Blue Planet Society

These unearthly whale songs helped save humpbacks from extinction Once at risk of being wiped out, humpback whales charted a remarkable comeback thanks to their songs. In 1979, National Geographic issued a record-breaking album of those tunes alongside a story about...

How whale song helped save humpbacks from extinction. 🐋

www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...

‘Mad fishing’: the super-size fleet of squid catchers plundering the high seas Every year a Chinese-dominated flotilla big enough to be seen from space pillages the rich marine life on Mile 201, a largely ungoverned part of the South Atlantic off Argentina

‘Mad fishing’: the super-size fleet of squid catchers plundering the high seas.

Every year a Chinese-dominated flotilla pillages the rich marine life on Mile 201, a largely ungoverned part of the South Atlantic off Argentina.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Plans to create Marine Protected Area around Sark Marine habitats around Sark could be getting extra safeguards through a new protection order.

Plans to protect 'treasure trove' of marine life

The waters around Sark host a range of habitats including eelgrass beds, reefs, seabirds, and marine mammals. The proposed MPA would strengthen measures on trawling within inshore waters.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Stranded dolphin-like mammals found suffering record levels of mercury poisoning Mercury concentrations in the livers of stranded purpoises has risen by 1 per cent each year

Mercury in the water devastating porpoise population.

High levels of metal in dead sea mammals could have implications for humans, researchers warn.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/porpoises-mercury-poisoning-uk-waters-b2888839.html

10,000 shark fins worth over $11M seized in major wildlife trafficking bust in Peru The bust, in the port outside of Peru's capital, Lima, led to the arrest of three men tied to a transnational criminal network involved in illegal fishing and wildlife smuggling, according to the U.S....

10,000 shark fins worth over $11M seized in major wildlife trafficking bust in Peru

www.cbsnews.com/news/peru-sh...

‘Forever chemicals’ contaminate more dolphins and whales than we thought – new research The sex and age of an animal turn out to be stronger predictors than habitat for higher PFAS levels, suggesting they accumulate over a lifetime.

Dolphins and whales have ‘no place to hide’ from forever chemicals, warns new study.

Scientists have sounded the alarm over toxic forever chemicals, after analysing 127 whales and dolphins.

theconversation.com/forever-chem...

The devastating trail supertrawlers leave behind - Blue Planet Society Have you heard of supertrawlers? There are currently eight Europe-registered supertrawlers licensed to fish in British waters.

Supertrawlers are massive trawlers, up to 144m long, using huge nets up to 1km long to target pelagic fish.

Capable of catching thousands of tonnes of fish per trip, with disgusting levels of #bycatch, these marine ecosystem destroyers must be stopped.
blueplanetsociety.org/the-devastat...

Sign the Petition Stop the mass slaughter of dolphins by the fishing industry in EU waters

Thousands of common dolphins 🐬 are being killed by fishing vessels in EU waters. 🇪🇺

This barbaric practice is dismissively called 'bycatch' by the fishing industry.

✍️Sign our petition & join 555,000 people calling for an end to this needless slaughter www.change.org/p/stop-the-s...

Over a third of animals lost in test deep sea mining - scientists The findings contribute to a controversial debate that pits green technology against the environment.

❌ Deep Sea Mining tests impact over a third of seabed animals.

Machines mining minerals in the deep ocean have been found to cause significant damage to life on the seabed, scientists carrying out the largest study of its kind say.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

#deepseamining

Norway rules out Arctic deep-sea mining until 2029 Ruling from newly-elected government means deep-sea mineral exploration and exploitation will stop until almost end of decade

Norway has joined almost 40 countries calling for a pause, ban or moratorium on deep-sea mining until at least 2029.

geographical.co.uk/news/norway-...

Manufacturing Monsters - How Hollywood Demonised Sharks - Blue Planet Society The media's portrayal of sharks has had profound real-world consequence, affecting conservation efforts, fishing practices, and public perception, often to the detriment of entire ecosystems.

Manufacturing Monsters. How Hollywood Demonised Sharks.
🦈 📽️

The fear of sharks was fuelled by Benchley’s novel, Jaws & perpetuated by Spielberg’s film + media negativity.

How has this negative portrayal of sharks contributed to their mass slaughter?
blueplanetsociety.org/manufacturin...

Hidden vessel traffic threatens life in Scotland’s MPAs - Oceanographic A study finds two-thirds of vessels in Scotland’s MPAs aren’t using tracking system, exposing major gaps in protection for marine species.

Hidden vessel traffic threatens life in Scotland’s MPAs.

Nearly 2/3 of vessels in Scotland’s MPAs go undetected because they don’t use AIS. Smaller, fast-moving craft are the least monitored, increasing risks to whales, dolphins and other wildlife.

oceanographicmagazine.com/news/hidden-...

Deep-sea mining threatens habitats of 30 sharks and rays species - Oceanographic Deep-sea mining threatens to disrupt or destroy the habitats and nursing grounds of 30 species of sharks, rays, or chimaeras, a study finds.

New study found that deep sea mining in the Clarion-Clipperton zone would threaten the habitat of dozens of chimaera, ray & shark species.

Of the 30 species identified in the study, 2/3+ are already under threat; if mining begins, they could be lost.

oceanographicmagazine.com/news/deep-se...

Trump claims ‘wind mills’ kill whales but quietly torpedoes the… The Interior Department defunds two vital research programs that track North Atlantic right whales near active offshore wind construction sites.

The Trump administration has repeatedly blamed offshore wind farms for whale deaths, contrary to scientific evidence.

Now the administration is abandoning key research programs meant to protect marine mammals living in an increasingly busy ocean.
www.canarymedia.com/articles/off...

