Discovering the whales and dolphins of the Mediterranean Sea

Discovering the whales and dolphins of the Mediterranean Sea

“Blow at 2 o’clock!”, shouts a member of the research team onboard the motorsailer Pelagos. For five endless minutes everyone has been scanning the sea in a state of alert silence, looking for a white puff to indicate the blow of a male sperm whale coming to the surface to breathe and rest. The researchers

The Galapagos Islands create a new marine sanctuary to protect sharks

The Galapagos Islands create a new marine sanctuary to protect sharks

A new marine reserve aimed to protect the precious biodiversity of the Galapagos Islands. This is the latest decision made by Ecuador to safeguard the extraordinary wildlife populating the archipelago’s waters.   97 per cent of the Galapagos Islands had been already protected, being a World Heritage Site of UNESCO due to their importance in

How the giants of the ocean are doing

How the giants of the ocean are doing

While most species of large whales are recovering from the collapse caused by commercial exploitation in the past two centuries, some populations are still struggling. A recent report, authored by experts of the Marine Mammal Commission in the U.S., reviews their status and highlights the main threats that these giants of the oceans are currently

Chile, thousands of dead squid washed ashore but no one knows why

Chile, thousands of dead squid washed ashore but no one knows why

An apocalyptic scenario: tens of thousands of dead Humboldt squids (Dosidicus gigas) have been washed up on the shores of Santa Maria Island in Chile over the past week. However, scientists still ignore the causes of this mysterious mass die-off.     The mass deaths of these large cephalopods may have been caused to increased sea

The dark side of marine renewable energy developments

The dark side of marine renewable energy developments

In response to the growing concerns regarding energy security and climate change, many countries across the globe are investing in the development of marine renewable energy installations. These include offshore wind farms as well as wave and tidal devices, the so-called wet renewables. The benefits of these investments for our society are indisputable, but scientists