Tag: Conservation

Fear factor: How sensationalised shark documentaries undermine conservation efforts

24th Mar 2022

Experts explain why misleading documentaries about sharks can be problematic. When Brendon Sing first encountered sharks he was as a young boy behind the safety of aquarium glass in his native South Africa. Like many children of his generation, Brendon’s limited knowledge about sharks came from the 1975 smash-hit movie “Jaws,” which meant he was … More Fear factor: How sensationalised shark documentaries undermine conservation efforts

Return to the big blue: a sea turtle’s release from rehab

7th Aug 2020

Written by Miranda S. Altice The adrenaline is still pulsing through my veins, making my hands tremble and my heart pound. A perma-grin is smeared on my face, “Probably for forever,” I had said earlier. Thinking back from just an hour before, I can still feel Evergreen’s smooth, scaley flipper flapping relentlessly against my arms… … More Return to the big blue: a sea turtle’s release from rehab

The first marine fish extinction of the modern era

29th Jul 2020

A new study has recently confirmed the extinction of the smooth handfish, the very first marine fish species to be declared officially extinct in the modern era. So what went wrong for these bottom-dwelling fish? And what lessons can we learn from their untimely demise? Unfortunately, extinctions of marine species are nothing new in our … More The first marine fish extinction of the modern era

The potential benefits of COVID-19 on marine wildlife

17th Jun 2020

Written by Rebecca Greatorex As we continue to experience a global pandemic on a scale many of us have never seen before, I would like to discuss a rather overlooked group of animals which have also been affected by this global crisis – marine creatures. However, unlike us, they are likely to be affected in … More The potential benefits of COVID-19 on marine wildlife

Colourful bleaching: solving a coral conundrum

28th May 2020

A new study has finally solved a puzzle amongst coral scientists as to why some reefs end up glowing in multi-colour after bleaching, instead of turning the usual ghostly white. It turns out that this strange anomaly may also be a good thing for coral reefs. There are few sights as distressing for marine biologists … More Colourful bleaching: solving a coral conundrum

Healing with honey: my time working at the ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rescue Centre

20th May 2020

Written by Lorraine Aldridge The Glyfada ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rescue Centre has been operating in Greece since 1994, thanks to support from the Municipality of Glyfada and the Ministry of the Environment. It was one of the first Sea Turtle Rescue Centres in the Mediterranean and continues to be the only one in Greece. I … More Healing with honey: my time working at the ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rescue Centre

How low can we go? The importance & impacts of deep sea mining

14th May 2020

Written by Jenny Hickman For centuries, the high seas have been a place of exploitation and misuse. The “out of sight, out of mind” attitude that pervades offshore activity has resulted in the ocean becoming steadily depleted of fish stocks and filling up with anthropogenic waste. For far too long it was believed that the … More How low can we go? The importance & impacts of deep sea mining

Bionic jellyfish ready to help monitor our oceans (soon)

13th Feb 2020

Researchers from Caltech and Stanford have fitted moon jellyfish with specialised microelectronics to help them swim 3x faster than normal. It is hoped these bionic jellies could help us better monitor ocean health in the future. It might sound like something straight out of a bad science fiction movie, but bionic jellyfish are now 100% … More Bionic jellyfish ready to help monitor our oceans (soon)

The role of art in marine conservation (with Debby Mason)

24th Jan 2020

Marine conservation has never been more necessary than it is today with our oceans facing threats from all angles, most of which we have created. It is therefore more important than ever to inspire and educate people about our oceans and the marine life that inhabit them. One of the main ways I know how … More The role of art in marine conservation (with Debby Mason)