First increase in Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphins in 20 years
A survey of Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River has shown an increase in the population for the first time since surveys began in 1997, going from 80 in 2015 to 92 in 2017. This reversal of a long decline is attributed to improved enforcement against illegal fishing and growing awareness in riverside communities.
Mother of cod: we’re fishing exactly the wrong fish, scientists warn
Current fisheries models usually assume fish reproductive output scales isometrically with size (eg. a fish twice as large as another will produce twice the eggs). However, fish reproductive output scales allometrically, meaning catching one large fish will have a disproportionate impact compared to catching two half the size. Any fishing regimes using isometric assumptions will grossly overestimate sustainability, putting all fisheries at risk of overexploitation.
Scientists highlight 9 potentially new reef fish species off West Papua
Surveys in protected MPAs within Berau Bay and Nusalasi Van den Bosch Bay, in the Indonesian district of Fakfak, revealed a possible 9 new species of fish. These findings highlight the diversity of the area. However, the surveys also found evidence of dynamite fishing, which damaged the coral reefs that cover half these MPAs.
Wildly optimistic: report predicts a healthy future for biodiversity
A recent paper, From Bottleneck to Breakthrough: Urbanization and the Future of Biodiversity Conservation, presents a possible positive outlook for conservation. It suggests that global demographic and economic trends are, for the first time, moving in a direction that would allow not just preventing further loss, but also facilitating environmental recovery.
New study reveals that mangrove soils hold 6.4 billion tons of carbon globally
At 6.5 billion tons, carbon stored in the soil of mangrove forests demonstrates their importance as a carbon sink. Unfortunately, mangrove deforestation, predominantly in Southeast Asia, causes an estimated 122 million tons of carbon emissions annually. Protecting and restoring mangroves is an extremely viable component of future carbon management.
Climate change could destroy even the ocean’s most pristine parks
Most tropical Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) could become thermally unsustainable within three decades. MPAs elsewhere are at risk of become increasingly anoxic. Only 3.5% of current MPAs are expected to avoid overheating and anoxia under currently climate trends.
What went down at 2018 Bonn climate talks
The two week long 2018 Bonn Climate Change Conference highlighted international disagreement in the attempt to create rules for the implementation of the Paris Agreement by 2020. Contentious issues include whether developed and developing countries should be differentiated, and how developed countries will finance aid to developing countries.
Another way to recycle plastic
It has been discovered that mealworms, already known to be able to digest polystyrene, are even more comfortable eating the more common polyethylene. Mealworms that are kept on a plastic diet have different gut microbiomes than mealworms on more traditional diets, suggesting bacteria enabling them to digest plastic could adapt to make the mealworms specialized plastic eaters.
Action needed to reduce toxic contamination from ocean plastics
In addition to harming marine life directly, plastics carry toxic contaminants that are a danger to wildlife and humans after they enter the food chain. Of particular concern are chemicals that disrupt endocrine systems, which damages thyroid function and increases cancer incidence. Changing plastic production to remove such contamination is a critical need in waste management.
The challenges of going zero waste in the Philippines
The zero waste movement is growing in the Philippines. This is despite difficulty caused by the ubiquity of plastics in Philippine life. While national laws to regulate plastic have been proposed, none have been approved by the legislature. In a culture where single-use plastic is normalized, zero waste practitioners see improved education as the key requirement for a waste-free Philippines.
UN analyzes ocean conference commitments
Voluntary commitments made during and after the UN Ocean Conference last year number over 1400. They include financial pledges totalling US$25.5 billion and promises to protect another 2.85% of the ocean with MPAs. Topics needing more engagement include fisheries, ocean acidification, and new technology.
How to save the high seas
International waters, which lie outside of national jurisdiction, cover two thirds of the oceans. Negotiations are ongoing to develop a treaty for biodiversity conservation in these globally shared areas. Experts say that to ensure the sustainability of vulnerable ecosystems in these waters, 30% of the high seas will need to be designated as no-take MPAs, a system of environmental assessments is needed, and a robust monitoring and enforcement mechanism is required.
A boon for birds: once overlooked, China’s mudflats gain protections
Intertidal mudflats around the yellow sea are crucial habitats for migrating birds, yet as much as two-thirds of this habitat has been lost to development. This has caused a corresponding drop in migratory bird populations. Under the policy of developing an “ecological civilization”, China recently instituted reforms to protect these habitats, and has nominated 14 shorebird hotspots as world heritage sites.
It pays to invest in biodiversity
The Aichi Biodiversity targets, established as part of the Convention on Biological Diversity, aim to halt biodiversity loss by 2020. In 2014 the estimated cost to achieve these was US$150-440 billion per year, which is only US$20 to US$60 per person, or less than 0.01% of global GDP. Furthermore, doing so preserves the US$140 billion annual value of ecosystem services.
The “Blue Economy”: a sustainable future for the ocean
A holistic picture of how human economies interact with the ocean is necessary to ensure a sustainable future for the oceans. Long-term impact investing, through means such as green bonds, is needed for the global economy to transition to more sustainable models. Such investment holds great promise, as the blue economy is predicted to grow faster than the economy at a whole.
Urgent need for better assessment of risk to human wellbeing posed by ocean change
The global insurance sector is unprepared to deal with the effects of climate change on the oceans. Changes to both the environment and to industry bring new challenges and opportunities. Existing instances of creative insurance, such as coral reef insurance in Mexico, provide examples of the positive possibilities better risk management could bring.