Marine Biologists Discover 28 New Deep Sea Species—and an Old VHS Tape

The level of ocean biodiversity near Argentina staggered researchers.

The marine biologists of the Schmidt Ocean Institute are a busy bunch. Over the last few years, scientists aboard the research vessel Falkor (too) have spotted rare Antarctic squid, discovered multiple octopus near Costa Rica, and even cataloged over 100 potential new species off the coast of Chile.

New Shark Deterrent Could Have 'dramatic impact' on Bycatch

Efforts to reduce the levels of shark bycatch in commercial fishing have taken a new turn with the development of a “cheap, yet effective” deterrent that produces an electrical current detectable only to sharks, better enabling fishers to catch only their target species.

Developed by researchers at Florida Atlantic University, it is hoped that the device can go some distance to reduce the risk posed to shark species by commercial fishing efforts, helping to reverse the decline of many endangered species.

Why Changes in a Florida Ocean Current Could Wreak Havoc Worldwide

It’s part of the scenario in “The Day After Tomorrow,” but scientists differ over whether or how fast it may occur. At 2 a.m., oceanographer Ryan Smith was headed into his 12th hour of work with little sleep when trouble started. From the rear deck of the University of Miami’s research boat, he guided the vessel’s winch to lower a cage containing 14 long, gray tubes, collectively weighing about 1,000 pounds, hundreds of meters deep into the Atlantic Ocean, to record the temperature, salinity and density of the water.

Most Hawaiians Are Already Feeling the Affects of Sea Level Rise

Hawai’i residents overwhelmingly believe sea level is affecting the state, expect to be impacted in their lifetime and want changes in development planning, according to a new statewide survey from the University of Hawai’i Economic research organisation (UHERO). The survey drew from 1,314 adults surveyed in summer 2025, and is the first representative survey to measure public beliefs, risk perceptions and policy attitudes across Hawai’i’s four counties.

What Over a Century of Ice Data Can Tell Us About the Great Lakes’ Future

Michigan researchers have gone back in time to get a picture of how ice cover on the Great Lakes has evolved since the late 19th century.

Using historical temperature records from weather stations around the region, researchers improved their understanding of where ice might have formed and for how long it lasted — spanning the last 120 years.

Pause on Virginia Offshore Wind Farm Cost Dominion more than $200M — But Turbines Will Power Up Soon

The Trump administration’s attempt to stop Dominion Energy from building its wind farm off the Virginia Beach coast cost the utility $228 million, company executives told shareholders this week. Shortly before Christmas, the U.S. Interior Department issued a stop-work order for the project and four others along the East Coast. Government officials claimed the wind farms would harm national security, but declined to provide more details.

From Mermaids to Marine Debris

Growing up, Ariel was my favorite Disney princess. None of the others came close. What could be better than being part human and part fish? Watching The Little Mermaid, I laughed hysterically when Ariel, eager to imitate the humans, mistakenly used a discarded fork as a hairbrush.

During the iconic song “Part of Your World,” she sings about her fascination with the various man-made “gadgets and gizmos” that end up in her underwater oasis.

Satellites Are Detecting Plastic Pollution in the Ocean Worldwide

The harmful effects of plastic pollution on human health and biodiversity are well documented. However, last summer, the negotiating committee meeting in Geneva once again failed to reach an international treaty against plastic pollution. This pollution is accumulating in the oceans: 75 to 199 million tonnes of plastic are thought to have ended up in the oceans in 20211, and annual discharges now amount to tens of millions of tonnes. Plastic accounts for more than 80% of the debris present in aquatic systems.

EPA Repeals Power Plant Regulations That Reduce Mercury in Fish

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week repealed a 2024 rule that put stricter limits on mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants, the primary source of the mercury that accumulates in fish and leads to human health risks. In a press release, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said that an earlier version of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), finalized in 2012, was now back in effect, replacing the Biden administration rule.

Whale Entanglements in Fishing Gear Surge Off U.S. West Coast During Marine Heatwaves

New research finds that rising ocean temperatures are shrinking cool-water feeding grounds, pushing humpbacks into gear-heavy waters near shore. Scientists say ocean forecasting tool could help fisheries reduce the risk.

