Latest news with #marinebiodiversity
Forbes
a day ago
- Health
- Forbes
World Reef Awareness Day 2025: Bringing Corals Back To Life
Coral reefs in the Maldives getty On June 1st, the world celebrated World Reef Awareness Day 2025 under the urgent theme: 'Bringing Corals Back to Life.' This day highlights the indispensable role coral reefs play in sustaining marine life and coastal communities and the existential threats they now face. According to the Coral Reef Alliance, coral reefs, which cover less than 1% of the ocean floor, support approximately 25% of all marine species. Beyond biodiversity, they provide food, livelihoods, and coastal protection for over one billion people globally. However as time progresses, what is notable is that these ecosystems are collapsing. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the ongoing 2023–2025 global coral bleaching event is the most extensive on record. To further give light to the situation, the International Coral Reef Initiative indicated that, bleaching-level heat stress has now impacted 84% of the world's coral reefs, with damage recorded across 82 countries, territories, and economies. For comparison, only 21% of reefs experienced similar stress during the first global bleaching event in 1998, rising to 37% in 2010, and 68% during the prolonged third event between 2014 and 2017. Scientists have already described the current fourth global bleaching event as 'unprecedented' as early as May 2024. In fact, the widely-used Bleaching Alert System had to expand its scale, adding new Levels 3 through 5 to capture the escalating risk. Previously, Level 2 indicated potential mortality for heat-sensitive corals; Level 5 now signals a risk where more than 80% of all corals on a reef could die from sustained bleaching conditions. The World Wildlife Fund article also warns that if current warming trends continue, up to 90% of coral reefs could disappear by 2050. In response, restoration strategies are gaining traction, for example, as reported in Time Magazine, Mars Inc. is making waves in reef rehabilitation. the company has planted over 1.3 million corals in the past 15 years. Leading these efforts is David Smith, the company's chief marine scientist, who ensures that each coral restoration project is grounded in rigorous scientific research. Mars Inc's "reef stars" hexagonal steel structures are seeded with sand and coral fragments has helped Indonesia's Hope Reef rebound from just 2% coral cover to over 70%, with fish populations surging by 260%. Meanwhile, researchers are developing heat-resistant hybrid corals better suited for warming seas, according to National Geographic. Technological solutions are also advancing, according to NOAA, scientists are testing rubble stabilization for the first time in Hawaii's coastal waters as a method of coral restoration, and early results are promising. The technique involves anchoring loose and broken reef fragments to the seafloor, providing a stable foundation for coral regrowth. This process has already helped revive disintegrated reef systems, offering them a renewed chance at recovery. World Reef Awareness Day is more than symbolic as it is a call to urgent action. Without intervention, the planet risks losing one of its most vital ecosystems as a result it is essential to restore them, not only an environmental imperative but essential for future food security, biodiversity, and climate resilience.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Why are Ireland's whales disappearing?
Aren't huge whales always being spotted off Ireland's coast? Skipper Colin Barnes, who gave up commercial fishing in 2001 to set up one of Ireland's first whale -watching businesses, has said the whales have left his search area of ocean off Cork because the sprat they feed on have been fished to near extinction. He could no longer offer 'world-class whale-watching'. This decline contrasts with evidence of a rich mix of cetaceans increasingly found off Ireland including whales, dolphins and porpoises. There is no doubt some are here more frequently due to changes in water temperature caused by global warming or having to go further afield due to overfishing elsewhere. But declaring the territorial waters of Ireland a designated whale and dolphin sanctuary in 1991 helped. This coincided with an increase in numbers following an international ban on killing whales introduced in the 1980s. READ MORE [ 'It's an empty, lifeless sea': Whales leave Cork waters, putting watchers out of business Opens in new window ] It fostered a new form of ecotourism, centring on Ireland's rich marine biodiversity, though some occasionally encroached too close to these magnificent creatures. To see a fin whale, the second largest mammal in the world, almost on our doorstep was awe-inspiring. A humpback whale swims off the coast of west Cork accompanied by a common dolphin in 2021. Photograph: Nick Pfeiffer/Provision Why are sprats so important? Sprats are small fish indigenous to Ireland and a rich protein source for whales but also other cetaceans and seabirds. They dominate the inshore coastline in the Celtic Sea at shallow depths, making them especially vulnerable when trawlers fish for them at spawning stage from October on with no limits on catch. Deep-sea cameraman Ken O'Sullivan has described this as 'ecological suicide' when there is little data on the species, adding that the precautionary principle should apply. Moreover, it is not a commercial catch with most sprat sold to fish farms as fishmeal. [ Shining new light on sperm whales and the importance of Irish waters to them Opens in new window ] Barnes claimed Government apathy and inaction towards fish conservation, however, has led to the demise of the fish by just a handful of large trawlers in Irish waters. What can be done about it? At a recent public meeting in west Cork there were calls for a ban on sprat fishing in inshore coastal waters. In 2019, government efforts to introduce a ban were successfully challenged in the courts. In 2024, a public consultation invited views on introducing the ban again. It attracted more than 5,500 submissions, but campaigners say more than a year on nothing has happened. Minister of State with responsibility for nature and biodiversity, Cork South West TD Christopher O'Sullivan, has accepted the need to 'introduce measures to protect this forage species – not just for whales, but for all the other fish stocks and wildlife that depend on it – to prevent the collapse of an entire food web". Marine ecologists and those in the whale watching business believe a strictly enforced ban cannot come soon enough.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Chula Researchers Culture "Global-Warming Resistant Corals" for the Survival of Marine Ecosystems
