Dear Deeply Readers,
Welcome to the archives of Oceans Deeply. While we paused regular publication of the site on September 1, 2018, we are happy to serve as an ongoing public resource on ocean health and economy. We hope you’ll enjoy the reporting and analysis that was produced by our dedicated community of editors and contributors.
We continue to produce events and special projects while we explore where the on-site journalism goes next. If you’d like to reach us with feedback or ideas for collaboration you can do so at [email protected].
A new study finds that industrial fishing vessels flying the flags of wealthy nations are catching the majority of the world’s fish, adding to a growing discussion over how food security and sustainable fishing are connected.
Last year, a bold initiative set out to locate coral reefs most likely to survive global warming. That turned out to be far easier said than done – but now scientists hope the results will rally attention to regions where there’s hope to save crucial marine ecosystems.
Global Fishing Watch is using satellites to monitor brightly lit fishing vessels at night, adding to its ability to monitor a growing portion of the world’s commercial fleet. The goal: to help crack down on illegal fishing and make seafood more sustainable.
Robert Parker at the University of British Columbia has calculated greenhouse gas emissions from the global fishing industry. He talks about what the data show and why not all fisheries are alike.
When researchers reconstructed historical data using modern techniques, they determined that nations have not accurately accounted for past fish catches. But a top U.N. fisheries official disputes the scientists’ methodology and conclusions.
Thai Union, one of the world’s largest seafood companies, is exploring if digital logs and satellite connectivity on fishing boats could help prevent human rights abuses and illegal fishing. Darian McBain, global director for sustainability, says results look promising.
In our latest Deeply Talks, experts from Vulcan and Schmidt Marine Technology Partners discuss new technologies being developed and deployed around the world to stop illegal fishing, which is depleting valuable fish species and devastating other marine life.
Official development assistance for fisheries in developing nations dropped by about one-third between 2010 and 2015. University of British Columbia researcher Colette Wabnitz says the trend is surprising, but the story is complicated.
Regulations that took effect this month require detailed tracking of some imported fish. The program is welcomed by conservation groups and American fishers, but it is not clear is how well it will work.
A growing number of companies are intercepting plastic before it enters the ocean and harms marine life, turning trash into everything from sunglasses and surfboard fins to swimwear and skateboards.
Independent fisheries observers are put onboard commercial fishing boats to collect crucial data for regulators on what is being caught and how. But their role can put them in conflict with captains and crew. Observers are now fighting an effort to undermine protections for their work.
Expectations that the World Trade Organization would reach an agreement this week in Buenos Aires to prohibit government subsides that promote overfishing and illegal fishing were dashed when one country blocked negotiations.
Tens of millions of the top ocean predator are killed every year when they’re caught in fishing lines. Researchers tracked blue sharks to see how close they get to fishing boats whose locations are now mapped worldwide in an effort to detect illegal activity.
An initiative called FISH-i Africa helps coordinate the efforts of eight cash-strapped countries to uncover and catch pirate fishing operators in the western Indian Ocean.
Abandoned fishing gear kills millions of marine animals every year. The Fishing for Energy program generates electricity from gear that’s been retrieved from the ocean.
Australian researchers collaborated with Microsoft cofounder Paul G. Allen’s Vulcan to create algorithms that crunch big data to detect suspicious fishing activity and alert local authorities.
Visited by millions of people, aquariums are in a unique position to help fight overfishing and plastic pollution, says Julie Packard, executive director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
The American eel plays an important role in ocean and freshwater ecosystems but populations are declining from overfishing. Now students are plunging into rivers to help the little-known fish.
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