Each spring, humpback whales start to feed off the coast of California and Oregon on dense schools of anchovies, sardines and krill—prey sustained by cool, nutrient-rich water that seasonal winds draw up from the deep ocean.

‘Unbelievably Vulnerable’: The Climate Challenges Facing Mamdani’s New York City

Mayor Zohran Mamdani campaigned on an affordability platform, but climate issues may still define his term. Climate advocates in New York City celebrated when Zohran Mamdani won the mayoral election, applauding his history of opposing the expansion of gas infrastructure in the city and his framing of climate action as important to his affordability agenda.

In Oregon, a Local Seafood Movement Connects Consumers to the Coast

On a gray, stormy Saturday in early February, a small group gathers on a dock at the Port of Newport, along Oregon’s central coast. Their brightly colored raincoats stand out against the seascape. Though it is hard to hear over the high winds, barking sea lions, and din of dock work, they’re paying close attention to Taunette Dixon as she stands before her family’s boat, the Tauny Ann, and spells out the challenges facing fishers today, including increasingly expensive fishing and crabbing permits.

More Than a Drop in the Ocean: What is the High Seas Treaty?

Millions of people across the world have shared the same experience: looking out to the ocean in awe of the vast blue before them. It is no surprise that one of the most biodiverse spaces on Earth, encompassing thousands of life forms, is underwater.

International seabeds and high seas make up over two-thirds of the ocean’s surface and represent over 90 per cent of Earth’s habitat by volume.

NOAA Fisheries Denies ESA Petition For Washington Coast Spring-run Chinook Salmon

More than two and a half years after a petition was filed, NOAA Fisheries has determined that spring-run Chinook salmon on the Washington coast are not a distinct group from their fall-run counterparts and don’t warrant listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). “NMFS has independently reviewed the best available scientific and commercial information,” NOAA Fisheries stated in a post on the Federal Register.

US Ocean Regulator Faces Criticism Over Changes to Right Whale Protection Rule

The U.S.’s ocean regulator plans to make industry-friendly changes to a longstanding rule designed to protect vanishing whales, prompting criticism from environmental groups who cite the recent death of an endangered whale.

The rules protect the North Atlantic right whale, which numbers less than 400 and lives off the East Coast. The giant animals are protected by a vessel speed rule that requires large ships to slow down at certain times to avoid collisions, which is a leading cause of death for the whales.

Change, the Dreaded Constant: Conserving Point Reyes National Seashore

Clutching the carpeted seat beneath me, focused on slow deep breaths, and straining my neck to get a clear view of the road ahead of me, I wasn’t sure my destination was worth the car sickness. When we stopped to eat bagged lunches at the Golden Gate Bridge, the journey from Santa Cruz to Point Reyes seemed to be moving at a glacial, torturous pace. The crisp autumn air in the foggy mystique surrounding the bridge at least began to calm my stomach.

Historic Ocean Treaty Underpinned by Oregon State University Science Takes Effect Jan. 17

Less than two years after OSU scientists led the publication of a landmark marine protected area guide in Science, the United Nations in June 2023 adopted the text of the treaty. The treaty’s aim is to safeguard and sustainably use the high seas, the two-thirds of the ocean not under individual nations’ control. Known officially as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, the treaty was under discussion for more than two decades.

Institute for Ocean Conservation Science Receives $1.6 Million Gift to Support Research

The Institute for Ocean Conservation Science (IOCS) at the State University of New York at Stony Brook has received a $1.6 million gift to establish a research fund that will further the institute’s excellence through innovative and environmentally responsible aquatic research. Founded in 2003 with a clear mission to advance ocean conservation through science, the IOCS is a vital contributor to the university’s mission of leveraging innovative research and education to create a better future for the global community.

Tourist Records Sweet, Unexpected Moment Between Boat captain and Whale: 'He loves it'

A boat captain's special interaction with a gray whale tugged at the internet's heartstrings and hinted at a special relationship that's developed over the years.

A tourist uploaded the touching video from the calving lagoon of Ojo de Liebre in Guerrero Negro, Mexico. The footage captures Paco Jimenez Franco, a boat captain with 20 years of experience, removing whale lice from a visiting gray whale.