Ocean Sentry
Dragon, a female North Atlantic right whale, has been discovered entangled off the coast of Nantucket. She is currently in declining health, and has a buoy lodged in her mouth.
March, 2020
February, 2020
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28 February
Polar bear cannibalism on the rise in Russia’s Arctic, scientists say
Polar bears in Russia’s Arctic are increasingly turning to cannibalism as growing human activity and development in the region shrinks their hunting grounds, scientists at the Russian Academy of Sciences said Wednesday.
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26 February
How South Africa’s mangrove forests store carbon and why it matters
Marine ecosystems are particularly interesting as potential carbon sinks or stores. Coastal wetlands like mangroves, salt marshes and seagrasses can store more carbon than terrestrial ecosystems. This is because the waterlogged soils preserve the organic carbon and prevent decomposition.
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25 February
A heat wave in Antarctica melted 20% of an island’s snow in 9 days
A nine-day heat wave scorched Antarctica’s northern tip earlier this month. New NASA images reveal that nearly a quarter of an Antarctic island’s snow cover melted in that time — an increasingly common symptom of the climate crisis.
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24 February
A plan to save Earth’s oceans
At least 26 per cent of our oceans need urgent conservation attention to preserve Earth’s marine biodiversity, a University of Queensland-led international study has found.
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21 February
One-third of plant and animal species could be gone in 50 years, study says
A new study by University of Arizona researchers presents detailed estimates of global extinction from climate change by 2070. By combining information on recent extinctions from climate change, rates of species movement and different projections of future climate, they estimate that one in three species of plants and animals may face extinction.
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19 February
Taiwan: Hundreds of cetaceans, sea turtles washed up last year
Last year, 150 cetaceans and 269 sea turtles washed up on the nation’s shores, the Ocean Conservation Administration (OCA) said yesterday, blaming improper fishing activities for many of the injuries.
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19 February
Taiji: Immense cruelty in capturing dolphins
More than ever, it is critical to put a spotlight on Taiji’s drive hunts, including the extreme cruelty involved along with their financial ties to the captivity industry. Even if an aquarium or marine park boasts that none of their dolphins were wild-caught, life in a tank is no place …
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19 February
Warming, acidic oceans may nearly eliminate coral reef habitats by 2100
Rising sea surface temperatures and acidic waters could eliminate nearly all existing coral reef habitats by 2100, suggesting restoration projects in these areas will likely meet serious challenges, according to new research presented here today at the Ocean Sciences Meeting 2020.
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19 February
Southeast Asia’s dugongs may disappear soon
In 2019, two baby dugongs were found alive after they washed ashore in Krabi and Trang provinces, in Thailand, but sadly died not long after they were rescued. Prior to the two dugong deaths, seven of these docile mammals were also found dead on Thai beaches in the same year.
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17 February
Climate change is contributing to right whale deaths
North Atlantic right whales – already the most endangered large whale species in the world – are becoming even more at risk as rising sea temperatures make it harder to find food or safe waters.
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17 February
Half a million mussels cooked to death at a New Zealand beach
Hundreds of thousands of mussels cooked to death in New Zealand due to rising temperatures in New Zealand’s oceans.