Breaking Waves: Ocean News

‘I love midges because I know what their hearts look like’: is the passion for taxonomy in danger of dying out?

admin — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 08:00:04 +0000

Insect taxonomist Art Borkent has described and named more than 300 species of midges but fears his field of science is dying out, despite millions of insects, fungi and other organisms waiting to be discovered

Shark culls brought in after fatal attack cause division and anger in New Caledonia

admin — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 04:20:27 +0000

Authorities say capture of bull and tiger sharks necessary to protect lives as environmentalists launch urgent legal challenge

Some beaches in areas of New Caledonia are closed to swimming and the authorities have begun shark culling off the capital, Nouméa, after a fatal attack in the popular tourist spot – prompting a legal challenge to stop the operation and reigniting debate over public safety and marine conservation.

Concerns for ‘declining’ fur seal spotted at Cooks River in inner Sydney

admin — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 02:56:47 +0000

Long-nosed fur seal seen on banks of waterway in city’s inner west similar to those occasionally found outside Sydney Opera House

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Disbelief as crocodile captured in Newcastle creek thousands of kilometres from natural habitat

admin — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 01:30:33 +0000

The juvenile freshwater crocodile was first spotted by a group of teenagers in Ironbark Creek in the Australian city on Saturday

An Australian freshwater crocodile has been captured in a city creek thousands of kilometres south of its normal range, after sightings shocked onlookers at a suburban park.

The crocodile was first spotted in Ironbark Creek in Newcastle – about 100km north of Sydney – around midday on Saturday, by a group of teenagers.

Datacentre developers face calls to disclose effect on UK’s net emissions

admin — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 16:00:44 +0000

Campaign groups write to technology secretary amid concerns that sites could double overall electricity demand

Datacentre developers are facing pressure to reveal whether their projects will increase the UK’s net greenhouse gas emissions, amid concerns the sites could double national electricity demand.

Thousands of pollution incidents in England downgraded without site visit, data suggests

admin — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 07:00:34 +0000

Exclusive: Whistleblower figures show large rise in ‘serious’ to ‘minor’ downgrades based on water company evidence

Environment Agency (EA) staff have downgraded thousands of serious pollution incidents by water companies in England without visiting to investigate, data unearthed by freedom of information (FoI) requests suggests.

A scorching summer has left Australian wildlife on the brink, but it doesn’t have to be this way | Euan Ritchie and Jess Harwood

admin — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 19:00:21 +0000

Unsettling predictions are now our catastrophic reality, but a brighter future is still within reach if our political leaders change course

Soaring, scorching, record temperatures, yet again. Distressing, protracted droughts. Raging fires and devastating floods. Australia’s summer is drawing to a close, and a reprieve from climate whiplash can’t come soon enough.

‘Who’d guess they’re the same species?’ What Italy’s wall lizards reveal about genetic diversity and why it matters

admin — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 07:00:05 +0000

Understanding biodiversity within species is key to our understanding of why nature works the way it does, say researchers

Words and photographs by Roberto García-Roa

North Dakota judge finalizes $345m judgment against Greenpeace in pipeline case

admin — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 02:09:38 +0000

Judge slashed a $667m damages award to Energy Transfer over Greenpeace’s role in Dakota Access Pipeline protests

A North Dakota judge on Friday finalized a $345m judgment against Greenpeace in a lawsuit pursued by pipeline company Energy Transfer (ET.N) over the environmental group’s role in protests against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Last of the summer rain puts southern states on flood watch and Sydney on alert for bull sharks

admin — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:33:05 +0000

SA premier Peter Malinauskas warns residents to prepare for heavy falls and possible flash floods

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Late summer rain is causing havoc across Australia, with South Australia on flood watch, Victoria cleaning up after a downpour, and Sydney issuing a shark warning after heavy falls.