Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian

Marine Ecosystems

latest news & developments
Great white sharks, tuna and other warm-bodied fish burn nearly four times more energy than cold-blooded species, leaving them increasingly vulnerable as rising ocean temperatures shrink their habitats, a new study has found
BASKING SHARK

Great white sharks and tuna face overheating risk as oceans warm

Great white sharks, tuna and other warm-bodied fish burn nearly four times more energy than cold-blooded species, leaving them increasingly vulnerable as rising ocean…

  • Sheree Bega
5 min read
Human-made chemicals have become woven into the chemistry of the ocean, a major new led by Jarmo-Charles Kalinski (above) study has found
CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION

Human-made chemicals embedded across global oceans, major study finds

A groundbreaking analysis of more than 2 300 seawater samples shows that industrial chemicals dominate ocean pollution signals, even far from land

  • Sheree Bega
3 min read
A chain-forming diatom, a common type of phytoplankton, found in the New York Bight area. (NOAA)
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT

Climate models underestimate global phytoplankton decline, study warns

A CSIR study analysing 26 years of satellite data reveals how ocean warming is significantly reducing ocean productivity

  • Sheree Bega
6 min read
Gentle giants: Manta rays, which can reach a span of seven to eight metres, are found in warm waters. Reef mantas are found along coastlines and oceanic mantas in open waters
ENDANGERED MARINE SPECIES

Scientists reveal the mysteries of South Africa’s ‘wings of the sea’

The graceful manta rays gliding along the coastline are little known and humans have caused a significant a decline in their numbers

  • Sheree Bega
8 min read
A Dugong in Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, Mozambique. (Andrea Marshall)
AFRICA

Why Mozambique is tracking Dugong movements with satellite technology

Interest in dugong conservation is surging beyond Mozambique, with regional initiatives being launched to protect the sea mammals

  • Bonface Orucho
4 min read
Shell’s recent announcement that it is leaving the country is likely to set off mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity as the oil and gas company sells its refinery and service stations during the divestiture. (photo by Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)
BARBARA CREECY

Shell’s seismic survey on the Wild Coast will be destructive, scientist says

But the oil and gas giant says it follows international best practice

  • Sheree Bega
11 min read