Known as a biodiversity indicator species, local experts say it’s too early to stop protecting these important birds

National surveys carried out since 2021 by the Seychelles Ministry responsible for the Environment and the NGO Island Conservation Society (ICS) have documented sharp declines in Sooty Tern populations throughout the country. At monitored breeding colonies, numbers have dropped by an average of about 70 percent, while some sites have recorded declines exceeding 90 percent. Overall, the national population is now estimated to be roughly one third of its size 25 years ago. On several islands, including Aride Island, African Banks and Etoile, colonies are now nearing local extinction.

In response to these findings, ICS recommended introducing a ten-year suspension of egg harvesting. A two-year moratorium was first implemented in 2021, followed by a second two-year extension in May 2024.

“It is still too soon to assess the impact of these measures,” Adrian Skerrett, Chair of ICS tells Green Prophet. “Sooty Terns generally do not begin breeding until they are five to seven years old. Any recovery linked to reduced harvesting pressure will only become visible when birds hatched during the moratorium survive to adulthood and return to breed.”

For that reason, the 2025 national census report produced by ICS recommended extending the ban to allow birds protected as eggs and chicks to mature and join the breeding population.

“Without continued protection,” Skerrett explained, “it will be impossible to determine whether reducing harvesting pressure can stabilise or help rebuild national populations.”

Seychelles has long highlighted its environmental credentials, which made the government’s recent decision particularly unexpected. Despite the growing body of scientific evidence documenting population declines, the Cabinet approved the resumption of egg harvesting in 2026.

“This decision is deeply concerning,” said Skerrett. “The survey data collected jointly by ICS and the Ministry responsible for the Environment provide clear scientific evidence of steep declines in Sooty Tern numbers. Restarting egg harvesting at this point disregards that evidence and represents a troubling step backwards.”

Skerrett emphasised that Sooty Terns are important indicators of ocean health.

“These birds provide valuable signals about the state of the marine environment,” he said. “Their breeding success reflects ocean productivity and the availability of fish. When colonies begin to fail, it often points to wider environmental pressures.”

He added that the species plays an important ecological role beyond its intrinsic conservation value.

“Sooty Terns are far more than just another seabird. They serve as a key indicator of marine ecosystem health. Their breeding success is closely linked to ocean productivity and prey availability, both of which are increasingly affected by commercial fishing, climate change, habitat degradation and declining fish stocks. At several colonies we are already observing worrying signs, including chick starvation and widespread breeding failure, suggesting that food shortages are beginning to affect the population.”

Although Sooty Terns sometimes lay replacement eggs after their original eggs are harvested, research shows that these replacement clutches rarely result in fledged chicks.

“The fact that Sooty Terns can lay again after eggs are removed has often been used to justify harvesting,” Skerrett noted. “But scientific studies show that these replacement eggs rarely produce chicks that survive to fledge. As a result, the apparent resilience of the species can be misleading.”

According to ICS, the magnitude of the population decline means that a prolonged period without harvesting is essential if the species is to recover.

“Our recommendation was clear,” said Skerrett. “Given the scale of the decline, the species requires an extended period free from harvesting if populations are to rebuild. Restarting egg collection now represents a significant reversal and is difficult to reconcile with the available scientific evidence.”

In many parts of the world, wildlife exploitation is driven by the need for food or income. Historically, that was also true in Seychelles. Today, however, the country’s economic circumstances are very different. In 2015, Seychelles became the only sub-Saharan African country classified by the World Bank as a high-income nation.

“Egg harvesting was once closely tied to subsistence and food security,” Skerrett said. “Today it is far less a necessity and increasingly a matter of choice. That makes it even more important that decisions are guided by science and long-term conservation priorities.”

The life history of Sooty Terns also means that population recovery takes time. Birds typically do not begin breeding until around six years of age, and younger adults often require several attempts before successfully raising chicks.

“That slow life cycle means population recovery depends on long-term stability and protection,” Skerrett explained. “A sustained ban would allow colonies time to rebuild, while also improving our understanding of national population trends and reducing the risk that illegally harvested eggs enter the market.”

The moratorium introduced in 2021, together with the National Sooty Tern Census Programme led by the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Energy and Natural Resources in partnership with ICS and the Islands Development Company, represented an important step in improving knowledge of the species’ status. Although some colonies have shown modest short-term increases, these gains remain small when compared with the significant long-term declines recorded at most sites.

