Latest news with #MarinePollutionBulletin
Euronews
16-07-2025
- Science
- Euronews
What scientists got right - and wrong
At the dawn of the millennium, a group of esteemed scientists drew up a list of threats they deemed most likely to impact the world's rocky shores over the coming quarter of a century. Now, in 2025, the same academics and other experts have reviewed their forecasts and done another stocktake of Earth's coastlines. The new study, published in Marine Pollution Bulletin, reveals several points where they were spot on - and others where their predictions fell wide of the mark. 'Our shorelines are sentinels for the global ocean and, for many people, their window to what is happening in our seas,' says Professor Hawkins, Lankester Research Fellow at the Marine Biological Association (MBA), and an Emeritus Professor at the University of Southampton. 'Protecting their continued health is essential, but they are constantly facing multiple threats from land, sea and environmental change.' The first study, published in 2002, shows it is possible to forecast some challenges, he continues. 'However, there will always be things we can't foresee – and things that don't materialise as scientists might expect.' What did the scientists get right in their shoreline predictions? The scientists correctly predicted that oil spills would decrease in both frequency and volume - a trajectory that was already underway since the 1970s. Despite some major tanker-related spills, the biggest oil spill in the last two decades was offshore following the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe, when a drilling platform operated by BP in the Gulf of Mexico exploded. The use of more environmentally sensitive clean-up methods has also generally lessened the severity of any post-spill impacts. Professors Hawkins and co-author Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS, Professor of Marine Biology at the University of Plymouth, were also right to predict that the global spread of non-native species would increase as global temperatures change. One example of an invasive species that has relocated as sea temperatures rise is the warm-water barnacle Austrominius modestus. Introduced to southern England in the 1940s, its range has now expanded into Europe - from Denmark to southern Portugal, and north into Scandinavia - where it tends to dominate in rocky intertidal areas. They were also correct to say that the growth of industrial agriculture, plus riverside and coastal urbanisation, would lead to increased sediment running into rivers, estuaries and seas. What went better than expected? Some forecasts were partially right. The 2002 study was insufficiently optimistic about reductions in the impacts of toxic chemicals, such as tributyltin (TBT), which were subsequently reined in by international legislation. 'Marine scientists have shown that a combination of global and local action can bring about positive change – the successful banning of TBT by the International Maritime Organization in 2003 being a notable example,' concludes Professor Thompson, who was recently named by TIME magazine among its 100 most influential people in the world for 2025. Another positive: concerns that offshore renewable energy installations might harm marine habitats have proved to be unfounded. Interestingly, the study notes, the growth of offshore wind installations has actually provided offshore habitat for some rocky shore species and stepping stones, thereby increasing the 'demographic connectivity' of populations. Climate change threats were underestimated While scientists were very aware of the influence of climate fluctuations, they didn't fully appreciate the varied impacts they would have on species and ecosystems. And they underestimated the importance of extreme weather events resulting from climate change. In the interim, other studies have warned how climate change is increasing the risk of extreme flooding and droughts, endangering coastal species which rely on natural salinity levels. Other threats the scientists missed 25 years ago include the impacts of coastal mining, ocean acidification and the staggering scale of plastic pollution. 'As international discussions continue around factors such as a Global Plastics Treaty and the most effective ways to reduce global warming, it is important that we recognise past environmental success and build on them,' says Professor Thompson. He and Professor Hawkins worked on the new study alongside Dr Kathryn O'Shaughnessy and other colleagues at the MBA and University of Plymouth and various other organisations across the UK, US, South Africa, Italy, Ireland, Chile, China and Monaco.
