Sawfish are amongst the most threatened family of marine fishes. Overfishing and habitat destruction have resulted in many species disappearing from the coastlines of 46 countries. International conservation efforts and adequate fishing protections are required to prevent their complete extinction.
Biotelemetry has provided a unique glimpse into the ecology and habitat use of the ‘near threatened’ whitespotted eagle ray in Florida. It has revealed that this species shows an affinity for habitats that are also valued by humans for recreation and commercial purposes, which will therefore have implications for its conservation.
The vaquita is the world’s rarest marine mammal. Gillnet fisheries have caused them to become entangled in the nets, and has resulted in their numbers dropping to fewer than 20 individuals. However, there is still hope as one new study has proven that they exhibit few signs of inbreeding or other problems of small populations.
The iconic sunflower sea star has been listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature following a groundbreaking population study led by Oregon State University and The Nature Conservancy.
Humpback whales are charismatic and iconic animals, and an especially significant one in Hawaiian culture. Their songs have been studied following reports of unusually low numbers of whales in the archipelago, which will enable scientists to keep a close eye on their numbers.
Scientists have been studying the tusks of narwhals in the Arctic. They reveal that their exposure to toxic pollutants like mercury has increased since the 1960s due to sea-ice decline and human-caused carbon emissions.
North Pacific loggerhead turtles’ years-long oceanic journeys remain poorly understood. Using data from satellite tracking and other techniques, scientists reveal a unique phenomenon that may explain the endangered migrants’ pathway.
Surveys along the length of the River Ganges, alongside interviews with local fishermen, have revealed that waste fishing gear is posing a serious threat to many species. A system that would provide fishermen to recycle their nets could be effective at preventing entanglement.
Two decades of surveys of marbled murrelets on the west coast of the United States shows that these elusive seabirds are impacted by changing ocean conditions and the loss of old forest. Conservation actions must, therefore, take into account factors that influence both marine food resources and terrestrial nesting habitat.
New research from the Caribbean shows that pressures on seagrass meadows, such as clearance for tourism development, will leave coastlines more prone to erosion and flooding. The rich marine life that live in these meadows will also be lost, so urgent conservation action is required to save them.