At the same time, conservationists warn that stronger enforcement is urgently needed. Despite the country’s strong conservation laws, illegal egg harvesting continues at several protected sites, including Aride, Île aux Récifs and Bancs Africains. Monitoring of legal quotas has also been limited, and enforcement actions remain rare.

Related: Song bird poaching in Cyprus

“Legislation is only effective when it is properly enforced,” Skerrett said. “Without consistent monitoring and enforcement, regulations cannot deliver the conservation outcomes they were designed to achieve.”

A scientific study published in 2024 further strengthened the case for continued protection. The research concluded that egg harvesting has already contributed significantly to the decline of Sooty Tern populations and warned that continued harvesting could lead to further, and potentially severe, population reductions. The study also found that even relatively low harvesting levels, around 10 percent of the population, are unlikely to halt the ongoing decline.

“This research clearly shows that recent harvesting levels are not sustainable,” Skerrett said. “The modelling indicates that only long-term scenarios without harvesting offer a realistic chance for the population to recover.”

Given the evidence currently available, Skerrett said there is no scientific basis for restarting egg harvesting at this time.

“Extending the ban would represent a cautious and responsible approach, allowing seabird populations time to recover while research continues into the broader environmental pressures affecting them across the region,” he said. “At the same time, when clear scientific evidence indicates a serious conservation concern, it is important that policy decisions reflect that evidence. Failing to do so risks undermining the credibility of the country’s stated commitment to conservation.”

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If you’ve ever picked up plastic on a beach cleanup, you may have held more than trash in your hands. A new study shows microplastics are rapidly colonized by pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria — turning tiny plastic pellets, wrappers and bottles littering the beach into traveling vehicles for disease.

RELATED: microplastics in plastic orthodontics aligners 

Microplastics — plastic fragments under 5 mm — now blanket every part of the planet. They are in plastic aligners used in orthodontics, and are in the air we breath. More than 125 trillion pieces drift through the ocean, with more found in rivers, soils, animals, and even the human body.

But scientists tell Green Prophet that the danger isn’t just the plastic itself: it’s the Plastisphere, the microbial biofilm that forms on each particle.

A team led by Dr. Emily Stevenson (Plymouth Marine Laboratory & University of Exeter) sent us a new study saying that they found that microplastics in real environmental conditions, from hospital wastewater to coastal waters, carry pathogens and antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria at every stage of their journey.

Their study, Sewers to Seas, tested five substrates — bio-beads, nurdles, polystyrene, wood, and glass — placed along a waterway flowing from high-pollution zones toward the sea. After two months, metagenomic analysis revealed: Pathogens and AMR bacteria were found on all plastics, at all sites.

What they found as data

• Polystyrene and nurdles posed the highest AMR risk, likely due to their ability to absorb antibiotics and promote biofilm growth.
• Over 100 unique AMR gene sequences were found on microplastic biofilms — far more than on natural materials like wood.
• Some pathogens became more abundant downstream, riding microplastics from sewage outflows toward beaches.
• Environmental conditions strongly shaped bacterial communities and AMR prevalence.
• Microplastics near aquaculture sites may pose biosecurity risks for shellfish and filter feeders.

Each microplastic particle can act as a miniature, mobile petri dish, transporting superbugs from hospital wastewater to swimming beaches and seafood beds.

“This study highlights the pathogenic and AMR risk posed by microplastics littering our oceans and coasts,” said Dr. Stevenson. “We strongly recommend volunteers wear gloves during beach cleanups and wash hands afterward.”

Prof. Pennie Lindeque added that microplastics “act as carriers for antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, enhancing their survival and spread… each particle becomes a tiny vehicle capable of transporting pathogens from sewage works to beaches, swimming areas and shellfish-growing sites.”

Senior Lecturer Dr. Aimee Murray concluded: “Microplastics aren’t just an environmental issue — they may be spreading antimicrobial resistance.”

The big picture

As microplastics continue to accumulate globally, researchers warn the Plastisphere could worsen the spread of superbugs. The study calls for: better waste management, stronger monitoring of microplastic pathways, urgent reductions in plastic discharge and an integrated strategies across wastewater, healthcare, and marine policy.

