South Africa: Death of endangered humpback dolphin provokes controversy about shark nets
by Herbert - 30th August 2017
Shark nets are deadly traps for dolphins, sharks and other marine inhabitants The death of an endangered humpback dolphin (Sousa…
Virus reprograms ocean plankton
by Herbert - 24th August 2017
Infected plankton cells absorb more nutrients A virus that infects plankton can reprogram cells and thus alter the way the…
What do whales have to do with homeopathy?
by Herbert - 18th August 2017
EU prohibits whaling, but not trade in whale productsIf we think of sperm whales, we think of Moby Dick, and…
The living dinosaurs of the sea
by Mares - 4th August 2017
Out of the seven species of sea turtles, six have made it onto the International Union for Conservation of Nature's…
Discovery Channel’s Shark Week finally features females
by Hannah - 21st July 2017
No doubt about it, Discovery Channel’s Shark Week gets a lot of attention with more than 2.5 million viewers in…
Coastal ecosystems threatened by rising water temperatures
by Herbert - 7th July 2017
Higher water temperatures can lead to nitrite accumulation in marine environments worldwide, and this can ultimately disrupt oceanic food webs,…
Adriatic Cuttlefish
by Mares - 16th June 2017
Cuttlefish or cuttles are marine animals of the order Sepiida. They belong to the class Cephalopoda, which also includes squid,…
Why do krill stocks in Antarctica fluctuate?
by Herbert - 9th June 2017
Climatic influences not as important as previously thought Although just six centimeters long, the Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) plays an…
Future opportunities for coral reefs
by Herbert - 8th June 2017
In spite of global warming, reefs could change but remain the same Although the world’s coral reefs are under threat,…
Waiting with Ba(i)ted Breath
by Hannah - 2nd June 2017
We have all been waiting with ba(i)ted breath to see our first silky shark of the year here off the…
How are whales and dolphins doing in Europe?
by Mares - 24th May 2017
New population estimates released Ten EU Member States have carried out a survey of the distribution and abundance of whales…
Vamonos à bucear
by Franco and Sabrina - 15th May 2017
The look of the Baja California Sur can appear tedious: cactus, desert, rocks, beaches and vice versa, but the underwater…
Compass jellyfish in Boka Bay, Montenegro
by Mares - 13th May 2017
Jellyfish...so graceful and elegant, yet at the same time found in so many different colors and shapes. Their movements remind…
Survey needs divers to speak up for value of Florida’s reefs
by Hannah - 28th April 2017
Beautiful coral reefs are priceless to divers and snorkelers. The intrinsic value of dipping below the waves, leaving the stress…
Ocean acidification causes coralline algae to adjust internal chemistry
by Herbert - 25th April 2017
Some species show higher tolerance than others For the first time, a new study has revealed that coralline algae, which…
The Scuba Diver Girls meet some curious seals!
by Scuba Diver Girls - 14th April 2017
“What is that?!” I gasped as I felt something tug my fin. I glanced over at Stephanie who was on…
First cave fish in Europe discovered
by Herbert - 5th April 2017
Fish is also world's most northerly cave fishFew species are as well hidden as those that live underground. In Europe,…
The massive and solitary Sphyrna Mokarran
by Franco and Sabrina - 4th April 2017
A few weeks ago I was leading a micro-group of passionate divers and UW photographers to Bimini Island, a lovely sandy…
The crab with the candy cane legs
by Herbert - 13th February 2017
While on a night dive in the Caribbean, underwater photographer Ellen Muller took a photo of a “flaming reef lobster”.…
Coral reefs enchant when one dives in fluorescence
by Mares - 10th February 2017
Adventures in fluo-diving in Abu Dabab No, it wasn't the Pink Panther, but a pink flathead that was the highlight…
Elevated carbon dioxide levels impairs cone snails’ hunting skills
by Mares - 7th February 2017
Cone Snails become hyperactive and “meandered around” Cone snails are expected to find it hard to catch their prey if…
Coral restoration in Bonaire
by Herbert - 13th January 2017
Engaging the diver to protect and restore reefs For several years, scientists have observed more and more instances of coral…
Diving in Ireland
by Herbert - 5th January 2017
The Wild West of EuropeIreland has one of the world's greatest soccer fans, who most recently fervently expressed their strong…
Baikal Lake, the blue pearl of Siberia
by Franco and Sabrina - 4th January 2017
Last summer I went to the Baikal Lake in Russia and lead a group of passionate cold-water divers and amateur…
Rare ghost shark filmed for the first time
by Herbert - 3rd January 2017
The ghost shark is a unique species In 2009, a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) exploring the seabed at the Gulf…
