The scientists observed the hunting events in Bremer Bay (South West Australia) where three orcas lined up along the side of the blue whale and pushed it underwater while two orcas would bite at its head. 

The hunts are part of nature and solidify orcas as THE apex predator of the ocean who has been observed to eat the livers from great white sharks. 

Orcas enjoy swimming in the mouth of the whale to eat its nutrient-rich tongue. 

Links to articles:
Paper: https://bit.ly/3obMOKc
Media Article: https://bit.ly/3GfOgS0

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Rosie Sherwood is an artist who would like more people to understand blue carbon and the role it plays in fighting climate change. She is working with the Plymouth University's Marine Institute as a resident to help the people of Plymouth understand the role seagrass plays in capturing carbon from the atmosphere.

Check out the links below:

A study based in Seychelles found that there some fish species will remain on a reef after the corals have bleached, which could help maintain fisheries and some form of nutrition for humans. 

Coral reefs are at risk from or are bleaching in many parts of the world, which could have negative implications on the fish communities and the human communities that rely on them for food.

The study identified five micronutrients that are found in a diverse array of fish (zinc, iron, calcium, selenium, and omega-3 fatty acids) that live on coral reefs. However, when the reefs bleach, only two micronutrients are commonly found (zinc and iron), which could affect the human population that relies on them.

Link to article: 
Mongabay: https://bit.ly/345ZBqv

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A Greenpeace research vessel discovered a new colony of Gentoo penguins in Antarctica. It is the only colony that has been detected this far south on the icy continent. It's an important discovery because Gentoo penguins prefer low-lying, rocky areas that have no ice. 

The ice in Antarctica is melting six times faster than it was in the 1970s due to climate change. Melting ice will have an effect on global sea rise, weather patterns, and prey availability (krill). 

Greenpeace and other organizations are calling for the nations of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) to implement a network of Marine Protected Areas in Antarctica to relieve fishing pressure on the habitats. 

Links to articles:
1) Mongabay article: https://bit.ly/3KzSN5l
2) Gentoo Penguins: https://bit.ly/3GXIC8u

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There was a headline on Rollingstone magazine (link below) that mentioned the Doomsday Glacier was on the verge of melting. The headline didn't make me feel good about where we were at on reducing climate change, but it also didn't motivate me to do anything about it because the problem seemed too big. 

Conservation optimism is important when trying to change people's behaviour to live for a better ocean. Optimistic stories can inspire people to do more for the ocean. 

Reading the headline "'the fuse has been blown' and the Doomsday glacier is coming for us all" does not seem to instill inspiration, but more apathy. 

The headline proves that the movie "Don't Look Up!" is less of a satire than it intended. 

Link to article: https://bit.ly/3nJxqVn

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Did you ever wonder what happens to your pee and poo after you flush the toilet? I bet you never thought you would read those words on this podcast, but the fact of the matter is our water quality is dependent on how well our sewage treatment plants can stop nasty stuff that we excrete from getting into our waterways, including the ocean.

Mongabay posted a great editorial about how the world is dealing with preventing pharmaceutical waste that we excrete from getting into our water. It doesn't look like we are doing a great job. 

Many places around the world cannot treat their sewage with the basic process let alone afford to implement the technology to treat pharmaceuticals. 

The sludge that does get produced after some sort of treatment gets added as a fertilizer on farmland, which means pharmaceuticals are in our fertilizer that helps produce the food in which we ingest. 

Pharmaceuticals are also affecting fish behaviour and physiology. I discuss two examples of studies that look at how elevated levels of estrogen (from birth control) and behavioural changes from psychiatric medicine affect fish in aquatic systems. 

The technology to treat pharmaceuticals does exist but has not been widely implemented. 

Link to article:
1) Mongabay: https://bit.ly/3IiJg0m
2) Fish paper: https://bit.ly/32faSEu

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New Zealand is sending rescuers and supplies to help the nearby island but is having trouble communicating with the island.

A volcanic eruption is violent and destructive, but it is also part of the ocean's process to constantly evolve. I discuss the ways that underwater volcanos lead to biodiversity over time. 

