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New York Times
27-06-2025
- Science
- New York Times
Honey, We Shrunk the Cod
Call it the case of the incredible shrinking cod. Thirty years ago, the cod that swam in the Baltic Sea were brag-worthy, with fishing boats hauling in fish the size of human toddlers. Today, such behemoths are vanishingly rare. A typical Eastern Baltic cod could easily fit in someone's cupped hands. Experts have suspected that commercial fishing might be to blame. For years, the cod were intensely harvested, caught in enormous trawl nets. The smallest cod could wriggle their way out of danger, while the biggest, heaviest specimens were continually removed from the sea. One simple explanation for the phenomenon, then, was that the fish were not actually shrinking: Rather, they were simply eliminated as soon as they grew big enough to be caught. But a new study suggests that intense fishing was driving the evolution of the fish. Small, slow-growing cod gained a significant survival advantage, shifting the population toward fish that were genetically predisposed to remaining small. Today's cod are small not because the big individuals are fished out but because the fish no longer grow big. The data, which were published on Wednesday in the journal Science Advances, add to a growing body of evidence that human activities like hunting and fishing are driving the evolution of wild animals — sometimes at lightning speed. 'Human harvesting elicits the strongest selection pressures in nature,' said Thorsten Reusch, a marine ecologist at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel in Germany and an author of the new paper. 'It can be really fast that you see evolutionary change.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Using the Ocean to Suck Up CO2 Could Come With the Small, Unintended Side Effect of Wiping Out Marine Life
As global temperatures soar and emissions remain higher than ever, scientists are exploring the dramatic, planet-wide interventions we could take to stave off the climate crisis. One of the most intriguing possibilities involves using the ocean, already the world's largest carbon sink, to suck up even more of the greenhouse gas by removing some of the carbon that it already stores. Dozens of startups are already experimenting with this form of climate intervention, which is sometimes referred to as marine carbon dioxide removal. What makes it so appealing is that the ocean, in theory, would essentially do the work for us: all we'd have to do is set it into motion and store — or even repurpose — the extracted gases so they doesn't reenter the atmosphere. But it may be too good to be true. In a new study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, a team of international researchers warn that this could have dire unintended consequences — like accelerating the decline of the ocean's already plunging oxygen levels. "What helps the climate is not automatically good for the ocean," lead author Andreas Oschlies, from the GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel in Germany, said in a statement about the work. The warmer that water becomes, the less oxygen it can dissolve. In the past fifty years, as global temperatures steadily climbed, the ocean has lost nearly 2 percent of its total dissolved oxygen, a proportion roughly equal to a staggering 77 billion metric tons, according to a 2018 study. At its worst, this phenomenon, known as ocean deoxygenation, creates entire "dead zones" where there's so little oxygen available that the waters become virtually uninhabitable. Sometimes stretching across thousands of square miles, whatever marine life was once living in the afflicted area either flees or, more grimly, suffocates to death. Climate change has accelerated the eerie aquatic trend, increasing both the size and number of these dead zones. Clearly, halting global warming would help stymy this — but not if the solution we employ requires putting additional strain on the ocean. In particular, it appears that biotic forms of marine carbon removal could precipitate devastating losses of dissolved oxygen, the researchers caution. One leading method, called ocean fertilization, proposes seeding the seas with nutrients to boost the growth of oxygen-producing algae. The problem is that when the phytoplanktons perish, their tiny corpses sink to the ocean floor, where the bacteria that feed on them end up consuming even more oxygen. "Methods that increase biomass production in the ocean, and subsequently lead to oxygen-consuming decomposition, cannot be considered harmless climate solutions," Oschlies said in the statement. "Our model simulations show that such approaches could cause a decrease in dissolved oxygen that is 4 to 40 times greater than the oxygen gain expected from reduced global warming." But the researchers aren't advocating against using the ocean as a carbon sink entirely. Encouragingly, they found that abiotic methods, including one that involves flushing the waters with minerals like limestone to convert CO2 into a molecule that stays trapped underwater, has minimal effects on oxygen levels. Instead, the researchers want to stress that going forward, anyone pursuing this research should put assessing the potential oxygen toll of their technique front and center. "The ocean is a complex system which is already heavily under pressure," Oschlies said. "If we intervene with large-scale measures, we must ensure that, no matter how good our intentions are, we are not further threatening marine environmental conditions that marine life depends on." More on the ocean: A Strange Darkness Is Spreading Throughout the Oceans