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Saudi Arabia, a nation better known for its oil wealth, is rapidly reinventing itself as a marine sustainability player. Positioned between the ecologically sensitive Red Sea and the economically strategic Arabian Gulf, the Kingdom now has its sights set on becoming a global hub for blue economy innovation.

As part of this shift, Jeddah will host the Ocean Action Forum on October 27–28, 2025, at the Jeddah Hilton, gathering policymakers, scientists, investors, infrastructure developers, marine engineers, and climate strategists. The event promises not just high-level discussion but a new governance model for ocean-positive development in the Gulf.

According to the official agenda, the forum is designed to “shed light on key industry trends and issues, foster strategic partnerships, and explore cutting-edge solutions to safeguard marine ecosystems.”

Under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has made an unusual promise for a hydrocarbon nation: to restore coastal ecosystems, expand marine protected areas, scale mangrove forests, and build new “nature-compatible” infrastructure across its rapidly developing coastal cities.

In early 2025, the Kingdom took a symbolic global step by assuming the Secretariat of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), giving it a front-row seat in shaping global coral protection policy. This forum is the first major marine policy gathering since that appointment, making it a signal moment in the Kingdom’s environmental diplomacy.

Related: We’ve reach coral reef tipping point

A Closer Look at Day One

The event opens with remarks by Dr. Vienna Eleuteri of the Saudi Red Sea Authority, who will set the tone with a call for “long-term marine stewardship backed by measurable outcomes and inclusive governance.”

From there, discussions quickly move from policy to hard innovation:

• Marine Spatial Planning as Climate Defense
  How do you balance tourism, fishing, shipping lanes, and offshore development without collapsing delicate marine ecosystems? Experts from KAUST, Fujairah Research Centre, and Buro Happold will debate new zoning and monitoring tools.

• Turning Ports into Reefs
  In one of the most anticipated talks, Ocean Ecostructures CEO Ignasi Ferrer will present how AI, robotics, and bio-designed structures can convert concrete seawalls and breakwaters into living habitats, transforming industrial coastlines into biodiversity zones.

• Aquaculture Reimagined
  With global pressure on wild fisheries, KAUST’s Aquaculture Development Program will outline how precision aquaculture and filtration technologies could make farmed fish part of a regenerative, not extractive, ocean economy.

Mangroves, Microplastics and Machine Learning

Late-afternoon sessions focus on restoration at scale, including Saudi-led platforms like Netzero’s Mangrove Action initiative, which uses satellite monitoring and digital tracking tools to verify coastal restoration outcomes—a shift toward data accountability for nature projects.

There will also be a tech spotlight on microplastic-free aquaculture, with filtration innovators from TraCon GmbH showcasing Aqua BIO Kat, a new German-engineered system designed to reduce contamination and protect human health through clean water cycles.

From Coastal Luxury to Coastal Responsibility

Saudi Arabia’s massive Red Sea tourism projects—including NEOM, the Red Sea Global regenerative tourism initiative, and luxury island developments—have drawn both investment interest and ecological scrutiny. The Ocean Action Forum appears to be the Kingdom’s answer: framing development and marine restoration not as opposing forces, but as parts of a “regenerative coastal economy.”

The success of the event will depend on what happens after the panel lights turn off—whether restoration targets, monitoring systems, and local community roles become embedded in policy, not just PowerPoint slides.

But one thing is clear: Saudi Arabia is no longer observing the marine sustainability movement from the sidelines. It is positioning itself to lead it. The Ocean Action Forum 2025 at the Jeddah Hilton may well be the moment the region begins to define its own blueprint for marine resilience—not borrowed from Europe or island nations, but rooted in the realities of the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf.

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We met a Russian scientist who is convinced that people can see with their skin. He’d like this research: leggy fish called sea robins that can taste with its legs.

The northern sea robin (Prionotus carolinus) uses its six legs to stroll the ocean bottom and to taste the sea floor for buried prey.

Sea robins are unusual animals with the body of a fish, wings of a bird, and walking legs of a crab. Now, researchers show that the legs of the sea robin aren’t just used for walking. In fact, they are bona fide sensory organs used to find buried prey while digging. This work appears in two studies published in the Cell Press journal Current Biology.

“This is a fish that grew legs using the same genes that contribute to the development of our limbs and then repurposed these legs to find prey using the same genes our tongues use to taste food—pretty wild,” says Nicholas Bellono of Harvard University in Cambridge, MA.

