Browsing: Environmental News

Fishing is as emblematic to Canada as ice hockey. It’s also a way of life…

Just home from UN climate talks in Marrakech, Climate Change Minister, Paula Bennett was sent an open letter recently from businesses, health professionals, climate scientists, academics, faith groups, and prominent New Zealanders calling for action on climate change.

Just home from UN climate talks in Marrakech, Climate Change Minister, Paula Bennett was sent…

The Canadian government has announced a ban on microbeads, and this progressive move will keep this harmful plastic pollutant out of Canada’s waterways. When products containing microbeads, such as cleansers, lotions and toothpastes, are used and rinsed down the drain, these bits of plastic — typically 1.0 millimetre or smaller in diameter — are too small to be caught by wastewater treatment facilities. Instead, they are flushed directly into lakes, rivers and streams, where they wreak havoc on wildlife. Scientists have found millions of microbeads in the Great Lakes, with the highest concentrations occurring near urban areas.

The Canadian government has announced a ban on microbeads, and this progressive move will keep…

A conservation virtual running event has captured the public’s attention and turned from a solo event into a global one, with runners around the world signing up to participate.

Māui’s dolphin, a subspecies of Hector’s dolphin found off the west coast of the North Island, is the rarest marine dolphin and has approximately just 63 individuals remaining in the wild. This critically endangered dolphin needs all the help it can get to recover from fisheries bycatch.

Māui’s dolphin, a subspecies of Hector’s dolphin found off the west coast of the North…

The recent landmark announcement of the world’s newest and largest marine protected area (MPA) in the Ross Sea in Antarctica brought great personal joy to me and closure to an incredible journey that began ten-years ago.

The recent landmark announcement of the world’s newest and largest marine protected area (MPA) in…

The waters of New Zealand are home to a number of colourful moray eel species and conger eels, which can be dived with in places such as the Poor Knights marine reserve in Northland. Spending time with eels isn’t restricted to scuba diving though, as the land of the long white cloud is also home to the Longfin eel; a freshwater species only found in New Zealand and declining in numbers.

The waters of New Zealand are home to a number of colourful moray eel species…

The U.S. election was a chilling illustration of the atrocious state of public discourse. It doesn’t bode well for a country once admired for leadership in education and science.

The U.S. election was a chilling illustration of the atrocious state of public discourse. It…

Kiribati, an island nation in the central Pacific Ocean, is committed to protecting their waters from overfishing and have recently announced they have established a large shark sanctuary. The sanctuary is approximately the size of India and commercial shark fishing is banned within it

Kiribati, an island nation in the central Pacific Ocean, is committed to protecting their waters…

Now what? Many people in the United States and around the world are dismayed that a bigoted, misogynistic, climate change denier has been elected to the highest office in what is still the world’s most powerful nation. His party controls the House and Senate, meaning pro-fossil-fuel, anti-climate-action representatives who reject overwhelming and alarming scientific evidence will hold the reins. It will be a government firmly in the pocket of the fossil fuel industry. But global warming isn’t going to pause for four years. It’s going to accelerate. Do we give up?

Now what? Many people in the United States and around the world are dismayed that…

Turns out, Frogfish are even cooler than you thought! Frogfish are one of those fish…

Imagine beaches that are free from rubbish, healthy rivers that we can swim in, and people everywhere who are inspired to look after the places we love. This is the vision of non-profit group Sustainable Coastlines. The charity recently launched a crowd-funding campaign to help complete The Flagship Education Centre – a unique and ambitious re-locatable building planned for Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter, and they need your help.

Imagine beaches that are free from rubbish, healthy rivers that we can swim in, and…

Coral Restoration Foundation has been awarded $2.1 million in funding from the National Oceanic and…

Clean air, water and soil to grow food are necessities of life. So are diverse plant and animal populations. But as the human population continues to increase, animal numbers are falling. There’s a strong correlation. A comprehensive report from the World Wildlife Federation and the Zoological Society of London found that wild animal populations dropped by 58 per cent between 1970 and 2012, and will likely reach a 67 per cent drop by 2020 if nothing is done to prevent the decline.