ABC News
01-05-2025
- Science
- ABC News
Trump's deep-sea mining executive order sparks condemnation by scientists and conservationists
Lying at the bottom of the ocean, thousands of metres below the surface, are reserves of what are considered to be the world's most critical minerals. In the Pacific Ocean between North America and Hawaii lies a large area known as the Clarion-Clipperton zone — a particularly abundant area filled with copper, cobalt and nickel. Now, the race is on to start mining these minerals. US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to open both US and international waters to deep-sea mining, ignoring a global treaty that controls the high seas. The order was signed last week with the aim of boosting US production of critical minerals by mining mineral-rich "nodules" that take millions of years to form on the seabed. Invertebrates move among mineral-rich deep sea nodules in the Clarion-Clipperton zone. ( Wikimedia: GEOMAR, ) The race to the seabed The order states its purpose is to "establish the United States as a global leader in responsible seabed mineral exploration". The race to the seabed has also sparked fear among environmentalists that it could permanently damage marine life. The United Nations, environmental groups and a number of countries — including China — have accused Donald Trump of violating international law in ordering the fast-tracking of approval processes for deep-sea mining in US waters and international waters. The order sidesteps the UN's International Seabed Authority, which has prevented such mining in international waters while it works on governance frameworks. Scientists and climate activists also warn that changes to biodiversity could be irreversible if commercial mining of the seabed goes ahead. About 300 species of deep sea annelids (worms) were identified in a 2023 study from the sea floor mud of the Clarion-Clipperton zone. ( Supplied: Biodiversity Data Journal/Helena Wiklund et al ) A new species of Cnidaria, a sea anemone, discovered at 4,100 metres, lives on sponge stalks attached to a polymetallic nodule. ( Supplied: NOAA/Craig Smith and Diva Amon ABYSSLINE Project ) Thirty-two countries are calling for a moratorium or precautionary ban until more is understood about the deep sea. "There's a lot of species that depend directly or indirectly on the nodules to live because they live on top, underneath or around the nodules," deep-sea ecologist Dr Patricia Esquete said. " That's something that we already know — if you take out the nodules, the ecosystem is gone … the whole living community is gone. " Countries including France have applied international pressure on the Australian government to ratify a high seas treaty protecting deep-sea biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions. While it appears that will happen by June, calls from the UK and some Pacific Island nations for Australia to join a moratorium on deep-sea mining have not been answered. What is deep-sea mining? And who wants to do it? Deep-sea mining is the extraction of minerals — mainly polymetallic nodules rich in cobalt, nickel, and manganese — that lie on the seabed at about 4,000 metres below sea-level. Countries have the right to regulate mining activities within their exclusive economic zones. The International Seabed Authority (ISA), established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, regulates mining in areas beyond national jurisdiction. A Canadian mining company has sought a permit from the Trump administration to begin commercial deep-sea mining in the Clarion-Clipperton zone, which some experts have described as a breach of international law. The Metals Company (TMC) last month announced on its website it was seeking a permit to begin mining in international waters. This week, it has submitted a commercial recovery permit under the US Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act. TMC has been one of many companies and countries undertaking exploratory work in the deep sea, spending hundreds of millions of dollars examining various minerals. However, given how little is known about the deep sea, rules and regulations for commercial mining, created by the ISA, will not be ready for several more years. "[TMC] realised that they're not going to get a mining permit through the ISA anytime soon," said Phil McCabe from the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition. Deep Sea Conservation Coalition advocate Phil McCabe thinks more research is needed before thinking about nodule exploitation. ( Supplied: Phil McCabe ) "A few weeks ago, they told the world that actually we're going to bypass the ISA and we're going to go for the USA … "We need more information, more scientific information and that takes time," Mr McCabe said. " What we know about the current iteration of what deep-sea mining would look like, it's inherently destructive. " TMC chief executive Gerard Barron told ABC News the company first collected nodules at a commercial scale in 2022 and that "the missing piece has really been the regulatory certainty". Loading The ISA has condemned the announcement from TMC, stating the company "continues to disregard all scientific and economic warnings about the industry's risks". Rick Valenta, director of the Sustainable Minerals Institute at the University of Queensland, said the zone covers an area "just under 80 per cent of the size of Australia" and granted license area is "about the size of Tasmania". "The size of [one] license is larger than the total combined footprint of all land-based mining," he said. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told ABC News that Australia doesn't condone deep-sea mining beyond national jurisdiction without the regulatory framework currently being negotiated by the ISA. However, DFAT said TMC's announcement of a proposed application is a matter for TMC and the US government. Information void as research in its infancy Deep-sea ecologist Dr Esquete said because the deep sea has been so difficult to access, research in these parts of the world is only in its "infancy". "It's been overlooked for many years, so we're just starting to understand and starting to reach ecosystems that had not been reached for decades," she told ABC News. " We're doing it little by little … we cannot pretend to understand an ecosystem that we haven't been studying for a long time. " Corals and other species make use of deep sea nodules, creating ecological concerns about their removal. ( Wikimedia: ROV-Team/GEOMAR, ) A recent study in the "We found persistent impacts, lasting for nearly half a century, to the seabed environment and particularly the larger animals living in the area," UK National Oceanography Centre biogeosciences head Daniel Jones said. "We also found the first early signs of a recovery process starting to take place, with some mobile animals returning to the tracks and shelled-amoeba-like xenophyophores recolonising. "This early snapshot of ecological succession, where the species change over time, is what happens in most ecosystems after disturbance. " But we do not long how long it will take for biodiversity to return to areas disturbed by deep-sea nodule mining, if they ever do. " The study looked at a 400-square-metre impact site but the ISA has granted 17 exploration contracts to would-be miners covering a total area of 1.28 million square kilometres. Mr Barron said TMC has spent "hundreds of millions of dollars" over the past 14 years on environmental research to understand the impact of commercial deep-sea mining. "Comparing those impacts to land-based alternatives, studying the recovery rates, and what the conclusions all point to is that the impacts are a fraction compared to land-based alternatives," he said. But Dr Esquete believes the environmental impacts will be "way higher" than what TMC tries to portray. "[The species] have all the characteristics of the elements that allows us to say these are vulnerable ecosystems that need protection," she said. "They are very special because they are completely different from any other environment on earth. "They have very special adaptations from which we can learn from and learn about the origin of life." Deep sea creatures from the Clarion-Clipperton zone. ( Wikimedia: GEOMAR, ) What this means for international law International environmental lawyer Duncan Currie said even though the US hasn't ratified the ISA, it has signed a more recent 1994 agreement, meaning the US is "bound by the law of the sea conventions". "It's essentially the crucial provision about the deep sea being of common heritage of humankind … at the very least, what's called customary international law, which means binding on everybody," he said. " The deep sea and the minerals belong to everyone … and so one country cannot go there and expropriate the minerals and keep them for themselves. " High seas legal expert Duncan Currie thinks international law could be breached if mining goes ahead under US permits. ( Supplied: Duncan Currie ) Mr Currie said one of his biggest concerns of this possible permit is what it means for international law. "The Sea Convention also controls things like freedom of navigation, maritime boundaries, fishing rights [and] the Marine scientific research," he said. "…the whole host of really important matters, which are absolutely crucial to many, many countries come under the governance of the UN Convention on Law of the Sea. "So if one country is driving a coach and horses through the law of the sea convention … then I think many countries are going to be deeply concerned about that." Sea law expert Karen Scott has another view — that because the US was not a party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in principle there was nothing to prevent it from developing its own regime. But Professor Scott, from New Zealand's University of Canterbury, said one section of UNCLOS, part XI, could still be binding as customary international law. Indigenous community concerned about impact Among those worried about the effects of deep-sea mining are Indigenous people from the New Ireland Province in Papua New Guinea. Jonathan Mesulam is the founder and coordinator of West Coast Development Foundation, a PNG-based non-governmental organisation. He is working to promote conservation and warned the effects of deep-sea mining won't just affect the ocean. Jonathan Mesulam is concerned about the impacts of deep sea mining on communities and culture. ( Supplied: Jonathan Mesulam ) "Some of the people are totally connected to the ocean where we have our culture," he said. "In New Ireland we have this culture where people go out, go out and catch the fish … what will we tell our kids, the future generation, that we want to have this kind of culture. "If we destroy our culture, then we will destroy our identity." In the Cook Islands, Prime Minister Mark Brown is supportive of deep-sea mining, But ocean conservation advocate Lousia Castledine, who lives in the South Pacific's largest island, Rarotonga, said she is concerned about the environmental, cultural, social, and spiritual impacts of the industry. "What we see here is a shift from protecting our environment that has long sustained us as a