Coral reefs have exceptional levels of biodiversity and provide important social and ecological services, including food, coastal protection, recreation, tourism, and cultural connections. However, local stressors and climate change are causing a sharp decline in coral reefs and the more than 230 international agreements with coral reef provisions have failed …
The world’s coral reefs are currently in the grip of a massive global bleaching event — only the third such event in recorded history. Thanks to unusually warm water brought on by the effects of climate change, a particularly strong El Nino event and a persistent warm “blob” in the …
Deloitte Access Economics has warned of a "deflationary pulse" wending its way through the global economy, with the world "awash in supply" of hard commodities, just as the Turnbull government has re-approved the $16 billion Adani Carmichael coal project in central Queensland. The economic consultancy firm says deflationary pressures have …
OSLO: Corals reefs are suffering a severe underwater heat wave this year for the third time on record, including a mysterious warm patch in the Pacific known as "The Blob", scientists said on Thursday. The bout of record high temperatures in parts of the oceans, stoked by climate change, is …
Invasion is an ecological phenomenon of introduction of organisms to areas outside their native ranges. It concerns all aspects relating to their transport, establishment and spread in a new region . An invasive species causes imbalance to the ecosystem by monopolizing food and spatial resources and consequently disrupting the native …
Commercial fishing would be allowed in sensitive coral reefs and pristine waters off Australia under advice set to be presented to the Turnbull government that discards landmark marine protections, conservationists say. Critics say the review of 40 marine reserves is also unlikely to curtail the oil and gas industry, which …
Australia's attempts to curb damage to the Great Barrier Reef, which was almost listed as being in danger earlier this year, are falling well short of targets, a report released by the national and Queensland state governments on Monday said. The progress report showed water quality in areas close to …
A plague of coral-eating starfish that have caused alarm over their seemingly unstoppable attack on the Great Barrier Reef can be killed off with a simple dose of household vinegar, scientists have discovered. Crown-of-thorns starfish are considered to be one of the two leading causes, along with cyclones, of a …
THE number of fish, turtles and other wildlife in the world’s oceans has halved in decades, conservationists warn. Overfishing, pollution and changing climate are blamed for the ‘potentially catastrophic’ decline in marine life. From the temperate UK waters to tropical coral reefs, the planet’s seas are emptying fast, the World …
Populations of fish critical to human food security are in serious decline worldwide with some at risk of collapse according to the emergency edition of a WWF report released. WWF’s Living Blue Planet Report finds that much of the activity threatening the ocean is avoidable and solutions do exist to …
The United States Agency for International Development and The Nature Conservancy have launched a major new project aimed at protecting critical marine ecosystems in the Caribbean. USAID launched the $12.5 million Caribbean Marine Biodiversity Program on the Grenadian island of Carriacou. The five-year initiative “seeks to improve the management of …
Corals are recovering from last year’s bleaching but warmer-than-normal ocean temperatures this year will likely lead to a more deadly year for coral reef Warmer-than-normal ocean temperatures around Hawaii this year will likely lead to the worst coral bleaching the islands have ever seen, scientists said. Many corals are only …
The National Australia Bank has ruled out funding Adani’s Carmichael mine, as the country’s biggest proposed coal project also lost a key customer in Korean electronics giant LG. NAB, Australia’s fourth largest bank, had “no plans to be involved in any financing” of the controversial project, the Australian Financial Review …
Parliamentary committee recommended making Cairns a ‘priority port’ but Queensland government says it is committed to keeping reef off ‘in danger’ list The Queensland government has ruled out major development of a port in Cairns that would jeopardise Australia’s pledge to Unesco to limit industrial impacts on the Great Barrier …
A unique and strange species of crustacean has officially been named after Elton John. While exploring the remote coral reefs of Raja Ampat in Indonesia, scientists stumbled upon a new species living inside another reef invertebrate. "I named the species in honor of Sir Elton John because I have listened …
Studies have shown ‘high levels of extinction risk in local marine populations’ thanks to human impact and climate change. Species native to the Great Barrier Reef are more likely to face extinction through climate change than marine life elsewhere that can adapt by “invading” new regions, according to new research. …
Abbott government subsidies for the coal industry including the proposed mega-mines of Queensland's Galilee basin would not be "wise", says Connie Hedegaard, the former European Commissioner for Climate Action. On Tuesday, Treasurer Joe Hockey said the government had been in talks with Queensland state counterparts on Adani Group's proposed Carmichael …
It turns out that warming oceans may have a major impact on the global distribution of marine biodiversity. Researchers have taken a closer look at what climate change might mean for reefs. It turns out that a rapidly warming climate may cause many species to expand into new regions. This, …
The conservation group attacked by the Abbott government after its legal challenge to Australia’s largest proposed coalmine had its taxpayer funding more than doubled by the former Queensland Liberal National party government. Mackay Conservation Group, whose federal court action led to the commonwealth conceding its approval of Adani’s Carmichael mine …
Queensland mining minister set to announce Abbot Point environmental impact statement complete, putting Adani closer to submitting plan to Greg Hunt The latest version of Adani’s controversial plan to dredge in Great Barrier Reef waters to expand its Queensland coal port is poised to go before federal environment minister Greg …
It turns out that we may soon experience the "end" of our world's oceans. Scientists have found that even optimistic estimates for what might be achieved at December's Climate Chance Conference will not be enough to save the world's coral reefs. The aim for the COP21 climate conference is to …
