Fishy issues – The curious case of coral bleaching

The importance of coral Corals are arguably one of the coolest creations of nature. They are often referred to as the “rainforests of the sea” due to their high levels of biodiversity. Although corals only represent 1% of the world’s oceans, they support 25% of all marine species.  Coral reefs host a wide range of marine life, including fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and…

Sustainable tuna – Sounds a bit flaky to me!

Tuna being carried on a dockside with fishing vessels and a sunset in the background

Many of us like eating tuna, it’s a tasty versatile fish that goes well on a jacket potato, or in a pasta bake… But few people know much about this morsel beyond it’s taste and canned convenience.  In this article I’m taking a deep-dive to understand the challenges faced by the humble tuna, exploring how they almost met their watery end… We’ll…

A golden floating rainforest in the sea with no coastline

Blue open ocean to horizon

Nestled in the bottom corner of the North Atlantic, circling Bermuda, you’ll find a sea with no coastline. Forming part of the High Seas, the Sargasso Sea is brimming with mystery and magic. Perhaps it’s the proximity to the famed Bermuda Triangle; perhaps it’s that few seem to have heard of the sea, despite its importance. Or perhaps it’s what bobs on…

Scallop discos! The new sustainable alternative to dredging

Scallop on sea bed

What’s going on here? Trials for a new fishing technology are taking place that use light instead of fish bait. The method attracts scallops as well, meaning this could be a promising alternative to dredging. What does this mean? Scientists from Fishtek Marine have been working alongside fishermen trialling the use of LED lights in pots to catch crabs and lobsters. Surprisingly,…

First Fishing Footprint Mapped

What’s Going On Here? Across the globe, researchers have created the first automated snapshot of industrial fishing’s environmental impacts by tracking the movements of fishing vessels using emergency beacons on ships. And the impacts are BIIIG — bigger than scientists thought, according to a new study. What Does This Mean? Too much fishing that’s what, with 55% of the oceans being used for…