It’s “the weirdest, coolest fish I’d ever seen”, says developmental biologist David Kingsley.

Bellono, along with Kingsley of Stanford University and their colleagues, didn’t set out to study sea robins at all. They came across these creatures on a trip to the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA. After learning that other fish follow the sea robins around, apparently due to their skills in uncovering buried prey, the researchers became intrigued and took some sea robins back to the lab to find out more. They confirmed that the sea robins could indeed detect and uncover ground-up and filtered mussel extract and even single amino acids.

As reported in one of the two new studies, they found that sea robins’ legs are covered in sensory papillae, each receiving dense innervation from touch-sensitive neurons. The papillae also have taste receptors and show chemical sensitivity that drives the sea robins to dig.

“We were originally struck by the legs that are shared by all sea robins and make them different from most other fish,” Kingsley says. “We were surprised to see how much sea robins differ from each other in sensory structures found on the legs. The system thus displays multiple levels of evolutionary innovation from differences between sea robins and most other fish, differences between sea robin species, and differences in everything from structure and sensory organs to behavior.”

Through further developmental studies, the researchers confirmed that the papillae represent a key evolutionary innovation that has allowed the sea robins to succeed on the seafloor in ways other animals can’t. In the second study, they looked deeper into the genetic basis of the fish’s unique legs. They used genome sequencing, transcriptional profiling, and study of hybrid species to understand the molecular and developmental basis for leg formation.

Their analyses identified an ancient and conserved transcription factor, called tbx3a, as a major determinant of the sea robins’ sensory leg development. Genome editing confirmed that they depend on this regulatory gene to develop their legs normally. The same gene also plays a critical role in the formation of sea robins’ sensory papillae and their digging behavior.

“Although many traits look new, they are usually built from genes and modules that have existed for a long time,” Kingsley said. “That’s how evolution works: by tinkering with old pieces to build new things.”

The findings show that it’s now possible to expand our detailed understanding of complex traits and their evolution in wild organisms, not just in well-established model organisms, according to the researchers. They are now curious to learn more about the specific genetic and genomic changes that led to sea robins’ evolution.

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Global warming could increase the threat posed to whale sharks from large ships, according to a new study published in Nature Climate Change.

Researchers from the Marine Biological Association (MBA) and University of Southampton predict that increased ocean temperatures will see this already endangered species driven into new habitats crossed by busy shipping lanes.

The study predicts that the co-occurrence of whale sharks and large ships could be 15,000 times higher by the end of the century compared to the present day.

Lead author Dr Freya Womersley, Postdoctoral Research Scientist at the MBA and University of Southampton said: “These shifts in the whale sharks’ habitat were most extreme under high emission scenarios. A global reshuffling could lead to core habitat losses in some areas as well as increased co-occurrence with shipping traffic as oceans warm and other variables change.”

Whale sharks, the world’s largest fish, are highly mobile and responsive to changes in temperature. Recent evidence suggests they are also particularly vulnerable to ship strikes – where large marine animals are struck and injured, often fatally, by large vessels in the global fleet.

Researchers used whale shark satellite-tracking data coupled with global climate models to project the distribution of whale sharks under three different future climate scenarios.

The models project core habitat losses of over 50% in some national waters by 2100 under high emissions (where we continue to rely heavily on fossil fuels), with the greatest potential losses in Asia. Under a sustainable development scenario (in line with the target of no more than 2°C of global warming), some areas showed a gain in core habitat, notably in Europe.

Related: this mysterious whale shark eludes biologists

“The shifts we predict are likely to be less extreme if we are able to slow warming and mitigate climate change, suggesting that even complex, multi-factor impacts of climate change can be somewhat alleviated by our actions,” says Professor David Sims, co-author and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Southampton and MBA.

The team paired the distribution maps with information on shipping traffic density to determine if these habitat shifts would see whale sharks move into more heavily trafficked areas in the future, potentially increasing the likelihood of ship strikes.

They found that some newly suitable habitats overlapped with busy shipping routes. This was the case in the US part of the north Pacific Ocean, the Japanese part of the eastern China Seas, and the Sierra Leonian part of the north Atlantic Ocean, among many other sites globally.

Some areas, such as the Mexican part of the Gulf of Mexico, saw reductions in co-occurrence, where core habitats shifted into more coastal waters, away from the busy shipping routes in the centre of the Gulf.

