05 Jun 2025

Image: A man paddleboarding. Image by Kampus Production / Pexels.   In March, the government announced reforms which it says will modernise “outdated” regulations around bathing water quality, and will “keep pace with Britain’s love of swimming”. The system for monitoring the more than 550 designated, outdoor, swimming sites in England and Wales will be […]

03 Jun 2025

Image: Whaleshark in the dark by Aaim Zameer   A new scientific study has revealed that vast areas of the ocean have grown significantly darker over the past two decades, with potentially serious consequences for marine ecosystems. Researchers used satellites and computer models to examine how far sunlight penetrates the upper layers of the ocean. […]

03 Jun 2025

Image: EU flag – Alexey Larionov   The United Kingdom is facing mounting criticism for its delay in ratifying the High Seas Treaty, also known as the Global Ocean Treaty, as the European Union and several of its member states move swiftly ahead. The treaty, aimed at protecting marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, […]

03 Jun 2025

Image: Fishing boat at the harbour – Paul Einerhand   A new report claims that the marine insurance industry is enabling illegal and environmentally destructive behaviour in the fishing sector by insuring vessels that deliberately disable their tracking systems — a practice known as “going dark.” In 2023, Blue Marine investigators revealed how industrial fishing […]

03 Jun 2025

Image: Whale tail – Thomas Lipke   After 25 years of operation, Cork Whale Watch has ceased its tours, citing a significant decline in marine wildlife, as reported in the Guardian. Colin Barnes, the founder of Cork Whale Watch and a veteran marine observer, announced the closure, expressing deep concern and attributing the drop in […]

03 Jun 2025

Image: Deep sea corals – Oleksandr Sushko   Fifteen years after the Deepwater Horizon disaster, scientists are pioneering efforts to revive ancient coral ecosystems damaged by the spill. In a significant stride for marine conservation, U.S. scientists have embarked on an ambitious project to restore deep-sea coral habitats in the Gulf of Mexico, severely impacted […]

03 Jun 2025

Image: Shipping containers – Teng Yuhong   In a significant maritime incident, the Liberia-flagged container ship MSC ELSA 3 sank approximately 38 nautical miles off the coast of Kochi, Kerala, on 25th May 2025, triggering a substantial oil spill and raising serious environmental concerns. The vessel was enroute from Vizhinjam to Kochi when it capsized […]

03 Jun 2025

Image: Wind turbines – Mert Kahveci   Ireland’s ambitious offshore wind energy targets are under scrutiny as industry leaders express concerns over potential delays and missed objectives. At the recent Wind Energy Ireland (WEI) Offshore Wind Conference held in Dublin on 27th – 28th May, stakeholders highlighted the urgency of governmental action to ensure the […]