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Trends
- 1Chinese deep-ocean drilling ship returns with South China Sea samples●Chinese deep-ocean drilling ship brings home ‘precious’ South China Sea samples
A Chinese deep-ocean drilling vessel has brought back core samples from the South China Sea, described by officials as scientifically precious. The mission is part of China's growing deep-sea exploration programme, and the retrieved material is expected to aid research into the seabed's geology and resource potential.
- 2Scientists and fishermen urge continued federal funding for ocean observation▼Scientists, fishermen want feds to keep funding deep-ocean observation system
Scientists and fishermen in the United States are calling on federal agencies to maintain funding for a deep-ocean observation system. The network provides data on ocean conditions that researchers use for study and fishing fleets rely on for safety and operations. Both groups warn that losing the funding would leave a gap in monitoring of deep-sea environments and could affect commercial fishing decisions.
- 3Bottom trawling and deep-sea mining condemned as twin threats●What makes bottom trawling and proposed deep-sea mining twin horrors is that same fundamental mechanism: taking ecosyste
Critics are drawing a direct parallel between bottom trawling and proposed deep-sea mining, arguing both destroy marine ecosystems that operate on geological timescales. The argument notes that corals grow only millimetres a year and ocean currents take centuries to settle sediment, meaning damage from industrial extraction or dragging of the seabed could be effectively irreversible. The comparison is being used to argue against opening the deep sea to mining.
- 4Pollution threatening deep sea bioluminescent life, experts warn●More plastic, less glow? Pollution threatens deep sea’s bioluminescent life, experts warn
Environmental experts are warning that plastic pollution in the deep ocean may be interfering with the bioluminescent organisms that live there. Pollution particles could block or mimic the light signals deep sea species rely on for feeding, mating and defence, potentially disrupting entire ecosystems in one of the planet's least explored environments.