Ocean News

The Pacific Region Panel (PRP) Workshop on Pacific Atmospheric Teleconnections in a Warming Climate (PATAC) and Tropical Pacific Biogeochemical–Physical Interactions (BGC-PI) was held on May 21-22, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. Learn more about this event by checking a summary of the workshop, discussions and further steps available in the report available online here. via CLIVAR Have […]

The call for nominations to the CLIVAR panels and Scientific Steering Group (SSG) is now open, with appointment starting in January 2027 and January 2028 respectively. Nominations can be submitted online via the nomination form, deadline for the submission is 16 August 2026 23:59 UTC. Detailed information about CLIVAR panels and the SSG, including current activities and membership, can be

To strengthen the impact of European Partnerships, the Horizon Europe 2028-2034 proposal suggests streamlining implementation modes and using a portfolio approach to identify a limited set of coherent partnerships, with objectives closely aligned with the European Competitiveness Fund. Under this initiative, some European Partnerships will be implemented as joint undertakings in accordance with Article 187 TFEU,

You are invited to take part in a European Commission (DG MARE and CINEA) study on the competitiveness of the EU ocean observation technologies. The survey targets organisation, which develop or provide ocean observation technologies or services and the objective is to understand the sector’s structure, performance, and challenges in comparison with international competitors. Your insights will help identify key challenges and opportunities

In the latest episode from the podcast Why We Care, French researcher and activist Anne-Sophie Roux shares insights from a recent expedition to Antarctica and discusses a new international campaign to strengthen protection for the Southern Ocean. The episode explores why Antarctica is so vital for global climate regulation and biodiversity, the growing threats from

A patch of unusually cold water in the North Atlantic, known as the “cold blob,” may be a sign that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is weakening. New research suggests the cooling is driven by reduced ocean heat transport rather than atmospheric changes, raising concerns that this vital current system could be approaching a

After disappearing from the Channel Islands for decades, Atlantic bluefin tuna have made a remarkable return, offering one of the most encouraging marine conservation stories in recent years. Once driven to the brink by overfishing, the species has recovered following tighter international management, with large schools now once again feeding in waters around Jersey and

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the European Ocean Act, a landmark process shaping EU ocean governance across ocean health, the blue economy, research, and international leadership. Open to all stakeholders. EuroMarine encourages members to respond. More information. via EU Have any news or opportunity in ocean sciences to share? Send it

In Indonesia’s Raja Ampat, home to some of the world’s most biodiverse coral reefs, efforts are underway to restore a missing predator. The Indo-Pacific leopard shark was driven to near extinction by the shark-finning industry, leaving it absent from reefs where it once thrived. Through the StAR Project, the international ReShark coalition is working with

The Trump administration has reversed plans to dismantle the Ocean Observatories Initiative following strong opposition. The National Science Foundation will continue operating and maintaining the system while seeking input on its future. The network’s hundreds of sensors provide critical data on ocean conditions, climate change, marine ecosystems and extreme weather, supporting research and decision-making around

The 11th Our Ocean Conference has concluded in Mombasa, Kenya, with more than 100 governments, businesses and civil society organisations announcing 320 commitments worth $6.4 billion for ocean conservation, sustainable fisheries, climate resilience and blue economy development. Major pledges included $1 billion from the World Bank, $682 million from Canada and new protections for French

Six First Nations on British Columbia’s Central Coast have established a vast new Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA), creating what some leaders describe as one of the strongest marine protected areas in the world. Named Mia-yaltwa Ha’lidzogm hoon, meaning “Realm of the Salmon, Home of the Salmon,” the protected area covers 6,700 square kilometres.

The Surface Ocean CO₂ Atlas (SOCAT) is a synthesis activity for quality-controlled, surface ocean fCO₂ observations by the international marine carbon research community (>100 contributors). SOCAT data is publicly available, discoverable and citable. SOCAT enables quantification of the ocean carbon sink and ocean acidification and evaluation of ocean biogeochemical models. SOCAT data are released in versions. Each succeeding version contains

You are invited to take part in a research survey led by the  BIO-Carbon Early Career Ocean Professionals Network, exploring how ocean carbon–related samples and datasets are collected, managed, and shared across the research community. This work is motivated by the growing need to better understand data availability in the context of net zero, climate change, and the environmental cost of

Scientists have discovered one of the largest known whale graveyards on Earth, hidden nearly 7,000 metres beneath the Indian Ocean. The site contains whale bones and fossils dating back up to five million years. Researchers believe the area became a natural gathering point for whale carcasses due to unique seafloor conditions. The discovery is providing

Orcas are being spotted off the northeast coast of England in numbers rarely seen before. Researchers recorded five verified sightings off Northumberland in 2025, while recent reports included a pod of up to ten animals and a group of around 30 seen near the Farne Islands. Scientists say sightings are clearly increasing, offering an encouraging

A Greenpeace-led expedition to the Arctic Ocean has revealed remarkable deep-sea ecosystems and potential new species in one of the least explored regions on Earth. During a month-long mission to the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge, scientists used a remotely operated vehicle to explore seamounts and hydrothermal vent fields up to 3,000 metres below the surface, in

