Positive News

An oceanic expedition has discovered three hydrothermal vent fields in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, an area that stretches more than 400 miles! These vents can be recognized as openings on the ocean floor, an area of intensely heated, mineral-rich water home to all kinds of fascinating marine animals like the bigfin squid. This kind of discovery offers a fascinating insight into hydrothermal systems and their resident animal communities, hopefully exclude these sites from consideration for mining and other human interference. 🦑 | Source: Nice News

Scientists have discovered that some coral species can “remember” how they lived through marine heat waves, with a study exploring reefs off the coast of Mo’orea in French Polynesia documenting an area with a devastating history of annual heat wave events since 2016. Despite the legacy of heat events, scientists have observed a microbial resilience, resistance, and acclimatization to repeated heat stress in many coral species in the area, consistent with a theory of an ecological coral “memory”. 🧠 | Source: Good News Network

The government of Papua New Guinea has declared two new marine protected areas totaling more than 16,000 square kilometers, reportedly tripling the country’s marine area under protection! The six-year process involved consultation with more than 9,000 people in more than 100 Indigenous communities, resulting in an ambitious community-led and locally co-managed MPA project. 🇵🇬 | Source: Mongabay

A multiyear “shark census” in the Republic of the Congo — conducted in partnership with artisanal fisherfolk — has documented a remarkable 42 species of sharks and rays off the coast of Songoro, 34 of which are at an elevated risk of extinction. By developing long-term, trusted relationships with the local community, the research was designed to minimize disturbance to fishing activities and prioritize the people whose daily livelihoods depend on the water. 🦈 | Source: Mongabay

A new study shows that the global diving community is uniquely positioned to improve the health of the ocean through diver-driven citizen science, advocacy, and increased coordination. With a focus on Indigenous knowledge and stewardship, the research highlights how fostering a sense of community and ensuring equitable access to our shared waters is vital to inspiring the next generation of divers, conservationists, and ocean lovers. 🤿 | Source: Nice News

Chemists have developed a new nontoxic, low-cost catalyst that can break down Nylon-6, the complex plastic polymer that makes up fishing nets. Other chemical processes designed to break down plastics like this often require toxic solvents, extreme conditions, or costly materials, but this discovery offers a quick and effective solution that works within minutes, deconstructing the material without creating harmful byproducts or further damaging the ocean. 🐡 | Source: Good News Network

Scientists in Scotland have chemically engineered a plastic-hungry bacteria that eats and “upcycles” plastic, chemically breaking it down into adipic acid, a critical ingredient in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and fragrance industries. By using this bio-upcycling technology to convert plastic waste into useful resources like makeup and perfume, this approach could help create circular economies and avoid plastic waste reaching waterways and the ocean through canny scientific innovation! 🦠 | Source: Good News Network

UK scientists have developed a floating leaf-like device that chemically combines sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce a net-zero fuel. The ultra-thin, flexible technology was inspired by plants, imitating the organic process of photosynthesis to synthesize fuel in a process that doesn’t emit carbon dioxide. Now supported by a startup, the team hopes to commercialize these inventions on an industrial level, rolling out carpets of floating “leaves” to defossilize the economy! 🍃 | Source: The Guardian

In November, Mexico became the latest nation to call for a moratorium on deep-sea mining in international waters, joining 23 other countries that called for either a precautionary pause, moratorium, or full ban on the dangerous practice. Commentators have recognised this change in Mexico’s view as a promising shift from their former position, a hopeful gesture toward a future free of the exploitation of vital deep-sea ecosystems. If you haven’t already, head to the Act page to sign our petition and say no to deep-sea mining. 🇲🇽 | Source: Mongabay

The EU has agreed to ban the export of plastic waste that ends up in ports of countries that cannot process it, a hopeful step towards high-polluting nations recognizing their role in the global plastic crisis and taking accountability for responsibly recycling their plastic waste. Legislative changes like this have the potential to prevent plastic waste from polluting waterways and reaching the ocean. 🇪🇺 | Source: The Guardian