paralysis dangerous? As scary as sleep paralysis may sound, it's not actually dangerous, experts said. But depending on how recurring it is, sleep paralysis can be a sign of an underlying sleep disorder, Jalal said. Regular episodes can also lead to anxiety around sleep and then avoidance of sleep, Jalal said. This pattern can interfere with your daily energy and ability to function. And if you often have frightening hallucinations, that can lead to anxiety or trauma-like symptoms. How is sleep paralysis treated? Sleep paralysis can be significantly alleviated with several practices or treatments, Walker said — starting with healthy sleep habits, for one. That includes seven to nine hours of restful sleep nightly. Maintaining a sleep schedule consistent in quality and quantity 'acts like tuning your internal clock, reducing the chance of disruptive wake-sleep overlaps — much like ensuring all parts of an orchestra are synchronized for perfect harmony,' Walker said. Also prioritize stress management, by using, for example, mindfulness and relaxation exercises, Walker said. Therapies can relieve certain underlying issues triggering sleep paralysis, including cognitive behavioural therapy, especially the version for people with insomnia. In more serious situations, medications are sometimes used, Walker said. Those include SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) or tricyclic antidepressants that can help manage a smooth flow between sleep stages or even reduce the REM phase of sleep. Generally, boosting the brain's serotonin levels somehow compensates for the loss of the REM phase, Jalal said. But rarely, long-term antidepressant use has been linked with REM sleep behaviour disorder. While the aforementioned treatments can help reduce the frequency or length of sleep paralysis episodes, there isn't yet a gold-standard treatment that can stop an episode once it's happening. Jalal has been trying to officially create one over the past decade, though, and it's self-inspired. Called meditation relaxation therapy, the treatment reduced sleep paralysis by 50% after eight weeks for six people with narcolepsy, compared with a control group of four participants, found a small pilot study Jalal published in 2020. He currently has another study of the same treatment with more participants underway at Harvard. And the steps of Jalal's therapy are as follows: Cognitively reappraise the meaning of the attack. Close your eyes and remind yourself that your experience is common and you won't die from it. Emotionally distance yourself from it. Tell yourself that since your brain is just playing tricks on you, there's no reason for you to be scared or risk the situation getting worse because of your own negative expectations. Focus on something positive. Whether it's praying or imagining a loved one's face, this refocusing can make thoughts more pleasant rather than monstrous. Relax your muscles and don't move. Some experts say trying to slightly move your fingers or toes one by one may help you come out of an episode sooner. But Jalal's fourth step advises against this movement since you'd still be sending signals to paralyzed muscles and maybe triggering hallucinations. Viewing your own biology in a more objective way by learning more about the scientific basis of sleep paralysis is also helpful, Jalal said.
Toronto Star
3 days ago
- Toronto Star
Coal mines on Alberta's eastern slopes could push fishery ‘beyond recovery': study
CALGARY - Old coal mines on the eastern slopes of the Alberta Rockies are leaching chemicals that are poisoning the fish downstream, says a new study by Alberta government scientists. It also suggests any new coal developments could result in 'population collapse' of fish species in a nearby lake. The findings were made in a provincial government study posted online May 27. The paper is awaiting peer review. The scientists who authored it were not made available to speak to reporters. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The other authors not employed by the province did not respond to requests for comment. Alberta has responded to the study with an advisory saying people should consider 'limiting consumption' of three fish species drawn from Crowsnest Lake, a fishing spot downstream from the coal mines. Those species were found to have dangerously high levels of selenium, a mineral found in coal-rich deposits, in their body tissue. The authors write the study shows that 'biological impacts of (mountaintop removal) coal mining can persist long after mining operations end.' They suggest that 'any further coal mine development may well push the Crowsnest fishery beyond sustainability.' The study comes after the Alberta Energy Regulator, or AER, granted an Australia-based coal company permission to start a controversial coal exploration on the eastern slopes. The project was initially rejected in 2021 when a panel ruled the likely environmental effects on fish and water quality outweighed potential economic benefits. But the regulator said last month it's possible there will be runoff from the nearby pit lake that Northback Holding Corp. is using. It ultimately concluded the project won't have any effect on the water quality downstream. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The AER said that 'out of an abundance of caution,' Northback will have to comply with a directive for managing drilling waste in response to concerns over selenium. The new study measured selenium levels in fish from Crowsnest Lake, which is fed by creeks connected to Tent Mountain and Grassy Mountain – both former coal mine sites. Alberta has a fish tissue selenium guideline of four micrograms per gram. The authors write that every single fish sample analyzed exceeded this value. Average selenium concentrations were highest in Brown Trout, coming in at 18 micrograms per gram. The authors write that the selenium levels could lead to 'behavioural changes, physical symptoms ... respiratory issues, reproductive issues and ultimately population collapse.' Accumulating fluid in body tissue or fin and tail damage are among other side effects. Most people are exposed to healthy levels of selenium through grains and flours, but Health Canada says elevated consumption can lead to hair loss, decreased cognitive function and gastrointestinal disorders. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The high selenium concentrations can only be explained by 'the incorporation of legacy coal mine pollution,' the authors write. The study goes on to say selenium levels in fish in Crowsnest Lake are similar to those found in water bodies near Fernie, B.C., that resulted in Teck Mining Company, which owned and operated a nearby mine, being forced in 2021 by B.C. provincial court to pay a $60 million fine – the largest fine ever imposed under the Fisheries Act. Fish populations in those mining-impacted streams were found in 2011 to have an average selenium concentration of 7.6 micrograms per gram. Nine years later, the adult westslope cutthroat population had suffered a 93 per cent decline, the study says. The authors conclude that factors including the emergence of Whirling Disease, drought conditions, high fishing activity — and now high selenium levels in fish — make the Crowsnest Lake and River 'an especially vulnerable system.' 'Any new development of coal mining along the eastern slopes may well push the Crowsnest fishery beyond recovery,' they write. Colin Cooke, one of the authors, published a 2024 study that found a former coal mine in the Crowsnest River watershed was releasing selenium to fish at rates more than dozens of times higher than federal and provincial guidelines. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Cooke is a senior aquatic scientist with the Alberta government, according to LinkedIn. Peter Doyle, CEO of Evolve Power Ltd., formerly Montem Resources Ltd., which previously sought to restart an old mine on Tent Mountain, said in an email that the company is complying with terms set out by the AER. 'As reflected in other work by the author, there are numerous contributors to water quality in the Crowsnest River valley, not related to Tent Mountain, including changes in upstream conditions, changes in weathering rates and other anthropogenic changes in the watershed,' Doyle wrote, referring to Cooke's 2024 study. That report notes those factors, among others, could be contributing to contaminant levels and concluded that coal mining activities in the Crowsnest River watershed 'have been impacting ecosystems downstream for decades.' Northback, in an email, wrote that Crowsnest Lake is unrelated to its Grassy Mountain project. 'However, with our own project, Northback is committed to adhering to the highest environmental standards and ensuring a safe water supply.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Ryan Fournier, press secretary for Alberta's environment ministry, deferred questions about monitoring and enforcement to the AER. He said the province is funding a series of studies and submitting them to peer-reviewed academic journals as the province revises its coal policy. He also said the authors were not available to speak to media because they 'are not trained spokespeople.' The AER told The Canadian Press that it has directed Evolve Power, the Tent Mountain owner, to submit a 'selenium management plan proposal' that targets reductions in selenium in mine-affected water. Evolve was to submit that plan by July 31 of last year, but the AER said it granted the company an extension to March 31, 2026. The energy regulator also said that while selenium levels are elevated, 'there is no evidence of non-compliance on monitoring or selenium management requirements at this time.' The province announced in December it would allow coal mining to take place in Alberta under certain conditions. However, it exempted Northback and Evolve Power's projects from those rules because they were considered 'advanced.' Fisheries and Oceans Canada said in a statement that it doesn't comment on provincial permitting decisions and it hasn't been asked to review the local impacts to wildlife in the area. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025.