The European Commission has also launched the call for evidence for a water resilience research and innovation (R&I) strategy. This strategy aims to address knowledge and innovation gaps to achieve the goals of the water resilience strategy. It will: help channel funding for water-related R&I and scale up existing solutions; boost competitiveness and sustainability, by supporting technological advancements in key

The call for evidence for the European ocean research and innovation strategy is now open. This strategy will build on the EU’s research and innovation framework programme and on its Mission to restore our ocean and waters by 2030, among others. It aims to: improve the current governance of research and innovation by overcoming the fragmentation of initiatives, including research infrastructures;

IOC-UNESCO has sent a letter to IOC Member States with a request to please review their GOOS National Focal Points and Argo National Focal Points and to update them as necessary using the nomination forms. Completed Argo and GOOS National Focal Point nomination forms should be sent to the GOOS Administrative Support, with cc to the OceanOPS Argo Technical Coordinator and Programme Specialist at GOOS Office for GOOS National Focal

Green Tides  is a five-episode podcast series that combines storytelling and expert interviews to explore the science, people, and ideas shaping more resilient coastal futures. Through accessible and engaging narratives, the series addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing coastal areas worldwide, including sea-level rise, coastal erosion, climate change, environmental justice, ocean literacy, technological innovation, and stakeholder engagement. The podcast

To mark its 15th anniversary, JPI Oceans is launching a photo and art competition inviting artists, photographers, and enthusiasts to illustrate the science behind our Joint Actions. Since its founding, JPI Oceans has coordinated European research and innovation on some of the ocean’s most pressing and, at times, overlooked challenges: for instance, the ecological impact

The European Commission has adopted two new strategies, one for EU islands and one for EU coastal communities, setting out for the first time a coordinated European approach to support both types of territories and unlock their long-term potential. The two initiatives introduce a targeted approach, dedicated to the specific needs and unique challenges of 17 million people living on more

The third World Ocean Assessment (WOA III) is the global integrated assessment of the world’s ocean covering environmental, economic and social aspects. This report, produced by the UN, is the main output of the third cycle of the Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the States of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects. WOA III is now available in a dynamic,

Former EMB artists-in-residence Lera Litvinova and Michael Begg have a new joint exhibition open in Kyiv, Ukraine. This type of collaboration shows the value that EMB’s EMBracing the Ocean artists-in-residence programme continues to have even after the artists’ residency finishes. Their joint exhibition entitled “Shadow Over Water” is dedicated to the fragility of Ukraine’s marine ecosystems and the challenges they face due to climate change, human activity, and the

Which species would you choose to represent the UK on a future banknote? The Bank of England is inviting the public to vote for their favourite wildlife species, from mammals and birds to fish, amphibians and reptiles. The shortlist celebrates the rich diversity of British wildlife and offers a chance for nature to take centre

Head over to OnlyOne to join reef restorers Gimel, Duran, Kate and Alex for a day’s dive. Watch their new short film that explores what is it like to outplant and monitor corals in The Bahamas. Together with scientists, tourists, dive shops and local businesses, they’re helping rehabilitate and sustain vital ecosystems and educate communities

Indigenous leaders, scientists, conservation groups and community members gathered in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, this spring to mark the tenth anniversary of the Lelu Island Declaration, which placed Lelu Island and surrounding salmon habitat in the Skeena River estuary under the protection of Indigenous laws. The declaration was signed in 2016 in response to plans

The PNW Regional Blue Carbon Calculator was developed by scientists, state agencies, and nonprofit partners as an easy-to-use tool for estimating the emissions and sequestration impacts of land management actions such as wetland conservation, restoration, or degradation. It translates blue carbon science into regionally relevant estimates. Coastal wetlands are powerful climate and resilience assets. This calculator makes

The authors of Chapter 3 “Projected futures in the context of sustainable development and climate change” of the Working Group III on Mitigation of Climate Change of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Seventh Assessment Report (AR7), invite researchers to share relevant qualitative scenario/futures materials and resources to support a comprehensive and robust assessment. As part of this chapter, the authors are mandated

On Wednesday, 3 June, EMB and its Young Ambassadors hosted an ECOP Wednesday series event on the topic of “Transformative approaches to Ocean protection, restoration and governance“. The session featured Gro Njølstad Slotsvik as speaker and was followed by an interactive Q&A discussion. In her talk, Gro explored how early career ocean professionals can contribute to transformative change in practical ways.

