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.
AMSA issued a safety alert aims to raise awareness on the risks posed by dangerous marine fauna. Australian waters contain a range of dangerous fauna that secrete toxins, inject venom, release or contain poison, harbour dangerous bacteria, give electric shocks or just have sharp teeth. Some can become aggressive once disturbed.
As part of its concrete efforts to protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale over the last years, the Government of Canada now announced enhanced 2020 measures that will help reduce the risks to these marine mammals during the 2020 season from April to November.
The US Navy is deploying an underwater acoustic sensor system to detect and track marine mammals that might be approaching Navy testing ranges, enabling Navy personnel to avoid potentially injuring the animals.
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.”
Steamship Mutual attempts to examine how compliance to the Global Sulphur Cap is to be determined; what procedures will apply and what will be used to ascertain whether bunkers on board and the operation of the ship are compliant, in relation to vessels without scrubbers or other equivalent means of compliance by reference to the IMO Guidelines available.
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.
The International Group of P&I Clubs has published its Annual Review which provides an overview of the Group, key activities and areas of engagement.