Professor Sims says: “Overall ship co-occurrence increased under all future climate scenarios, even if shipping remained at current levels, rather than its anticipated expansion of up to 1,200 per cent by 2050.”

Womersley added: “We show that climate change has the potential to indirectly impact highly-mobile marine species through interacting pressures of humans and the environment. This highlights the importance of factoring climate change into discussions around endangered species management.”

Perhaps a software engineer can help solve this by timing migrating patterns with shipping routes.

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Scientists at The University of Texas at El Paso and Stanford University were recently surprised to find that the natural community of zooplankton — tiny, aquatic animals known to graze on bacteria— present in freshwater and saltwater do not clean water that is contaminated with fecal microorganisms. That means poo.

The research, published today in the biology journal mSphere, reveals important insights about the limitations of zooplankton in treating bodies of water that have been contaminated with fecal organisms, the team said. A 2017 US water quality inventory revealed that over 50% of rivers, bays and estuaries were unsafe for at least one use, in many cases because of fecal contamination.

Related: this US company BioprocessH2O makes wastewater clean for the food industry

“When sewage is released into clean bodies of water and humans are exposed to it, it can lead to illness in humans,” said Lauren Kennedy, Ph.D., assistant professor of civil engineering at UTEP, who is the corresponding author on the study. “Our research seeks to understand what factors can render pathogens unable to infect people. In other words, how long does it take for the water to become safe for recreation again without any forms of outside intervention?”

Kennedy explained that water from sewage and septic tanks can accidentally enter bodies of freshwater as a result of accidents, inadequate water treatment or corroded infrastructure.

The authors hypothesized that zooplankton naturally present in water might graze on microorganisms from fecal contamination, inactivating the organisms and effectively “cleaning” the water.

To test this idea, the team added a virus called MS2 and the bacteria E.coli to samples of freshwater and saltwater taken from the San Francisco Bay area of California. MS2 and E.coli are considered useful proxies for scientific research, Kennedy said, because they are present at high concentrations in sewage and their presence often indicates fecal contamination in the environment. The water samples naturally contained both “large” particles like zooplankton, sand and dirt, and “small” or dissolved particles like salt.

They found that the large particles, including zooplankton, did not have a significant effect on the inactivation of the pathogen proxies. The small particles, however, seemed to have a greater impact. The pathogen proxies were inactivated at higher rates in high-salinity water, for example, ocean water taken from San Pedro Beach.

“I am proud that we were able to provide another perspective to consider for surface water remediation efforts,” Kennedy said.

The research, she added, is an important step forward in understanding the limits of zooplankton as natural “cleaners” of contaminated water. The next phases of the research will focus on the impact of salinity on pathogen survival in contaminated waters.

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After weeks of intense debates at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) meeting in Jamaica this summer, deep seabed mining will not be allowed. The ISA, an international organization responsible for overseeing and regulating mineral resource activities in the seabed and ocean floor, focuses on protecting the marine environment from harmful impacts related to deep-seabed activities. 

On July 28, 2023, the ISA announced the reinstatement of a moratorium on deep-sea mining. The proposal to discuss the protection of the marine environment and the future of deep-sea mining, initially blocked, will be on the agenda for the upcoming Assembly in 2024 thanks to champion countries’ efforts.

The ocean is already under significant stress from various factors, and deep-sea mining could exacerbate the situation. A temporary halt, or in the ISA’s terms, moratorium, is considered the best option until there is sufficient scientific evidence to protect the marine environment adequately. A number of companies have started mining for precious metals and minerals and policies need to be developed before the sea floor is ripped apart.

The deep-sea mining industry is being questioned as unnecessary for the green transition, and alternative measures like technology choices, recycling, and circular economy practices are suggested to reduce mineral demand. Transitioning to a circular economy is vital to effectively address biodiversity and climate crises.

A total of 21 countries have joined the call for a ban, precautionary pause, or moratorium on deep seabed mining, with Canada, Brazil, Finland, and Portugal making announcements during the ISA meetings. Additionally, companies representing 32% of the global tuna industry expressed concerns, 37 financial institutions managing over 3.3 trillion euros in assets highlighted the need for understanding potential risks, and the UN Commissioner on Human Rights advised against deep-sea mining.

Throughout the week, China, in favor of deep sea mining, had opposed the motion for discussion but eventually consented to include it in the agenda for 2024.