Why You Should Really, Really Not Eat Dolphin Meat Not-so-toxin-free Willy.

Dolphin meat found to contain 265 times the regulatory limit of mercury in Japan! 🇯🇵🐬

“Test results found Risso’s dolphin meat has mercury levels of 106 ppm mercury,” That’s a figure “265 times the 0.4ppm regulatory limit in Japan,”
www.iflscience.com/why-you-shou...

Pack hunting is a social behavior that demonstrates cooperation between predators.

Once thought a uniquely mammalian capability, we now acknowledge pack hunting behavior across the animal kingdom, including many fish species. This interspecific jack pack is especially impressive.

#MarineLife

Whale and dolphin migrations are being disrupted by climate change Marine mammals are being forced into new and more dangerous waters, scientists warn.

Whale and dolphin migrations are being disrupted by climate change.

Marine mammals are being forced into new and more dangerous waters, scientists warn.

arstechnica.com/science/2025...

New report uncovers cause of shocking string of whale deaths: 'Our current safeguards are not enough' "This report paints a clear picture."

New report uncovers cause of shocking string of whale deaths 🐋

NOAA data shows that since 2007, more than 920 humpback whales have been maimed or killed by fishing lines, many linked to commercial crab operations. 🦀🎣

www.yahoo.com/news/article...

More whales are getting caught in nets off Australia's east coast - Australian Geographic Scientists have noticed a troubling rise in the number of whales caught and tangled in fishing and shark nets this migration season.

More whales are getting caught in fishing and shark nets off Australia’s East Coast. 

48 separate entanglements of humpback whales have been recorded in the past few months on the East Coast. This follows last year’s estimate of 45 entangled whales.

www.australiangeographic.com.au/nature-wildl...

Iceland resumed whaling, but no one seems to want to do it anymore Ethics seems to be an afterthought in the discussion.

In 2023, Iceland’s government lifted a ban on commercial whaling. But commercial whaling in Iceland has again been halted. 🐳

Hvalur hf., announced it would not hunt again this summer. The 2nd consecutive year hunting has been cancelled. ✊
www.zmescience.com/ecology/icel...

Climate change clears northern route for first container ... The melting ice sheet has opened up a north-east passage – which brings fresh political and environmental dangers along with it

The melting arctic ice sheet has opened up a north-east passage – which brings fresh political and environmental dangers along with it.

observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

Hundreds of dolphins are dying young – and scientists say the signs are alarming... | Discover Wildlife Population growth of common dolphins in the Bay of Biscay has slowed

Common dolphins, among the most abundant marine mammals on Earth, are living shorter lives in the North Atlantic. 🐬

Females' life span is 7 years shorter on average, reducing from 24 to 17 years.

Population growth has slowed by 2.4 per cent.
www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts...

Antarctic krill: how did a paperclip-sized crustacean cause a diplomatic row – and why are they so important? Russia’s arrest of a Ukrainian scientist this week over his support for curbs on krill fishing have thrown the vital role of the tiny marine species into the spotlight

Antarctic krill: how did a tiny crustacean cause a diplomatic row – and why are they so important? 🦐

Russia’s arrest of a Ukrainian scientist for supporting curbs on krill fishing has thrown the vital role of the tiny species into the spotlight.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Green turtle bounces back from brink in conservation 'win' Once endangered due to hunting, it is making a strong recovery thanks to global conservation efforts.

The green turtle has been rescued from the brink of extinction in what scientists are calling a major conservation victory.

Once hunted extensively for turtle soup, green turtles have been listed as endangered since the 1980s.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Artificial reef created at Rampion offshore wind farm in Sussex The reef protects the wind turbine and serves as a home for a wide range of marine life.

One of the largest artificial reefs in the world has been installed at a wind farm off the Sussex coast.

The project at Rampion Wind Farm is the first of its kind, with 75,000 specially designed "reef cubes" placed at the bottom of a single turbine.

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Delight over reported sighting of orca calf off Isles of Scilly Two female Iberian orcas are seen off the Isles of Scilly with an unidentified new addition.

The possible sighting of a calf among a pair of female orcas off the Isles of Scilly has sparked excitement among marine wildlife experts.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Marine park threatens to euthanize 30 whales if Canada does not provide funding Marineland’s warning comes after Canadian official blocked the transfer of the beluga whales to a theme park in China

Marineland, the once-popular Canadian attraction that closed last year after six decades of operation, is threatening to euthanise 30 beluga whales after being denied government funding.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Planet’s first catastrophic climate tipping point reached, report says, with coral reefs facing ‘widespread dieback’ Unless global heating is reduced to 1.2C ‘as fast as possible’, warm water coral reefs will not remain ‘at any meaningful scale’, a report by 160 scientists from 23 countries warns

Planet’s first catastrophic climate tipping point reached, with coral reefs facing ‘widespread dieback’

Unless global heating is reduced to 1.2C ‘as fast as possible’, warm water coral reefs will not remain ‘at any meaningful scale.’

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

The writing's on the wall. Overfishing is emptying our seas of life 🪝

We took to the streets of London to remind govt that #overfishing is a political choice, & they have the power to stop it 🎣

Help us call on PM Keir Starmer to end overfishing: act.oceana.org/page/178303/...

How we probed a maze of websites to tally Brazilian government shark meat orders Mongabay recently published an investigation revealing widespread Brazilian government purchases of shark meat to feed schoolchildren, hospital patients, prisoners and more. The series has generated p...

A recent Mongabay investigation found widespread government purchases of shark meat in Brazil to serve in thousands of public institutions.
🦈🇧🇷

news.mongabay.com/2025/09/how-...