UBC Oceans

Next Friday: Join us live on March 20 at 11 am PT, as Dr. Margot E. White of @eoas.ubc.ca discusses "Impacts of bottom trawling on carbon cycling in the seafloor: a case study in he NW Mediterranean Sea. oceans.ubc.ca/news-and-eve...

In its hunt for critical minerals, the US is misconstruing what is and is not America’s There’s a growing interest in mining the ocean seabed for minerals essential to technology. But whose minerals are they? A Law of the Sea scholar explains.

In its hunt for critical minerals, the US is misconstruing what is and is not America’s. The minerals on the U.S. #seabed are America’s. The minerals on the international seabed are not “America’s.” theconversation.com/in-its-hunt-... via @theconversation.com

Fundraiser launched for tech to keep invasive mussels from entering B.C. waters | Globalnews.ca Many waterways across the United States and Canada are already infested, including the Great Lakes and Lake Winnipeg, according to reports.

Knowns as environmental DNA or #eDNA technology, it involves a portable, suitcase-sized lab that can detect microscopic #mussel larvae attached to boats, invisible to the human eye. globalnews.ca/news/1172820...

Seal Brains Hint at Strong Vocal Flexibility, Giving Us Clues to the Origins of Speech Discover the neural similarities of seals to particularly vocal birds and even humans, suggesting the foundations of speech may not be uniquely human after all.

Discover the neural similarities of #seals to particularly vocal birds and even humans, suggesting the foundations of speech may not be uniquely human after all. www.discovermagazine.com/seal-brains-...

Do These Severed Orca Fins Covered in Tooth Marks Mean Killer Whales Are Cannibals? It's Complicated, Scientists Say Researchers suggest that predation by a subspecies called Bigg's orcas might explain why members of another one, called resident orcas, stay in such large family groups

Do These Severed #Orca Fins Covered in Tooth Marks Mean Killer #Whales Are Cannibals? It's Complicated, Scientists Say - www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/d... @smithsonianmag.bsky.social

Land clearing starts as Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia reaches milestone | CBC News The group in Nova Scotia behind a bid to build North America's first seaside refuge for captive whales has started clearing land near a bay on the province's eastern shore — six years after the projec...

The group in Nova Scotia behind a bid to build North America's first #seaside refuge for captive #whales has started clearing land near a bay on the province's eastern shore — six years after the project was first announced. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Effects of climate emergency on the ocean worry researchers A conference in Rio de Janeiro discusses the High Seas Treaty – a document that is the starting point for regulating biodiversity protection, the exchange of marine technologies, the creation of new g...

“In a recent study, we found many tropical #fish stocks are moving from EEZs toward the #highseas. This can lead to international conflicts, as seen in Europe with #mackerel,” Dr. Juliano Paclacios-Abrantes stated @julianop.bsky.social @ubccoru.bsky.social agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/en/meio-ambi...

⚖️This talk by Dr. David McMillon will discuss a framework for systemic discrimination that has applications ranging from reparations and the racial wealth gap, health disparities, and environmental racism.

🔗https://ires.ubc.ca/march-19-2026-ires-faculty-seminar-with-dr-david-mcmillon/

Human Exceptionalism: How Rethinking Our Place in the Web of Life Could Change Our Global Crises In this episode, Nate speaks with primatologist and author Dr. Christine Webb about human exceptionalism – the deeply embedded belief that humans are separate from and superior to the rest of nature. ...

Human Exceptionalism: How Rethinking Our Place in the Web of Life Could Change Our Global Crises www.resilience.org/stories/2026...

REMINDER: Friday @ 11 am PT, Dr. Veronica Lo from @iisd.org presents "Community-led oyster farms in Fiji – Can they deliver multiple benefits?". oceans.ubc.ca/news-and-eve...: Join us LIVE (or over Zoom) on Friday, March 13 at 11 am

Subtidal Science, our #scientificdiving course, runs from May 18, 2026 - Jun 5, 2026.
bamfieldmsc.com/education/pr...

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Did you know #UBCOceans' @ubcpelagic.bsky.social lab offers fatty acid analysis services? More details available here: pelagicecosystems.oceans.ubc.ca/services/

'Extremely rare' great white shark appearance recorded near Vancouver Island The shark — called Kara by researchers — is a mature female that weighs about 1,000 kilograms. Find out more.

Dr Villy Christensen, FRSC said because the ocean is warming and #climatechange is accelerating that warming, there could be more white #shark sightings off the B.C. coast in the future, for example if their food source migrates to cooler water. vancouversun.com/news/rare-gr...

Researchers track great white shark off Vancouver Island coast The arrival of a tagged great white shark in the waters off southern British Columbia is giving scientists mixed signals about the health of western Canada’s ocean environment.

“In the Salish Sea, we have the world’s highest density of harbour #seals,” he added. “Those are great food, and we know that our transient killer #whales—they know about it. The secret’s been let out,” said Dr. Andrew Trites @science.ubc.ca www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...

$11,600 in fines for 3 men caught illegally harvesting sea cucumbers on Vancouver Island Three people have been fined a combined total of more than $11,000 after they were caught illegally overharvesting sea cucumbers on Vancouver Island last year.

