Tag: healthy oceans

During the 2020 GREEN4SEA Athens Forum, Dr. Efi Tsolaki, Chief Scientific Officer, ERMA FIRST S.A. highlighted that invasive aquatic species are a major threat to the marine ecosystems, and shipping has been identified as a vital pathway for introducing species to new environments.

The UK-based University of Portsmouth launched a new research center, in order to enhance the safety of the world’s marine and freshwater environment. In fact, the Centre for Blue Governance (CBG) goals to develop and conduct multi-disciplinary research to inform blue governance policies globally. 

In light of the marine pollution, the climate change upon ocean ecosystems and the habital loss that the ocean is dealing with, the United Nations Development Program lauched the Ocean Innovation Challenge (OIC) in order to face those negative impacts and boost the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 14 (SDGs) targets.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) are collaborating with the Southern Africa and Islands Hydrographic Commission, in order to give a boost to the region's ocean economy, by establishing new regulations and legislation.

After a two-day preparatory meeting in New York ahead of June’s UN Ocean Conference in Portugal, earlier in February, activists handed over what they termed “A Blue Call to Action” for safeguarding the ocean to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres. 

The University of Surrey recently announced that will tend its focus on the marine litter issue. Specifically, Dr Kayleigh Wyles will investigate the matter at hand through a study based on how volunteers can tackle the marine pollution.

According to Reuters, the Amazon river dolphin known as pink dolphin located in Brazil, is under threat since fishermen are hunting and killing them illegally by making them bait for a catfish called piracatinga, which gathers fish that demand high prices in the city.

On 28 and 29 January 2020, the European Commission organized an international event, focused on environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and strategic environmental assessments (SEAs) located in areas beyond national jurisdiction in Brussels. Namely through this workshop, EU will boost the conclusion of a treaty on the high seas.

According to a recent statement, 102 environmental organizations, led by Seas At Risk, BirdLife Europe, ClientEarth, Oceana, Surfrider Foundation Europe and WWF are launching the “Blue Manifesto.” Namely, the rescue plan outlines concrete actions that must be delivered by set dates with the aim to “turn the tide on the ever-degraded and polluted ocean and coastlines.” 

The University of Washington though its new study, revealed that the massive marine heatwave in the northeastern Pacific during 2014-2016, known as "the Blob", has negative impacts upon the ocean food chain. Specifically, millions of seabirds along the US west coast lost their lives, as it is expected to become more frequent due to climate change.