Mathematical modelling inspired by technology used by social media to document people’s social media interactions is identifying the significant impacts of warming seas, particularly in winter, on the world’s fisheries.
Scientists have used innovative ways to track female loggerhead turtles. The data reveals that return to the same nesting beaches to lay eggs year after year, therefore, these key locations should be a focus for conservation efforts.
Placing LED lights along the top of floating gillnets (fishing nets that have notoriously high levels of bycatch) reduces the chances of dolphins and turtles being caught accidentally. And, they do not reduce the catch for fishermen.
European freshwater fish will be strongly affected by climate change. A new study has shown that species from the Mediterranean region are at high risk, with fish from extreme habitats characterised by heat and drought particularly vulnerable.
Scientists studying the decline of the New Zealand sea lion have linked it to commercial fisheries bycatch around their breeding colonies on the Auckland Islands, which has previously been assumed to be only a minor threat.
New research supports the creation of more marine reserves that are protected from fishing activities, as it has been discovered that fish can evolve to be more cautious and avoid fishing nets.
Learning to manage the habitats and biodiversity within our oceans and coasts is one of the greatest challenges of this century.
Not only do we kill animals at far higher rates than other predators, we hunt in ways that are particularly destructive.
Whilst jail sentences and fines do already exist to discourage illegal activity, it is hoped this working group will help better enforce law at an international level.
One of the greatest threats to the survival of leatherback turtles is industrial longline fishing.