Balancing conflicting human values for seagrass, saltmarsh and mangroves

Posted by Chris Brown
On July 25, 2020

The coast sits the intersection of many human activities. Management of coastal ecosystems is challenged by the conflicting values that humans hold for the coasts, including conservation, shipping, fishing, aquaculture, recreation and many others. One objective of the Global Wetlands Project is to help find ways that management can balance these different values for coasts […]

Long-distance sea turtle migration provides unique opportunity to combine and test exciting tracking techniques

Posted by Ryan Pearson
On July 17, 2020

By Dr Ryan Pearson In February 2016, a female loggerhead sea turtle dubbed ‘Marloo’ had a satellite transmitter attached to her shell on a beach south of Exmouth, Western Australia by the Gnaraloo wilderness foundation. Many months, and more than 4000 km’s, later she was recovered on an island near Darwin. Aub Strydom found a […]

There are cross-benefits to protecting coastal wetlands in the wake of COVID-19

Posted by Ellen Ditria
On May 22, 2020

Dr Ryan Pearson The effects of COVID-19 on the world has been profound. It’s had us re-evaluating intergovernmental, trade and personal relationships, and forced a rethink of consumer needs. Environmental groups have been encouraging people to eat more fish in response to this pandemic. Consumer surveys during the pandemic have also highlighted greater apprehension about […]

Marine conservation implications and opportunities for China’s Belt and Road Initiative – the world’s largest ever infrastructure project

Posted by Chris Brown
On January 9, 2020

China’s Belt and Road Initiative, or the ‘New Silk Road’, is the world’s largest infrastructure development project, aimed at linking Europe and East Africa with Asia. The initiative combines a large network of terrestrial and maritime routes with the intent of linking over 70 countries, at an estimated cost of US$8 trillion by 2049. The […]

Find your #scicomm sweet spot!

Posted by Tom Rayner
On October 16, 2019

Under pressure Researchers and natural resource managers are under pressure to communicate their work. That includes summarising key outcomes for policy and decision-making, relaying concerns and opportunities to community groups, campaigning for funding to address critical knowledge gaps and supporting their own careers.

Seagrass lacks protection at global scale

Posted by Laura Griffiths
On October 9, 2019

Seagrass ecosystems face multiple threats, from pollution to sea level rise. However, management is failing to adequately protect these ecosystems and prevent their decline. We reviewed global policy relevant to seagrass protection and identified some critical gaps. We need to rethink how we protect coastal ecosystems in general, and seagrasses in particular, from multiple cumulative […]

Wetlands: life support for the Great Barrier Reef

Posted by Tom Rayner
On July 26, 2019

The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is well recognised as the one of the most biodiverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth. However, few of us appreciate that one million hectares of wetlands are the life support system for this important ecosystem. In this post, Dr Fernanda Adame and Emeritus Professor Angela Arthington explore the critical relationship […]

Effective action needs accessible science

Posted by Chris Brown
On July 1, 2019

Coastal wetlands are globally threatened. However, the plight of these habitats, like mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and saltmarshes, is not well recognised relative to other coastal ecosystems, such as coral reefs. This translates into funding shortfalls both for the science needed to address coastal wetland decline and for the protection and restoration actions needed to […]

What the sea needs on World Oceans Day 2019

Posted by Tom Rayner
On June 8, 2019

“You never enjoy the world aright, till the Sea itself floweth in your veins.” In the mid 1600s, English poet and clergyman Thomas Traherne penned Centuries of Meditations, a collection of paragraphs vividly detailing his reverence for the natural world. In it, he set a signpost towards awakening.

Turtley sick moves: rescuing weak sea turtles and the science aimed at helping their equally weak populations

Posted by Ryan Pearson
On April 26, 2019

Sea turtles are threatened. Literal boat loads of things affect their already low survival rates, most attributable to humans. Plastics, fishing entanglements, temperature increases, habitat degradation and actual boat strikes are killing turtles and affecting their populations in many other ways. Ultimately threatening their very existence. Knowing this, when my buddy Dr Michael Sievers and […]