10 things anyone can do to save the oceans!

We hear you. Loud and clear: you’d like to know how or what you can do to help save the oceans. Here are 10 simple steps you can take to help protect our seas and oceans. Drum roll, please… In no particular order: 1. When buying fish, think “where, how and what size” – Fresh … Read more

ARTISTS UNITED FOR THE OCEAN

The 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change closes will close tomorrow in France. COP21 is a crucial conference, as it needs to achieve a new international agreement on the climate, applicable to all countries. In the words of Sylvia Earle, American marine biologist, explorer, author … Read more

Oil drilling in the Canaries – how to stop “petroleum pirates”?

Earlier this week, several European political and social actors met up for the second time in the European Parliament to categorically oppose Repsol’s plans for oil prospects in waters off the Canary Islands (Lanzarote and Fuerteventura), a project authorized by the Spanish government. Oceana doesn’t approve the decision of the Supreme Court that might contribute … Read more

The Acidification of the Mediterranean Sea: Secondary effects of the rise of CO2

Oceans play a fundamental role in regulating Earth’s temperature and the natural greenhouse effect that maintains life as we know it. They are able to do so by acting as a “carbon sink” and absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2).  However, due to our rapidly growing greenhouse gas emissions, too much carbon gets into the oceans, lowering … Read more

Deep-sea mining

It is often said that we know more about our moon than the ocean’s depths. Though this is an exaggeration, the truth is that science is only starting to understand the complex physical, chemical and biological process ruling the underwater world. For several years research projects in the Pacific Ocean have been studying seabed minerals, … Read more

Disappointing agreement on new EU offshore drilling safety directive

Today, the EU informal trialogue came to an agreement on the proposed Directive on safety of offshore oil and gas activities – a legislation initiated by the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Oceana is disappointed by the weakening of the legislation, whose legal basis of a Regulation was turned into … Read more

Castilla Power Plant Defeated by Chilean Supreme Court

After a long battle by Oceana and allies, a planned coal-fired thermoelectric power plant in Northern Chile known as Castilla, was rejected by the Chilean Supreme Court. The Castilla plant was planned for the Punta Cachos region, just a few kilometers from important habitats for Humboldt penguins, sea turtles and one of Chile’s few seagrass meadows. … Read more

Spain withdraws support for renewable energies

Last Friday, the Spanish Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism, José Manuel Soria, announced a temporary cessation of government aid to renewable energy projects. This troubling decision comes at a time Spanish government continues to support and fund dirty energy, as well as new permits for oil and gas exploration, which damage our already overfished … Read more

2012: The International Year of Sustainable Energy for All

2012 is going to be a big year – we’ve got a ton of things on the horizon and a to-do list that’s already longer than we care to share. Did you know that the UN General Assembly designated 2012 to be the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All? They did so in order … Read more