The Ocean Brief
Short ocean stories and insights covering science, policy, innovation, and the ocean community
Mapping for high seas protected areas
Where should marine protected areas be created in the high seas so they are most effective? To answer this question, we need seabed mapping.
Polar fish are less likely to die early, so they prioritize growth over reproduction
At the poles, marine fish reproduce later and produce more eggs, confirming model predictions
A popular compostable plastic doesn’t break down in the ocean
“Biodegradable” is a misleading term for plastic substitutes that require heat to break down or industrial compositing conditions
A hub of collaboration for the Sargassum Problem
To tackle the growing problem of Sargassum, GEO Blue Planet’s Sargassum Information Hub is bringing Sargassum-impacted communities together to share data, research, and knowledge, and ultimately find workable solutions to the challenges posed by the proliferation of Sargassum mats.
Supporting Africa's aquaculture with earth observation
Part of Phase II of the GMES & Africa programme, the MarCOSIO Consortium leverages satellite data to provide decision support tools for marine and coastal management. One key service they offer focuses on detecting and monitoring algal blooms, enabling aquaculturalists to make informed decisions about the running of their operations.
Sea butterfly’ life cycle threatened by climate change may impact Southern Ocean ecosystem
Scientists examining pteropod life cycles in the Southern Ocean find that some species might be more vulnerable to ocean change than others.
Gene switches help juvenile “Nemo” fish adapt their physiology to a new life on the coral reef
Rapid gene activity changes underpin transition from open ocean swimming to settling on reef floor
Planning an integrated approach to ocean carbon research
International experts, researchers and EU Commission policymakers gathered for the UNESCO Integrated Ocean Carbon Research (IOC-R) workshop in Brussels, Belgium, to drive forward integrated ocean carbon research that underpins effective decision-making and climate action.
Rescuing submarine crews from the ocean depths with SRVs
One of the newest and fastest submarine rescue vehicles (SRVs), capable of carrying up to 17 people, has been deployed in the Western Pacific.