Newsweek
24-06-2025
- General
- Newsweek
Dozens of Whales Found Stranded on Beach in Northern Iceland
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. More than 60 pilot whales were stranded on a beach near the northern Icelandic town of Ólafsfjörður, prompting an urgent rescue operation involving local emergency services and community volunteers. Rescue teams from the Tröllaskagi region and Akureyri were called out to respond to the mass beaching on June 21, according to Hinrik Wöhler, a deputy spokesperson for ICE-SAR (Icelandic Search and Rescue), reported the Iceland Monitor. A video of the scene was shared by TikTok user @charlotte_9877. The viral clip, which has garnered over 188,000 views since it was posted on June 23, shows the whales moving helplessly in shallow waters. Text overlaid on the video read: "Yesterday, more than 60 whales were stranded on a beach in a small town in northern Iceland … it was a serious situation, as the low water level prevented them from swimming back to the ocean and they were at risk of dying quickly." @charlotte_9877 What a day it was! I've never been so close to these animals before, and I truly hope I won't have to be again—and that they won't appear in the harbor anymore. From deep sadness and helplessness… to relief and hope, because they were saved! Huge respect to everyone who came to help so quickly. In today's world, we need more of these everyday heroes 🥹🥺 #iceland #savedwhales #olasfjordur #whales #icelandnews #northicelandwhales @Iceland @visitnorthiceland @whalewatching ♬ suono originale - swami Lára Stefánsdóttir, the regional manager of the search and rescue team Tindur in Ólafsfjörður, said the rising tide played a critical role in the rescue efforts. "It went incredibly well. I was very surprised when I arrived and saw 60 to 70 whales stranded on the shore—I thought it was unlikely we'd be able to do anything," Stefánsdóttir told RÚV, Iceland's national broadcaster. "But people quickly showed up and found a way to drag the whales back out." Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove is a professional wildlife and landscape photographer based in Iceland, who actively monitors such incidents. He told Newsweek the reasons behind whale strandings are complex and debated. "There is a lot of debate on why these kinds of beachings happen, and there are many possible causes," he said. "Over the years, there has been indication that sonar [sound navigation and ranging] has been influencing their navigating abilities." Van Nieuwenhove also pointed to environmental change as a potential factor. He said that "there's also an indication that climate change, influencing where the whale's food goes, may be a factor at play." Scientific research supports the idea that these events are not fully understood. A study published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin in December 2023 noted that "long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) are the most frequently stranded cetaceans in the world; however, the predominant drivers of these events are poorly understood." Stefánsdóttir told RÚV: "I didn't expect it, but every single animal made it back out. What condition they're in now or what will happen to them, I have no idea. But they all swam away." Text overlaid on the viral TikTok video credited the successful outcome to "the help of local services and people who jumped into the water to assist," noting that "every single whale was saved." In a caption accompanying the clip, the TikTok user wrote: "What a day it was! I've never been so close to these animals before, and I truly hope I won't have to be again … Huge respect to everyone who came to help so quickly. In today's world, we need more of these everyday heroes." While such large-scale strandings are uncommon in Iceland, Van Nieuwenhove said they are not unprecedented. "Large beachings like this are not common at all, but it has occurred in the past where pilot whales have either beached themselves or gotten themselves stuck in a fjord system," he said. "Very recently, an injured orca also beached itself near Reykjavík. It was rescued twice but shortly after beached itself again … after which it was euthanized. This animal was deemed to be sick or injured." Van Nieuwenhove added that, due to Iceland's sparse population along much of its coast, similar events may sometimes go unnoticed. "A lot of Iceland's coastline is uninhabited so in some cases, these events are perhaps not even noticed by people," he said. Newsweek has contacted Icelandic Search and Rescue via email and user @charlotte_9877 via TikTok for comment. Stock image: Pilot whales swim in the waters of Iceland. Stock image: Pilot whales swim in the waters of Iceland. Getty Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@ and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
Sydney Morning Herald
04-06-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Australian container return schemes are a booming good news story
For the first time since South Australia introduced Australia's first modern container return scheme in 1977 every state and territory in the nation is now paying cash for containers, with billions of bottles and cans being recycled and a marked reduction in coastal plastic litter. By close of business on Tuesday the NSW scheme had collected 13,742,879 bottles and cans and paid out $1.374 billion in refunds, with 1.1 million tonnes of product being recycled. In Victoria, an estimated 1.8 billion containers have been recycled through the container deposit scheme since its launch in November 2023. A government spokesman said Victorians had collected $186 million from the scheme, including more than $1.9 million donated to charities and community groups. The last state to introduce its own scheme was Tasmania, which began operations at the start of May and collected more than 1.2 million bottles and cans in its first four days of operations. According to a study published earlier this month in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin, the density of plastic pollution had fallen 39 per cent over a decade in coastal areas around Australia's cities, in part due to container deposit schemes. Loading It found containers were not the main form of debris found around Australian cities, except Hobart, according to a survey conducted shortly before the Tasmanian container deposit scheme began operations. 'Hobart, which did not have container deposit options at the time of the survey, was found to have the highest occurrence of fragment and whole beverage bottles compared to all other cities,' says the report. 'This provides additional evidence that effective policies, such as container deposit legislation, can help to reduce plastic in the environment.' The schemes, which see consumers charged a 10¢ deposit which is refunded upon container returns, are successful because they provide the packaging industry with a clean and reliable stream of material for recycling, said James Dorney, chief executive of Tomra Cleanaway, the joint venture which runs the NSW scheme.
