Ocean Conservation & Tidalpunk

• Coral restoration is vastly outpaced by degradation, while intensifying climate stress, prohibitive costs, poor site selection and lack of coordination make large-scale restoration currently unviable, a new study has found.
• The scale-cost mismatch is staggering: Restoring just 1.4% of degraded coral could cost up to US$16.7 trillion, while current global funding is only US$258 million.
• The study found most projects assessed prioritize convenience over ecological value, restoring easily accessed reefs instead of climate-resilient or biologically strategic ones, undermining long-term outcomes.
• Researchers say standardized data and smarter planning are urgently needed to ensure that global coral restoration is scientifically informed and strategically targeted, and not merely symbolic.

archived (Wayback Machine)

• A resident population of blue whales has for many years lived in the coastal waters of Sri Lanka, but in recent years sightings of the animals have declined rapidly.
• With multiple pressures on these massive creatures — from ship traffic on one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, to disturbance from whale tourism, pollution and surface sea temperature rise and climate change — there are several possible factors for the disappearance of the whales.
• Sri Lanka’s leading marine researchers agree that increasing sea temperatures in the North Indian Ocean, warming at the fastest rate of any of the world’s oceans, have likely pushed the whales to new waters.

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• The Metals Company (TMC) has submitted its first application to commercially exploit seabed minerals in international waters, along with applications for two exploration licenses, under the U.S. regulatory authority.
• The contentious move follows a recent executive order from the Trump administration that directed the U.S. government to fast-track deep-sea mining in an effort to secure supplies of critical minerals for the U.S.
• Both TMC and the U.S. have faced international pushback over these plans, with both the U.N.-affiliated International Seabed Authority (ISA) and China criticizing them as potentially violating international law because only the ISA has the authority to permit mining in international waters.
• While the U.S. regulator and TMC say they will manage environmental risks, critics say deep-sea mining could cause significant and potentially irreversible damage to marine ecosystems.

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Negotiators are calling for involvement in the agreement’s decision-making process, not just an acknowledgement of their presence.

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• Mongabay Latam and Data Crítica examined and compared official data of oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico, including satellite images by scientists studying oil spills and evidence compiled by fishing communities. Their analysis found that most oil spills are not reported.
• Occasionally, even the spills that are reported are played down. The volume of the Ek’ Balam oil spill in 2023 — the most serious spill in Mexico in recent years — was under-reported by 10 to 200 times, according to calculations performed by scientists using satellite images of the disaster.
• Between January 2018 and July 2024, the government of Mexico initiated 48 sanctioning processes against oil companies, but fines were only imposed in fewer than half of those cases. And only eight of those fines have been paid.
• Fishers are demanding oil companies release actual data and take responsibility and the government take action to protect their environment and livelihood.

archived (Wayback Machine)

archived (Wayback Machine)

• El informe “Evaluación de la Salud Ecológica del Golfo de California” revela una preocupante disminución de poblaciones en niveles tróficos superiores a lo largo del Golfo de California.
• El escrito fue compilado por la organización Nueva Generación de Investigadores del Desierto Sonorense (N-Gen), en colaboración con la estación de campo Prescott College Kino Bay Center.
• La mayor parte de los grupos evaluados, como aves marinas, ballenas, calamar gigante, cangrejos, estrellas de mar y peces están en deterioro.
• La productividad primaria básica, que alimenta la diversidad y abundancia del Golfo de California, se muestra estable.

archivado (Wayback Machine):

• artículo de Mongabay
• reportaje citado (PDF)

• The recent “Assessment of the Ecological Health of the Gulf of California” report shows a decline in several populations of animals throughout the narrow sea flanked by the Mexican mainland and Baja California.
• The report was compiled by the Next Generation Sonoran Desert Researchers (N-Gen) in the U.S. in collaboration with Prescott College’s Kino Bay Center field station in Mexico, and draws on long-term monitoring studies.
• Many of the assessed groups, such as seabirds, whales, giant squid, crabs, starfish and fish, are in decline.
• Basic primary productivity, which nurtures species diversity and abundance in the Gulf of California, remains stable.

Archived (Wayback Machine):

• Mongabay article
• report cited (PDF)

Today, the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) launches a landmark report exploring the critical opportunities available to the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and the world under a moratorium or precautionary pause on deep-sea mining.

Download the executive summary here

Download the full report here

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/21241294

archived (Wayback Machine)

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/21218983

Coral reefs around the world have been subjected to unprecedented heat stress since early 2023. A new report finds heat-related coral bleaching has damaged corals in more than 80 countries, making it the most extensive bleaching event ever recorded, with no clear end in sight.

Between January 2023 and April 2025, heat stress impacted 84% of coral reefs worldwide, from the Mesoamerican Reef in the Caribbean to so-called supercorals in the Red Sea, an area previously believed to be resilient to damage caused by extreme temperatures.

archived article (Wayback Machine)

report cited (Wayback Machine)

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/21218330

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Harmful bleaching of the world's coral has grown to include 84% of the ocean's reefs in the most intense event of its kind in recorded history, the International Coral Reef Initiative announced Wednesday.

• The EU has agreed binding rules to reduce plastic pellet pollution, aiming to tackle up to 184,000 metric tons of annual leakage into the environment.
• Provisional measures will require companies to prevent spills, implement risk management, and report losses — but reliance on self-reporting may limit accountability, environmental groups argue.
• Campaigners have welcomed the deal but criticized loopholes, delays for maritime transport, and lighter rules for small businesses, warning these could undermine the regulation’s impact.

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• Norway’s plans to mine seabed minerals in Arctic waters remain in limbo after the first licensing round was delayed in December 2024. However, the government maintains that progress will resume soon, with a licensing round tentatively set for 2026.
• Some deep-sea mining companies have faced significant financial struggles due to the delay, with one company going bankrupt and another slashing costs; yet, other firms remain optimistic, insisting the industry’s future is still secure.
• Experts warn that considerable knowledge gaps must be addressed before deep-sea mining can proceed, particularly regarding environmental impacts.
• In Norway, the industry also continues to face heavy opposition from environmental groups, the fishing sector, and several political parties.

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archived (Wayback Machine)

archived (Wayback Machine)

archived (Wayback Machine)

Hotter seas supercharge storms and destroy critical ecosystems such as kelp forests and coral reefs

“The only solution is cutting the burning of fossil fuels. This is a very clear relationship,” said Marcos. “More than 90% of the extra heat [trapped by greenhouse gas emissions] is stored in the ocean. If you stop warming the atmosphere, you will stop warming the ocean.”

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/20764621

archived (Wayback Machine):

• Mongabay article
• study from Japan (PDF)

Game and lifestyle seem to be relativly tidalpunk

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/20629958

archived (Wayback Machine)