Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Trump reportedly eyes $26m in funding cuts for US national parks

admin — Wed, 07 May 2025 23:07:40 +0000

New York Times reports Elon Musk’s Doge agency has created spreadsheet of federal grants earmarked for cuts

The Trump administration is reportedly eyeing dozens of grants across the National Park Service for termination, according to reporting from the New York Times, one of several moves destabilizing the US’s investment in public lands.

Smoke from climate-fueled fires in US contributed to 15,000 deaths in 15 years, study finds

admin — Wed, 07 May 2025 19:10:43 +0000

Exposure to small particulate matter from fires contributes to thousands of annual deaths in US, according to study

Wildfires driven by the climate crisis contribute to as many as thousands of annual deaths and billions of dollars in economic costs from wildfire smoke in the United States, according to a new study.

Ill winds are blowing for Labour’s 2030 deadline for clean energy

admin — Wed, 07 May 2025 18:08:29 +0000

Loss of the vast Hornsea 4 offshore wind project is bad news but it reveals a big flaw in setting a deadline

Danish firm shelves huge UK windfarm project over rising costs

Pioneering research reveals tree-mendous potential of inexpensive drones to help community forests flourish and unlock restoration funding

admin — Wed, 07 May 2025 17:03:44 +0000

New research has shown how small, inexpensive drones combined with free, open source software can be used by community forest organizations to calculate and monitor the amount of carbon stored in their forests.

Fewer parasites in the Indian River lagoon signal big ecosystem problems

admin — Wed, 07 May 2025 17:03:36 +0000

Parasites are crucial indicators of ecosystem health, and their absence can signal trouble. Once pristine, Florida's Indian River Lagoon (IRL) now faces pollution and algal blooms that have damaged essential habitats like seagrass beds. New research finds parasite levels in the IRL are significantly lower than in comparable ecosystems worldwide -- 11% lower overall and 17% lower for larval parasites requiring multiple hosts. This sharp decline suggests a disrupted food web likely caused by pollution and habitat degradation, and a less resilient and more vulnerable ecosystem.

Elk could return to UK after 3,000 years in rewilding project

admin — Wed, 07 May 2025 16:51:39 +0000

First stage of initiative will introduce ‘keystone’ species to beaver enclosures in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire

Elk could return to the UK after 3,000 years under plans by the Wildlife Trusts to reintroduce the “keystone” species into Britain’s landscapes.

The Derbyshire Wildlife Trust wants to introduce elk into two existing beaver enclosures in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, with the hope of demonstrating that the large semiaquatic deer should be released to roam free in the wild.

Drought conditions already hitting UK crop production, farmers say

admin — Wed, 07 May 2025 16:11:47 +0000

Environment Agency recommends rationing water as UK sees driest start to spring in 69 years

Crops are already failing in England because of drought conditions this spring, farmers have said.

People should start to ration their water use, the Environment Agency said, as water companies prepare for a summer of drought. The government has also asked the water CEOs to do more to avert water shortages, and the EA said hosepipe bans are on the horizon if a significant amount of rain does not fall.

Utility bills could rise as Trump’s EPA to end Energy Star program, experts warn

admin — Wed, 07 May 2025 15:19:22 +0000

Reported closure of program for home appliances comes amid president’s hatred of water-conserving showers

US customers could face higher energy bills, experts have warned, amid reports that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to end the Energy Star program whose blue labels have certified energy efficiency on home appliances for more than 30 years.

Sea pigs, icefish and trilobites: Antarctica’s mysterious marine life – in pictures

admin — Wed, 07 May 2025 15:00:50 +0000

Characterised by darkness and cold temperatures, the extreme environment of Antarctica’s deep sea is largely unexplored. Now, after a special marine science voyage, a team aboard Australia’s national icebreaker, RSV Nuyina, has collected some remarkable species from the waters around the Denman Glacier

Read more about RSV Nuyina’s crucial mission to Antarctica

Ethical super fund says QBE ‘not joining the dots’ between fossil fuel projects and rising premiums

admin — Wed, 07 May 2025 15:00:49 +0000

Australian Ethical, which holds $56m worth of QBE shares, calls on insurer to overhaul its policies which allow it to underwrite oil and gas projects without restriction before AGM