Three people have been fined a combined total of more than $11,000 after they were caught illegally #overharvesting #seacucumbers on Vancouver Island last year. www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...

Feds seek to renew Atlantic Fisheries Fund, but money details still to be negotiated | CBC News The federal government announced Wednesday it plans to enter into negotiations with the Atlantic provinces to renew a fisheries fund that has distributed roughly $376 million over the last seven years...

The Canadian government announced it plans to enter into negotiations with the Atlantic provinces to renew a #fisheries fund that has distributed roughly $376 million over the last seven years aimed at boosting the #seafood sector in the region. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Belugas facing euthanasia at shuttered Canada theme park may find new homes in US For about three decades, beluga whales and bottlenose dolphins greeted more than a million annual visitors to Marineland of Canada. In the sprawling 162-hectare (400-acre) theme park, located a stone’...

30 #belugas, four #dolphins, three #seals and two #sealions remained in the park, their future uncertain. In February two remaining #sealions were transferred to Vancouver Aquarium. The fate of the three #seals remains unclear. news.mongabay.com/2026/03/belu...

We saved gray whales from extinction. Why are so many dying again? : Short Wave In 1999 hundreds of gray whales washed up along the west coast of North America. More in 2000. They lost an estimated 25% of their population. But then the whale population recovered and people moved ...

In 1999 hundreds of gray #whales washed up along the west coast of North America. But then the whale population recovered and people moved on. Until it happened again in 2019. And 2020, and 2021. It's still happening today. www.npr.org/2026/03/11/n...

NGOs take Dutch government to court over destructive fishing The area is a protected North Sea nature area, but the Dutch administration currently permits bottom trawling harming threatened species

Nature NGOS are taking the Dutch government to court today, alleging that the administration has broken the law by allowing destructive #bottomtrawling practices in the protected North Sea area off the Dutch coast. oceanographicmagazine.com/news/ngos-ta...

The Need For Global Growth Is A Billionaire's Lie — And It's Killing The Planet - CleanTechnica Protecting nature and biodiversity is an investment in business vitality and reduced extreme weather catastrophes.

The business world continues to find new ways to reap profits from the #oceans “because we do not fully understand its value.” Industrial #fishing has stripped away large fish and whales. cleantechnica.com/2026/03/10/t...

"“They’re just hanging out talking to each other, being chubby and adorable,” noted another observer."

nice to see more positive opinions of sea lions lol

'Kara has visited Canada': Great white shark tracked in waters near Vancouver It's the first time a great white has been pinged in B.C.

"The great white #shark is not hugely abundant in our waters, primarily because it's more of a tropical shark species," said Dr. William Cheung @ubccoru.bsky.social www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/g...

Extreme heat has extreme effects–but some like it hot A sweeping new study of the 2021 heat wave reveals offers crucial insight into how climate extremes reshape ecosystems.

A sweeping new study of the 2021 heat wave reveals major ecological losses—but also surprising species that thrived, offering crucial insight into how climate extremes reshape ecosystems. @zoology.ubc.ca @ubcbiodiversity.bsky.social

science.ubc.ca/news/2026-03...

3 unidentified orcas spotted in Vancouver Harbour never before documented in B.C. | CBC News Orcas appear in Vancouver Harbour from time to time and often delight residents who catch a glimpse of them. But marine experts say three whales spotted there last week are unlike any previously recor...

The three #orcas spotted recently don't belong to the population of Bigg's killer #whales that normally live here, which means they are genetically distinct and have different DNA and vocalizations. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

DFO proposes increasing allowable approach distance for southern resident killer whales  : My Coast Now Stay connected with 91.7 ICON Radio online at My Coast Now—your hub for classic hits, local news, traffic, ferry updates, and community stories across BC.

DFO proposes increasing allowable approach distance for southern resident killer #whales www.mycoastnow.com/91843/news/e... via @MyCoastNow

Bird flu detected in elephant seal pups along California coast Health officials are urging people to avoid contact with sick or dead wildlife after highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, was d

Bird flu detected in #elephantseal pups along California coast krcrtv.com/north-coast-... #seals

‘Like a biker gang’: Sea lions pack Vancouver Island beach for herring feast A stretch of beach on Vancouver Island has been overtaken by a boisterous, blubbery spectacle that’s drawing curious crowds.

‘Like a biker gang’: Sea lions pack Vancouver Island beach for herring feast. “They essentially roar into town and will roar right out again,” said Andrew Trites @ubcmarinemammal @news.ubc.ca @science.ubc.ca www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/art...

New Fisheries Centre Research Report sheds light on how fish grow in a warming, low-oxygen world @seaaroundus.org sciencex.com/wire-news/53... via @sciencex_com

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Marine virologist, astrophysicist earn UBC’s top research prizes UBC recognizes six Science faculty members for research excellence, with two of the university's top prizes awarded to Dr. Curtis Suttle and Dr. Jess McIver.

Two of UBC’s premier research prizes were awarded to UBC Science faculty members today, with Dr. Curtis Suttle (@virosphere.bsky.social) receiving the Jacob Biely award, and Dr. Jess McIver earning UBC’s Charles A. McDowell award.
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science.ubc.ca/news/2026-03...