Portugal proposes the inclusion of Gorringe Bank as a site within EU’s Natura 2000 network. This unique spot includes two seamounts, Gettysburg and Ormonde, located 160 nautical miles off the south western Portuguese coast. The seamounts extend from depths of 28 m and 33 m below sea level to more than 5,000 m and are … Read more
One of the main objectives of this campaign is to find sea caves. At depths of up to 50 m surveys can be carried out by SCUBA diving; four divers document in videos and photographs everything that is found. After a two-hour sail we got to the first area to be surveyed today. Two safety … Read more
New sea, new species and new habitats, but threats are common and easily recognizable. My week joining the Life Bahar Malta Expedition onboard the Oceana Ranger is almost done. It has been very exciting being sailing and conducting surveys on this beautiful catamaran. The biodiversity in the Mediterranean is far different from the Baltic´s, the … Read more
Cientistas do CCMAR (Universidade do Algarve) e da Oceana descobriram uma grande quantidade de resíduos no canhão de São Vicente, situado no sudoeste de Portugal. Num artigo científico[i], os autores indicam que foram realizadas três imersões e evidenciam a existência de 115 detritos, a maioria fruto da arte da pesca. Este tipo de resíduos degrada-se … Read more
Scientists from CCMAR (University of the Algarve) and Oceana have found an abundance of litter in the São Vicente submarine canyon, located in the south west of Portugal. The article[i] outlines how the authors analysed three immersions and highlighted the existence of 115 samples of litter, the majority fishing gear. This type of waste does … Read more
According to the first State of Europe’s Seas report, published today by the European Environment Agency, our seas are neither healthy nor clean, and although they are productive at present, this may be compromised in the future if the deterioration of marine ecosystems continues. Oceana is concerned by the report’s findings, including the observed loss … Read more
Elsa Pataky and her husband, Chris Hemsworth, spent a day with an ongoing expedition currently being carried out by Oceana to document previously unexplored the depths off the Maltese coast. It is the first time Oceana ambassador Elsa and her husband have visited the Oceana Ranger – the catamaran belonging to the international marine conservation … Read more
Marine litter is a global issue for the world’s oceans. Plastic litter, especially, is a problem, as it degrades into smaller pieces, called microplastics, which can get eaten by marine organisms, and thereby gradually build up in the marine and coastal environment. It can even end up on your plate! Last year, Oceana was invited … Read more
As we know, our marine world is full of acronyms, so it is helpful sometimes to shed light on particularly relevant ones to Oceana’s conservation work, such as “VMEs”. This stands for Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems, and describes deep-sea ecosystems that are unique, rare, fragile and are particularly sensitive to the impacts of fishing activities, such … Read more
Oceana calls on EU Member States to rapidly implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and take the necessary measures to restore and maintain the health and productivity of European seas. Over 50% of Europe’s territory is covered by sea, but Europe’s marine environment is highly threatened by both pollution and the dramatic loss of marine … Read more
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We have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.
Oceana in Europe gratefully acknowledges EU funding support.
