Marine life

Dugongs and sea turtles at risk after Queensland floods wipe out seagrass, study shows

Researchers say sediment from floodwaters reduced exposure to sunlight and smothered seagrass the animals rely on for food

Jordyn Beazley

20, May, 2022 @8:00 PM

Dugong sees red: Pig the sea cow predicts Labor will win Australian election (sort of)

In completely unscientific experiment the Sydney Aquarium resident sided with a tortoise and crocodile in predicting Anthony Albanese victory

Rafqa Touma

20, May, 2022 @3:41 AM

Fishers hold River Tees protest over mass crab and lobster deaths

Demonstrators rejecting algal bloom explanation for wash-ups on England’s north-east coast call for investigation to be reopened

Mark Brown North of England correspondent

19, May, 2022 @4:23 PM

Pharmacy in the sea: Dolphins ‘use coral as medicine for skin ailments’

New research suggests the cetaceans may be self-medicating for their skin ailments, adding to evidence of the medicinal properties of some corals and sponges

Sofia Quaglia

19, May, 2022 @3:00 PM

Dolphins can recognise each other by taste of their urine, study finds

Aquatic mammals can recognise friends and family members without seeing or hearing them, research finds

Helena Horton Environment reporter

19, May, 2022 @11:03 AM

Accidental discovery that scallops love ‘disco’ lights leads to new fishing technique

Scientists hail breakthrough that could maximise catches while reducing damage caused by fishing

Anna Turns

18, May, 2022 @5:00 AM

Migrant workers ‘exploited and beaten’ on UK fishing boats

Report tells of 20-hour shifts for £3.50 an hour, racism and sexual abuse under cover of transit visa loophole

Karen McVeigh

17, May, 2022 @1:04 PM

Rejection of Arctic mine expansion bid offers hope for narwhal population

Conservationists and Inuit community relieved at decision on Canadian iron mine that threatened ‘extirpation’ of cetacean

Tracey Lindeman in Gatineau

16, May, 2022 @6:00 AM

Bleached sea sponges found in New Zealand waters for first time

Extreme ocean temperatures blamed for turning sea sponges white in more than a dozen sites on southern coastline

Eva Corlett in Wellington

16, May, 2022 @5:29 AM

Country diary: Billions of mussel larvae call for 15,000 metres of rope

Duisky, Scottish Highlands: The process of harvesting the mussels we eat starts with a morning boat ride on a milky loch

Kirsteen Bell

16, May, 2022 @4:30 AM

Australian authorities to buy out fisheries, citing climate crisis

$20m permit buyback aims to help recovery of jackass morwong, redfish, john dory and silver trevally

Lisa Cox

16, May, 2022 @1:00 AM

Rare UK seabirds put at risk by ‘alarming loophole’, say campaigners

Ministers accused of ‘giving up’ on birds as they explore exemptions from duty to protect the animals