Supporters of deep-sea mining argue that it is necessary to fulfil the growing demand for metals like cobalt and nickel, which are crucial for producing batteries used in electric cars and the the shift towards green energy from fossil fuels. Companies like Regenx from Canada show that we can do a better job of recycling and re-using what we already have in the system. Another Canadian company, started the whole deep sea mining controversy. The Canadian company The Metals Company partnered with a tiny nation of Naura in Micronesia to trigger a loophole.

Canada is undoubtedly a mining nation and we need to hope that Canada will set the global environmental standard on protecting its Arctic borders and Pacific and Atlantic coasts when it comes to deep sea mining.

According to the Mining Association of Canada, which represents mines and their assets mining industry continues to be a critically important part of Canada’s economy, and contributed $125 billion to the GDP in 2021, 5% of the total. Mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction made up 7.9% of Canada’s $2 trillion gross domestic product.

The debate made clear that governments, financial institutions, scientists, and communities are uniting in opposition to deep seabed mining and are creating progress.

However, the potential danger of unregulated deep-sea mining persists, and the complete extent of its impact, if allowed to proceed, remains uncertain.

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In a world increasingly concerned about the health of our planet, it is important to recognize positive environmental news that showcases efforts to protect and restore the Earth. 

From conservation breakthroughs to sustainable innovations, here are ten uplifting environmental stories that bring hope for a brighter future!

Reforestation Success in Brazil: 

In Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, a massive reforestation project has led to the recovery of 500,000 acres of land, equivalent to the size of Singapore. By planting native tree species and employing sustainable agricultural practices, the initiative is reversing deforestation and providing habitat for endangered wildlife.

Solar Power Surpasses Global Milestone: 

In 2023, the world celebrated a remarkable achievement as solar power surpassed 1 terawatt (1 trillion watts) of installed capacity. This milestone represents a significant step towards reducing reliance on fossil fuels and achieving a more sustainable energy future.

Net Zero Laws in Switzerland 

Swiss citizens have scored a climate victory by voting in favor of a new climate law. The law aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, addressing the alarming glacier melt and paving the way for climate neutrality. This significant step shows how people in Switzerland are taking charge of their future and working towards a better environment for future generations.

Ocean Cleanup Success: 

The Ocean Cleanup Project, a nonprofit organization focused on removing plastic debris from the ocean (remember Boyan Slatt), reported a significant reduction in plastic waste. Their innovative system deployed in the Great Pacific. Garbage patch has successfully collected millions of pounds of plastic, contributing to cleaner oceans.

Cities Pledge to Go Carbon Neutral: 

Several major cities worldwide, including Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Helsinki, have pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. Through renewable energy adoption, sustainable transportation, and energy-efficient buildings, these cities are leading the way in the fight against climate change.

New Marine Protected Areas: 

In a joint effort, over 50 countries recently established the largest marine protected area in the Atlantic Ocean, covering 4.5 million square kilometers. This conservation initiative aims to safeguard biodiversity, marine habitats, and critical ecosystems.

The Biden Administration Efforts to Safeguard Endangered Species 

The Biden Administration is making efforts to safeguard endangered species from the threat of extinction caused by human activities. They have taken important actions to restore endangered species regulations, ensuring the protection of habitats and at-risk wildlife. This move is vital for preserving biodiversity and securing healthy ecosystems for future generations. Although more work remains, it marks a significant achievement for the protection of US ecosystems.

Record Growth in Electric Vehicles: 

The electric vehicle (EV) industry experienced a record-breaking year, with global EV sales surpassing 10 million units. This surge signals a shift towards sustainable transportation and decreased carbon emissions from the automotive sector.

Wind and Solar Energy’s Global Power

Wind and solar energy are set to become a significant source of global power, making up 33% of electricity production by 2030, according to a report from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). This development indicates that the energy sector is on track to meet the necessary changes to address global climate objectives. Sultan al-Jaber, president of COP28, the next UN climate summit, previously urged a threefold increase in renewable energy generation by 2030 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve the targets set in the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

Stay positive and hopeful! Together, we can make a real impact in preserving our planet for generations to come. Let’s celebrate these achievements and stay dedicated to sustainable practices, creating a more resilient and balanced world for all.

