Oceana documents 350 species on the Gorringe Bank

The comprehensive collection of information is the result of over 60 hours of recording, filmed during 3 campaigns.  Oceana scientists have identified more than 350 species on the Gorringe seamount, located in Portuguese waters, 160 nautical miles south-west of Cape St Vincent. The documentation of this great biodiversity, undertaken with the support of the Foundation … Read more

European Union proposes sweeping shark management measures in ICCAT

While the plight of the bluefin tuna is grabbing much of the world’s attention at this week’s meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) in Marrakesh, Morocco, some other vulnerable species have now been given the spotlight they deserve. Sharks, the powerful but vulnerable predators of the oceans, have been … Read more

I see carnivorous sponges

No, it’s not a figment of my imagination haunting my nightmares, but a real life form found by Oceana at the Chella bank, a seamount just off the southeast coast of Spain. But this place holds even more secrets than meat-eating sponges; it’s practically brimming with biodiversity. Deep-sea coral reefs, cetaceans, octopuses, sharks and a … Read more

Mediterranean summit ends with a victory for deep-sea corals

Oceana welcomes yesterday’s decisions adopted by the Mediterranean countries and the EU at the Barcelona Convention to protect eleven species of deep-sea corals and implement the Action Plan on Dark Habitats. This scientific document, partly drafted by Oceana, will enable the creation of marine protected areas for seamounts, submarine canyons and caves. “To have eleven … Read more

Meet the Perch

The perch is originally a freshwater fish, found in lakes and streams, but since it’s very euryhaline, which means it can adapt to a wide range of salinities, it can also be found in brackish waters. Found both in Europe and Asia, this fish has also been introduced in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. … Read more

Eleven corals in the Mediterranean may be protected this week

All Mediterranean countries will be meeting in Istanbul for the 18th COP to the Barcelona Convention to strengthen the protection of the marine and coastal environment. A number of decisions are set to be adopted at the meeting that are essential, among other things, to improving the protection status of deep-sea corals, in particular black … Read more

Mediterranean Deep-Sea Corals Protected

Mediterranean countries and the EU decided to protect 11 species of deep-sea corals at the 18th COP to the Barcelona Convention. They also decided to implement the Action Plan on Dark Habitats, a scientific document drafted in part by Oceana, which will enable the creation of marine protected areas in deep-sea habitats like seamounts, submarine … Read more