This World Oceans Day, marked on June 8, faith groups join their voices to advocate for the protection of oceans and honour them as a gift to humanity. Covering over 70% of the planet, producing at least 50% of its oxygen and providing a home to most of the Earth’s biodiversity, the ocean is a…
MICRO and nano plastics penetrated seafoods are escalating health and ecological risks to Africa’s oceans with the continent’s exposure potentially double the global rate, a UNESCO-linked NGO, Youth Orientation for Development (YOD) has warned. At the launch of the National Ocean Microplastics Monitoring Initiative (NOMMI) Emmanuel Ejiogu, President YOD, said Africa’s marine ecosystems face mounting…
The world’s oceans are bearing the brunt of a triple environmental crisis, according to the European Union’s Earth monitors: global warming, pollution and declining biodiversity. The EU Copernicus programme warns that Africa’s coasts, buffeted by marine heatwaves and rising sea levels, are especially vulnerable. “The ocean is changing rapidly, with record extremes and worsening impacts,”…
New Australian government report finds coral decline across the reef due to ‘climate change-induced heat stress’. The Great Barrier Reef has suffered its most widespread coral bleaching on record, according to a new Australian government report, as ocean temperatures soared in 2024. The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) said on Wednesday that it surveyed…
As South Africa joins the international community to celebrate Marine Protectors Day, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, has called on all South Africans to protect the nation’s oceans. “Whether through reducing plastic waste, supporting sustainable seafood choices, or participating in coastal clean-up initiatives, every action counts. Together, we can…
Our oceans are in trouble. Catches from many of the world’s fisheries are declining, with some fishing practices destroying enormous areas of the sea bed. Habitat loss through coastal development threatens many coastal ecosystems including estuaries and mangroves, which are vital nurseries for many fish species. Pollution is another threat, killing animals and damaging habitats….