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New research from the University of East Anglia has confirmed a dramatic decrease in oxygen in the Gulf of Oman part of the Arabian Sea. But the environmental disaster is worse than expected.

The ‘dead zone’ was confirmed by underwater robots called Seagliders – which were able to collect data in areas of water previously inaccessible due to the piracy and geopolitical tensions.

The robots are about the same size as a small human diver, but can reach depths of 1000 yards and travel the ocean for months, covering thousands of miles.

Two gliders were deployed in the Gulf of Oman for eight months. They communicated by satellite to build an underwater picture of oxygen levels, and the ocean mechanics that transport oxygen from one area to another. Where they expected some oxygen, they found an area larger than Florida or the country of Scotland with almost no oxygen left.

The research was led by Dr Bastien Queste from UEA’s School of Environmental Sciences, in collaboration with Oman’s Sultan Qaboos University.

Dr Queste said: “Dead zones are areas devoid of oxygen. In the ocean, these are also known as ‘oxygen minimum zones’ and they are naturally occurring between 200 and 800 meters deep in some parts of the world.

Disaster waiting to happen

“They are a disaster waiting to happen – made worse by climate change, as warmer waters hold less oxygen, and by fertiliser and sewage running off the land into the seas.

“The Arabian Sea is the largest and thickest dead zone in the world. But until now, no-one really knew how bad the situation was because piracy and conflicts in the area have made it too dangerous to collect data.

“We barely have any data collected for almost half a century because of how difficult it is to send ships there,” he says.

Pirates and kidnapping make it nearly impossible for researchers to want to go out and venture there. Some do like this group EcoOcean who run an eco-ship.

“Our research shows that the situation is actually worse than feared – and that the area of dead zone is vast and growing. The ocean is suffocating.

“Of course all fish, marine plants and other animals need oxygen, so they can’t survive there. It’s a real environmental problem, with dire consequences for humans too who rely on the oceans for food and employment.

“Another problem is that when oxygen is absent, the chemical cycling of nitrogen – a key nutrient for plant growth – changes dramatically. Nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas 300 times more potent than CO2 is produced,” he added.

Computer simulations of ocean oxygen show a decrease in oxygen over the next century and growing oxygen minimum zones. However these simulations have a difficult time representing small but very important features such as eddies which impact how oxygen is transported.

The team combined their Seaglider data with a very high-resolution computer simulation to determine how oxygen is spread around the north-western Arabian Sea throughout different seasons and the monsoons.

They found that the deadzone moves up and down between seasons, causing fish to be squeezed in a thin layer near the surface.

“Management of the fisheries and ecosystems of the western Indian Ocean over coming decades will depend on better understanding and forecasting of oxygen levels in key areas such as the Gulf of Oman,” added Dr Queste.

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Of course animals don’t live in the Dead Sea, except for maybe a strange bacteria that can tolerate the high salinity and mineral content. If so what were penguins doing at the Dead Sea and in Israel’s desert? In fact you might have seen penguins exploring a city near year earlier this year or even today. The ruse is Greenpeace’s way to say wake up, people. We need to build a sanctuary in the Antarctic Ocean as ice caps start melting.

The two-legged walking about town started on Penguin Awareness Day 2018 (20 January, this year), where groups of penguins have been popping up in iconic locations around the world. Volunteers hope to build an international Antarctic Ocean Sanctuary –– a safe haven for penguins, whales and seals, putting the waters off-limits to the industrial fishing vessels sucking up the tiny shrimp-like krill which Antarctic life relies on.

The proposed reserve will be five times the size of Germany.

Related: Remember these lesbian penguins coming out at this Israeli zoo?

To help mark the occasion, Tel Aviv’s city hill lit up with the image of a penguin to mark Greenpeace’s Penguin Awareness Day back in January.

In a statement, the environmental group said the image displayed in lights on Tel Aviv’s city hall would be shared worldwide as part of its campaign for the creation of a nature reserve on Antarctica’s shores.The city halls’s lights are often used to show solidarity with different causes or following terror attacks around the world.

The benefits of an Antarctic Ocean Sanctuary would be global. Healthy oceans sustain precious wildlife, help limit climate change and provide food security for billions of people.’

Activists dressed as penguins by the Dead Sea in Israel, asking for an Antarctic Ocean Sanctuary on Penguin Awareness Day 2018.

You can join the movement here, without having to put on a penguin costume (unless you want to).

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