BANGKOK, May 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at Chulalongkorn University's Aquatic Resources Research Institute have developed innovative methods to help corals adapt to global warming. Through artificial insemination and raising corals in high-temperature environments from birth, they aim to cultivate corals capable of withstanding rising sea temperatures. In addition, they have introduced cryopreservation techniques to store coral sperm cells for future restoration. Global warming, pollution, and human activities such as tourism and fishing have led to the widespread degradation of coral reefs. Scientists warn that if current trends continue, over 90% of global corals may become extinct within 30 years, threatening marine biodiversity and the global food chain. Professor Dr. Suchana Chavanich, Marine Science Department, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Deputy Director of the Aquatic Resources Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, and Deputy Director of Chula Unisearch, and her team have been conducting coral breeding research since 2005. They found that corals raised in warmer water conditions (32-34 °C") since birth adapt better to global warming. These corals, called "Corals Against Global Warming," have shown promising survival and reproductive rates after being released into the sea. Corals naturally reproduce sexually and asexually, but these methods are slow and increasingly unreliable due to climate change. The team developed artificial insemination techniques, collecting coral eggs and sperm during full-moon spawning events. The fertilized embryos are raised on terra cotta bricks in nurseries for two years and then reintroduced into the ocean to grow for another three years. These corals are ready to spawn at age five, significantly improving survival rates. However, this method is costly, with each coral embryo costing around USD 100 compared to USD 1 for the coral fragmentation technique. Despite the cost, the high resilience to bleaching makes the investment worthwhile. To further ensure the survival of coral species, the team collaborated with Taiwanese scientists to apply cryogenic technology. Coral sperm has been successfully frozen for future use, while egg freezing is still being developed. This approach could allow for coral revival when ocean conditions improve. Prof. Dr. Suchana emphasizes that coral conservation must be a collective effort involving reef restoration, pollution reduction, public awareness, and sustained funding. With coordinated action, the revival and long-term survival of coral ecosystems is still possible. Read the full article at Media Contact: Chula Communication CenterEmail: Pataraporn.r@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Chulalongkorn University Communication Center Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Khaleej Times
25-05-2025
- Science
- Khaleej Times
Look: Rare fish spotted in Fujairah in signs of UAE's marine ecosystem recovery
A rare fish species has been recently spotted off the coast of Fujairah by seasoned Emirati diver and marine photographer Saleh Mohammed Al Zahouri, in what is being seen as a positive sign for the region's recovering marine ecosystem. Al Zahouri, 49, who has been diving professionally since 1998, encountered the elusive fish during a routine dive a few days ago. Known locally as Al Hilali, or 'the crescent one,' and scientifically classified under the Sweetlips family, the fish is rarely seen in the waters of Fujairah. 'It caught me completely off guard,' Al Zahouri told Khaleej Times. 'Its colour was striking, but what surprised me was that it was swimming alone. Sweetlips are usually found in groups, so seeing a solitary one was highly unusual.' Al Zahouri, who has spent more than 24 years documenting marine life in Fujairah, immediately captured images of the fish using his underwater camera. He noted that the discovery was not just rare, but also deeply symbolic. 'I have never seen this species here before. Divers experience the sea differently from fishermen. We are part of the environment, and we see firsthand how it changes,' he said. 'The sea is healing' The sighting, according to Al Zahouri, may indicate a broader recovery of marine biodiversity in the area, which has endured environmental challenges such as red tide events and cyclones. 'Seeing this fish here tells me the sea is healing,' he said. 'Thanks to initiatives like coral reef farming, the marine habitat is becoming more balanced and welcoming to rare species.' Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Mahmoud Hassan Suleiman Al Ali, chairman of the Fujairah Fishermen's Association, confirmed that the sweetlips fish is indeed a rare sight in local waters. He added that it belongs to the same family as other locally known species like Aboud Sanqour and Al Mutawa, whose populations have declined in recent years. 'Some species are showing signs of recovery due to improved regulations and fishing restrictions,' said Al Ali. 'Documentation from divers like Saleh plays a vital role in helping us understand what is happening beneath the surface.' As environmental protection efforts continue along the UAE coastline, Al Zahouri remains dedicated to diving and sharing insights from the depths of the sea. 'This fish may be small,' he said, 'but to me, it represents what is possible when we truly care for our oceans.'
Fast Company
22-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
This artificial reef is made of pet ashes. Human ashes are next
In June 2024, a team of divers sank a curious assortment of 24 sculptures off the northern coast of Bali. The sculptures look like works of art—and in many ways they are. But they are also memorial reefs that turn cremated ashes into structures that regenerate marine life. Over the past three years, a British startup called Resting Reef has been working to revamp the death care industry. Instead of keeping ashes inside an urn (which often ends up gathering dust on a shelf) or scattering ashes at sea (a fleeting gesture that leaves no lasting trace), you can have Resting Reef integrate them into an underwater memorial that can double as an artificial reef. Now, the results are in: Nearly a year after being placed on an otherwise barren stretch of seabed in Bali, the artificial reefs have attracted more than 46 new marine species. The site now boasts four times the fish biodiversity of the nearest comparable location thanks, in part, to the turf algae and coralline algae that have grown on the surface of the reefs, providing habitat for many marine organisms. The Bali reef pilot, which was funded by six government grants from the U.K., is the only such reef in the world. (It consists of pets ashes, but reefs made with human ashes are coming next.) The team is also in conversations with sites in Plymouth, U.K., and in Mexico. 'Just as we have a cemetery around the corner, in the future we'll have memorial sites—marine sites—opening around the world,' says Aura Elena Murillo Pérez, who cofounded Resting Reefs with Louise Lenborg Skajem. The final deadline for Fast Company's Brands That Matter Awards is Friday, May 30, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