The Age
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
Australian container return schemes are a booming good news story
For the first time since South Australia introduced Australia's first modern container return scheme in 1977 every state and territory in the nation is now paying cash for containers, with billions of bottles and cans being recycled and a marked reduction in coastal plastic litter. By close of business on Tuesday the NSW scheme had collected 13,742,879 bottles and cans and paid out $1.374 billion in refunds, with 1.1 million tonnes of product being recycled. In Victoria, an estimated 1.8 billion containers have been recycled through the container deposit scheme since its launch in November 2023. A government spokesman said Victorians had collected $186 million from the scheme, including more than $1.9 million donated to charities and community groups. The last state to introduce its own scheme was Tasmania, which began operations at the start of May and collected more than 1.2 million bottles and cans in its first four days of operations. According to a study published earlier this month in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin, the density of plastic pollution had fallen 39 per cent over a decade in coastal areas around Australia's cities, in part due to container deposit schemes. Loading It found containers were not the main form of debris found around Australian cities, except Hobart, according to a survey conducted shortly before the Tasmanian container deposit scheme began operations. 'Hobart, which did not have container deposit options at the time of the survey, was found to have the highest occurrence of fragment and whole beverage bottles compared to all other cities,' says the report. 'This provides additional evidence that effective policies, such as container deposit legislation, can help to reduce plastic in the environment.' The schemes, which see consumers charged a 10¢ deposit which is refunded upon container returns, are successful because they provide the packaging industry with a clean and reliable stream of material for recycling, said James Dorney, chief executive of Tomra Cleanaway, the joint venture which runs the NSW scheme.
Khaleej Times
03-06-2025
- Health
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Plastic, crude oil, laundry microfibers top causes of seabird deaths, study finds
Nearly 13 per cent of seabirds found along the country's shores had ingested marine pollutants, including plastic debris, crude oil, tar balls, and even microfibers from laundry waste, a new study revealed. A recent study by the Environment and Protected Areas Authority (Epaa) in Sharjah has shed light on the alarming impact of marine pollution on the UAE's coastal wildlife. The study found that over 11 per cent of the examined seabirds had ingested marine debris, while nearly 2 per cent were found with traces of crude oil or tar balls in their digestive systems. The most commonly consumed ingested materials were plastic polymers, especially polyethylene, followed by glass, fishing hooks, and oil residues, all of which pose serious health risks to marine birds. One surprising source of pollution uncovered in the study was laundry wastewater. Researchers found that microfibers — released from synthetic fabrics during washing — accounted for nearly 78 per cent of all detected microplastics in a sub-analysis of 20 birds. This study, published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin, is the first of its kind in the Middle East to systematically examine seabird ingestion of marine debris. Analysing the digestive tracts of 478 dead seabirds from 17 species collected across the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, the findings reveal the severe consequences of marine pollution on coastal wildlife, highlighting the urgent need for action to safeguard these vulnerable ecosystems. 'This study lays the scientific foundation for long-term monitoring of marine waste impacts,' said Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, chairperson of Epaa. 'It also highlights the need for urgent, collective action to protect our fragile marine ecosystems.' Among the seabirds most affected by debris ingestion were juvenile large white-headed gulls, which were found to be more susceptible than adults. This highlights the added vulnerability of younger birds and the importance of targeting conservation efforts at all stages of seabird life. The study, conducted under the Sharjah Strandings Response Program, is not only a major scientific milestone but also a catalyst for long-term monitoring of marine pollution. Researchers say the data will help inform evidence-based conservation strategies and support environmental policy development not just in the UAE, but across the Gulf. In 2023, the Epaa successfully released 158 rehabilitated seabirds back into the wild at Al Heera Beach in Sharjah. These birds, rescued from various coastal areas, were thoroughly examined, treated, and rehabilitated by qualified veterinarians. Their successful return to the sea underscores the critical importance of rescue and rehabilitation efforts, working hand-in-hand with scientific research, to protect marine wildlife. 'This is more than a scientific milestone,' Al Suwaidi added. 'It reaffirms Sharjah's position as a regional leader in environmental and biodiversity research, and shows our deep commitment to sustainability and marine life protection.' The timing of the findings could not be more urgent. As the UAE continues to develop its coastline and expand its tourism and shipping sectors, the study serves as a stark reminder of the invisible waste accumulating in our oceans and its deadly consequences for wildlife. In the UAE, there are existing marine protection laws. Under Federal Law No. 24 of 1999, discharging pollutants, such as oil waste, plastic, or hazardous materials, into UAE waters is a criminal offence. Violators face fines of up to Dh1 million, possible imprisonment, and are financially responsible for clean-up operations. The law empowers authorities to take direct action against ships, companies, or individuals whose activities harm marine ecosystems. Coinciding with World Environment Day, the Epaa hopes the study will not only raise awareness about the dangers of marine pollution but also inspire action from the public. Everyday behaviours, such as improperly discarding plastic or neglecting to use laundry filters, can have devastating long-term effects that stretch far beyond the shoreline. 'Each piece of plastic that reaches the ocean could end up in the belly of a bird,' said one marine biologist involved in the study. 'This is about more than seabirds. It's about the health of the entire marine ecosystem — and ultimately, our own.'