Octopus Casper: Deep-sea octopuses require manganese nodules to lay their eggs
by Herbert - 22nd December 2016
Casper the octopus (and counterparts) threatened by deep-sea miningFor deep-sea octopuses, manganese nodules on the seabed are an important breeding…
Whales: The killing continues…
by Herbert - 28th November 2016
Japanese whaling ships set off on lethal missionDespite having adopted a new method to control their scientific whaling activities at…
Trial of shark-detection technology begins at shark nursery
by Herbert - 7th November 2016
Is Clever Buoy smart enough to spot the sharks?In light of the recent shark attacks off the North Coast of…
World’s largest marine protected area established in Antarctica
by Herbert - 28th October 2016
Just off the southern coast of Antarctica is the Ross Sea, where the largest marine protected area (MPA) will be…
Greenpeace reports on research on microplastics in seafood
by Mares - 6th October 2016
Microplastics can accumulate in the food chain “In the environment, microplastics act like a foreign body with toxins. It contains…
Photo exhibition on ocean acidification opens at GEOMAR
by Mares - 27th September 2016
A new photo exhibition by two nature photographers centres on the organisms on which climate change research is currently focused…
Two-thirds of zooplankton at tropical coral reefs lost to ocean acidification
by Herbert - 24th September 2016
Ocean acidification can fundamentally change the structure of the reef Tropical coral reefs can lose up to two-thirds of their…
Larger-sized animals at higher risk of extinction
by Mares - 22nd September 2016
Serious consequences for the marine ecosystems Uncontrolled fishing practices have given rise to a new trend that places larger animals…
IUCN Report: “We are making the world sick”
by Mares - 9th September 2016
Drastic changes within the marine environment Since the 1970s, the oceans have absorbed more than 93 percent of the enhanced…
Ocean acidification puts cod larvae in Atlantic under threat
by Mares - 27th August 2016
Population of cod has come into increasing pressure The increased acidification of the ocean may lead to twice as many…
Earth Overshoot Day : After 8 August 2016, humanity is in debt
by Mares - 9th August 2016
Demands on natural resources have exceeded available resources since yesterday This year, Earth Overshoot Day fell on 8 August 2016.…
Fishes find sanctuary
by Mares - 4th August 2016
Larger MPA established based on the movement of fishermen's favoured fish species Beneath the waves of Palikir Pass (or P-Pass)…
Turtle herpes outbreak may be due to pollution
by Herbert - 11th July 2016
Disease causes growths that obstruct turtle's vision Green sea turtles, which are currently endangered, are facing another threat – a…
Offspring for rare Mekong dolphins in Cambodia
by Herbert - 7th July 2016
New hope for Mekong River's dolphinsNewly born calf spotted with mother: Break out the cigars and champagne: A young dolphin…
Researchers discover that sponges are host to surprising diverse range of microbes
by Herbert - 17th June 2016
Discovery opens door to potential new discoveries in the futureSponges are important hosts for microbes, making up a significant part…
Malaysia establishes its largest marine reserve
by Mares - 2nd June 2016
Park is home to 80,000 people and has more than 250 species of hard corals The Sabah State Government has…
Coral bleaching makes fish easy prey
by Mares - 17th May 2016
The current spate of coral bleaching in Australian waters is preventing baby common damselfish from learning how to identify which…
Proportion of unicellular plankton much higher than previously thought
by Mares - 29th April 2016
Unicellular planktonic organisms play a more important role in the marine ecosystem than previously thought. This was the conclusion drawn…
Reef sharks prefer bite-sized meals
by Mares - 22nd April 2016
Many of us have the impression that sharks have a large appetite. However, a new study proves otherwise, indicating that…
Baby sharks defy ocean acidification
by Mares - 15th April 2016
Some baby sharks are able to cope with the level of ocean acidification predicted for the end of this century,…
Scientists find thousands of red crabs “swarming like insects”
by Mares - 14th April 2016
Off the Pacific coast of Panama, researchers studying biodiversity at the Hannibal Bank Seamount got more than they bargained for.…
Environment groups call for more effective marine protection
by Mares - 18th March 2016
German environmental organisations have called for a more effective level of marine protection in the North and Baltic Sea by…
Sharks and rays under threat from overfishing and poor fisheries management
by Mares - 3rd March 2016
A high demand for shark fins from Asian countries has been considered to be a major cause of the overfishing…