people to exploiting it in a way that is irreversible," the spokesperson for Ocean Ancestors said. " It's probably the most unexplored place in the world and we know more about space than we do about the deep sea. " Louisa Castledine said that there is "too much at stake" to rush any decision relating to the formation of deep sea mining regulations. ( Supplied: Louisa Castledine ) Calls for a moratorium Phil McCabe has been one of the key figures pushing for a moratorium over the last five years under the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition. "Anything that puts peace and security at risk just needs to be looked at really carefully," he said. "We are much better off to take some time and gather the scientific knowledge and understanding that enables proper evidence based decisions around it." Photo shows A person holds a handfull of ground nickel Australia is joining the European Union and the United States in establishing strategic reserves of critical minerals, but what do they actually do, and why are they so important? But he said he is "completely bewildered" as to why Australia hasn't shown its support. "There's no benefit to Australia from deep-sea mining going ahead in international waters, there's no commercial interest from Australian entities. If anything, opening up the deep sea and minerals that exist there could negatively impact Australia's economy," he said. " The vast majority of Australia's strategic partners do support a moratorium … so we just really don't understand why Australia is sitting on their hands on this issue. " DFAT told ABC News that Australia participates in the negotiations surrounding a framework that will govern deep-sea mining and recognises there are a range of views around the mining. It added that Australia supports Pacific Island countries to manage their own ocean resources. Samantha Climie has been making representations to the federal government on behalf of Look Down Action — a youth organisation rallying to stop deep-sea mining — and said Australia has an "important role to play". "Australia very much positions itself as a leader in the Pacific and wants to support a lot of Pacific Island nations," she said. " I was quite disappointed in Australia that we haven't really done anything. " Look Down Action advocate Samantha Climie wants to see a stronger stance from Australia on a moratorium. ( Supplied: Samantha Climie ) Ms Climie said she has reached out to the government but hasn't received a response to date. "I think it's really important and urgent that Australia does [join the call for a moratorium] in the lead up to the ISA's meeting in July." From the middle of July, nations will gather in Jamaica to resume the ISA Council and Assembly Meetings to discuss developments on deep-sea mining and the moratorium. As scientists and conservationists warn just how much is at stake, the US executive order means the race towards commercial mining has already started.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists make disturbing find about oxygen-depleted region: 'The situation will get worse'
A recent study found a severe lack of oxygen and an excess of nutrients in the Baltic Sea due to the warming effects of climate change. The study discovered that the Baltic Sea is too nutrient-rich and oxygen-depleted. These issues are caused by an overgrowth of bacteria (aka bacterial biomass production) and plant life, which is aided by rising water temperatures. An abundance of nutrients sounds positive, but it leads to more oxygen-eating plants and bacteria. Without an adequate oxygen supply, marine animals are at risk. This life-threatening lack of oxygen is known as coastal hypoxia. "At present, there are no effective solutions to permanently reduce this internal load," Helmke Hepach, lead author of the study and environmental scientist at GEOMAR, said via "With the increasing frequency of oxygen depletion events, the situation will get worse." The Baltic Sea ranks among the most substantially altered ecosystems in the world. This makes it a prime location for studying the effects of the changing climate, and the findings are troubling. The negative changes in the Baltic Sea call into question the future of its marine ecosystems. Conservationists have succeeded in reducing the nutrient levels, but the warm temperatures prevent the ecosystems from bouncing back. The study highlights the importance of marine life in such places. "Coastal ecosystems play pivotal roles in mitigating impacts of climate change, but if destroyed, they may amplify climate change, further calling for stronger ecosystem management strategies," the final line of the abstract reads. If these ecosystems are not protected, pollution and rising temperatures will only mushroom. Healthy coastal ecosystems make the planet healthier. The increased levels of nutrients are due to both organic and inorganic inputs. It's crucial to address the human causes of these changes. Agricultural runoff, dirty fuel burning, and wastewater treatment discharges are the top inorganic issues. Should we bury dangerous air pollution deep within the ocean? Sure thing No way I'm not sure Depends where it happens Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Studies such as this show the importance of mitigating and addressing these problems sooner rather than later. The NOAA National Ocean Service researches coastal hypoxia's impacts to maintain awareness and find solutions. Nutrient-reduction strategies are essential but must be made more impactful to combat warming temperatures and reduced oxygen. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