In Return to the Bering, a short film by Fielder Films available free on YouTube, surfers Noah Wegrich, Pete Devries, Mark McInnis and Alaska surf explorer Josh Mulcoy venture deeper into the remote Bering Sea in search of legendary waves. Along the way, they encounter a rugged, untamed landscape where crystal-clear waters meet beaches crowded

Aotearoa New Zealand has announced its largest expansion of marine protection in more than a decade, creating six new marine reserves and extending protection across parts of the south-east coast of Te Waipounamu/South Island. The measures will safeguard important habitats for species including hoiho/yellow-eyed penguins, New Zealand sea lions, seabirds and marine fish. Read more

World Ocean Day, celebrated annually on 8 June, brings people together worldwide to support ocean conservation. The 2026 Action Theme, Strong Marine Protected Areas for Our Blue Planet, focuses on advancing global commitments to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030. The campaign highlights the role of well-managed marine protected areas in safeguarding biodiversity and

The Antarctic krill fishery reached its catch limit early for the first time in its history, forcing the fishery to close four months ahead of schedule in August 2025. Although the overall catch limit of 620,000 tonnes was designed to protect krill stocks, the lapse of zone-specific restrictions allowed more than 57% of the annual

White-tailed eagles are set to be released in Exmoor National Park as part of a conservation project aimed at restoring the species to southern England. Up to 20 young birds will be released over three years, building on an existing reintroduction programme on the Isle of Wight. Supporters say the project will boost biodiversity and

Scientists have identified 1,121 previously unknown marine species in a single year through the Ocean Census, a global effort to accelerate the discovery of ocean life. Findings include a deep-sea ghost shark, a carnivorous sponge nicknamed the “death ball,” and symbiotic worms living inside glass sponges. Researchers say the discoveries highlight both the richness of

Five months after a major marine crisis began in Papua New Guinea’s New Ireland Province, authorities still cannot confirm what caused it. The event started on 11 December 2025, when fish began dying in Larairu Lagoon near Kafkaf Village. Within weeks, marine die-offs spread along the coast, with community monitors recording 3,451 dead marine organisms

A group of women in Makongeni, Kenya, are being celebrated for protecting both bees and coastal ecosystems through community-led beekeeping. The Makongeni Beekeepers care for nearby mangroves to keep their bees healthy, while the restored mangroves provide vital breeding grounds for fish, supporting local fisheries in return. Led by chairlady Zayneb Hamisi Mandano, the initiative

The UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly backed a landmark International Court of Justice opinion stating that countries have a legal obligation to tackle climate change. The resolution reinforces the court’s 2025 advisory opinion that governments must reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address fossil fuel use. While not legally binding, the decision is expected to influence

Nearly a decade after bottom trawling and dredging were banned in Scotland’s South Arran Marine Protected Area, scientists have recorded a major recovery in seabed life. Surveys found around three times more marine organisms and twice as many species compared to nearby unprotected waters. Researchers documented the return of more than 1,500 species, including worms

After one of the deadliest migration seasons on record for grey whales in San Francisco Bay, scientists have launched a new AI-powered monitoring system designed to help protect the animals from ship strikes. Researchers found that nearly one in five grey whales identified in the bay died there, with vessel collisions responsible for around 40%

The new U.S. Ocean Sound Monitoring and Condition Reporting website uses 12 National Marine Sanctuaries as geographic management areas to present standardized time-series metrics of sound levels, detection products, and other ocean indicators across 29 monitoring stations. The goal is to provide place-based, contextualized soundscape information that aligns with international standards and supports research activities, resource protection, and

SCOR is inviting to contribute to their “Literature Review Spreadsheet” here. This is a structured repository designed to catalogue and analyse research on AI-based sea ice models. It aims to provide a collaborative resource for tracking the evolution of machine learning approaches, including model architectures, training and validation datasets, and evaluation frameworks. The document is

The International Symposium on Transformative Ocean Science is a high-level forum bringing together leading scientists, research organisations, policymakers, and funding bodies to reflect on how ocean science must evolve to meet Europe’s most pressing environmental, societal, and policy challenges. During the first edition, held in Venice from 24 to 27 March 2026, the Symposium focused on the scientific, institutional, and

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the Birds and Habitats Directives, with contributions feeding into a stress test of both. This is part of the Commission’s wider simplification initiative to strengthen EU competitiveness while continuing to safeguard environmental, economic and social goals. The EU Nature Directives protect birds, other species and habitats in the EU,

The EU Mission Restore our Ocean & Waters (Mission Ocean) is an initiative of the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme for the years 2021-2027 to help achieve the marine and freshwater targets of the European Green Deal. The three objectives of the Mission Ocean are: 1)      Protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity; 2)     

EMB’s Annual Report 2025 is now published and available for download. In 2025, we engaged in a wide range of marine science-policy activities, including the publication of the Future Science Briefs on ‘Deep Sea Research and Management Needs‘ and on ‘Monitoring, Verification and Reporting of mCDR’, organising the 9th EMB Forum, and engaging in a number of externally funded projects. EMB maintained its support for

Jersey has nearly quadrupled the proportion of its territorial waters under marine protection, increasing coverage from 6% to 21.7%. The move marks a significant expansion of the island’s marine conservation efforts and aims to better protect vulnerable marine habitats and species. The new measures form part of Jersey’s broader commitment to sustainable marine management and

A Dutch court has ruled that bottom trawling in the Dogger Bank cannot continue without permits and environmental assessments. The court found that the Dutch government’s blanket exemption for trawl fishing in the protected Natura 2000 area was contrary to nature protection legislation. The ruling could enforce governments’ legal responsibility to regulate bottom trawling in