Clean air, water and soil to grow food are necessities of life. So are diverse…

The 2016 sea turtle nesting season is coming to an end, and its’s been a…

On the 26th October 2016 at Oceana Canada’s symposium, Rebuilding Abundance: Restoring Canada’s Fisheries for Long-Term Prosperity, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced that his department has released key information on the status of Canadian fish stocks, sharing the results of an annual Sustainability Survey for Fisheries, and investing additional funds to increase science capacity.

On the 26th October 2016 at Oceana Canada’s symposium, Rebuilding Abundance: Restoring Canada’s Fisheries for…

In July, a pipeline leak near Maidstone, Saskatchewan, spilled about 250,000 litres of diluted oil sands bitumen into the North Saskatchewan River, killing wildlife and compromising drinking water for nearby communities, including Prince Albert. It was one of 11 spills in the province over the previous year.

In July, a pipeline leak near Maidstone, Saskatchewan, spilled about 250,000 litres of diluted oil…

It’s unnerving to think that each year, hundreds of whales and dolphins strand on the shores of New Zealand. In fact, New Zealand has the highest stranding rate in the world. Some are sick or injured; others are perfectly healthy and need a helping hand back into the water. 300 strand in New Zealand each year and mass stranding can also be common, which can involve 100s of animals at a time. But if you were to see a beached whale how many of us actually know how to help these magnificent marine mammals get back to the water?

It’s unnerving to think that each year, hundreds of whales and dolphins strand on the…

As leaves change colour and drop from trees, and a chill in the air signals the approach of winter, many of us are thinking of the fall harvest and hearty soups and dishes that will soon warm our bellies.

As leaves change colour and drop from trees, and a chill in the air signals…

Taking the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to court to protect wild salmon is nothing new for us.

As you might remember, last year we successfully argued that the Minister had unlawfully delegated his regulatory responsibilities to fish farm companies and won a precedent-setting legal victory.

Taking the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to court to protect wild salmon is nothing…

I’ve often thought politicians inhabit a parallel universe. Maybe it’s just widespread cognitive dissonance, coupled with a lack of imagination, that compels them to engage in so much contradictory behaviour. Trying to appease so many varying interests isn’t easy.

I’ve often thought politicians inhabit a parallel universe. Maybe it’s just widespread cognitive dissonance, coupled…

13 Species Listed in Plenary, NGOs look to implementation, remaining threats. Conservationists are delighted that…

Countries Must Now Finalize Decisions in Plenary Later This Week In a highly anticipated Committee…

Love Reefs? Want to put your diving skills to good use? Try this Reef Check diving expedition with a difference…..

Love Reefs?  Want to put your diving skills to good use? Try this Reef Check…

Life evolved to live within limits. It’s a delicate balance. Humans need oxygen, but too much can kill us. Plants need nitrogen, but excess nitrogen harms them, and pollutes rivers, lakes and oceans. Ecosystems are complex. Our health and survival depend on intricate interactions that ensure we get the right amounts of clean air, water, food from productive soils and energy from the sun.

Life evolved to live within limits. It’s a delicate balance. Humans need oxygen, but too…

In 2015, announcing the winners of the Project AWARE’s silent auction was one of the…

The Whitsundays is a collection of 74 islands off of Australia’s central east coast and part of the majestic world heritage site, the Great Barrier Reef. Second only to Cairns, it is one of the most popular places for tourists to visit the reef. It attracts nearly 600,000 visitors each year with over 300 tour boats in operation. Due to the popularity of this particularly beautiful and accessible part of the reef, much damage has been caused due to the dropping of anchors. This habitat loss has then become one of the most widespread causes of marine species decline on the Great Barrier Reef.