Link to articles:
1) Volcano eruption: https://bit.ly/33jYmUP
2) Undersea Volcanos: https://bit.ly/33kttQ6

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However, are you aware that your coffee pod may not be recyclable even though it says it is on the packaging? Keurig Dr. Pepper Canada claimed that their K-Cups were recyclable all over Canada, but most places outside British Columbia and Quebec would not accept them in their facility. 

K-Cups are made from polypropylene #5, which is rarely recycled in Canada. Keurig Dr. Pepper Canada had to pay $2.3 million in fines and $631 thousand in donations to environmental charitable organizations for misleading consumers. 

The incident begs the question: Are your coffee pods recyclable in your area?

Link to articles:
1) Keurig Dr. Pepper Fined: https://bit.ly/34UaVXn
2) Keurig Dr. Pepper Go Green: https://bit.ly/3I0wWBS
3) Canadian Plastics Defined: https://bit.ly/3KaTn9l

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Is visiting the Antarctic on your bucket list? If so, you may want to take the right boat to get there. 

PhD researcher at the University of Cambridge, Arlie McCarthy, wrote a great piece that we should all be talking about regarding invasive species reaching the Antarctic on Conversation.com.

The article describes the difficult path invasive species have had to travel to reach the shores of the Antarctic. The Southern Ocean's currents rotate clockwise around the continent deflecting many of the species. If the invasive species do make it to the coastal area, then they would have to survive the freezing cold temperatures and rough waters. These conditions make it difficult for invasive species to settle. Unless they travel by boat.

Humans visit the continent for a variety of reasons: tourism, research, fishing, and supply researchers. The ships they take to reach the frozen continent provide invasive species with a direct pathway to the coastal area increasing the chance of species survival and colonization. 

Invasive mussels and crabs can pose problems for local species. Mussels can outcompete local species for space by forming mussel beds and altering the habitat. Crabs can be a new threat to local populations as they become new predators. The results can alter the Antarctic coastline as we know it.

There are measures that can be taken to reduce the level of exposure to invasive species. Add a coating to the hull of the boat to ensure animals and plants do not stick to the hull. Exchanging ballast water outside the coastal zone would also help. Preventative measures are helpful, but enforcement will be necessary to ensure success. 

Link to article: https://theconversation.com/antarcticas-unique-ecosystem-is-threatened-by-invasive-species-hitchhiking-on-ships-174640

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There was a great conversation happening on TikTok (yes, TikTok) on Dr. Virginia Schutte's account regarding wastefulness and our environment. 

The video series started with Virginia stitching another creator on her comments about being judged for her family using paper plates. Virginia responded by saying that she chooses not to judge anyone on their lifestyle and rather approaches people with love and support to help others understand what conservation is and that not everyone is able to do conservation. 

A number of other comments were generated from the first video and Virginia had great responses to them. I discuss them in this episode and add my own thoughts on conservation and how we and corporations can act to help our blue planet. 

Virginia's TikTok account: https://www.tiktok.com/@vgwschutte

Meteor podcast: https://meteorscicomm.org/

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There is a prediction that says the ocean will have warmer water with less oxygen that will be more conducive to smaller mesopelagic fish. A study was recently published in Science and covered on Mongabay news that provides empirical evidence from 130,000 years ago (where, warmer and less oxygenated waters occurred) that shows the prediction could happen. 

The same conditions that were present 130,000 years ago are predicted to happen in 2100 that will have severe consequences for global fisheries, especially in the Humboldt Current System off the coast of Peru, where the study was conducted. 

The Humboldt Current System is home to one of the most productive waters in the world and accounts for over 15% of the global catch. Warmer, less oxygenated waters could cripple the fisheries as smaller fish will not meet the global food demand. 

Fisheries management methods such as fish quotas and marine protected areas should be employed to reduce the impact of overfishing that can accelerate the process of shifting to a smaller fish dominance. 

Enforcement of the fisheries management policies will also be key in maintaining fish populations. 

Link to article: https://news.mongabay.com/2022/01/warmer-oxygen-poor-waters-threaten-worlds-most-heavily-exploited-fish/

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Another Indus river dolphin was found dead near the Taunsa Barrage (a damn) in the Indus River (Pakistan) bringing the total to three Indus dolphins in the past month found dead. This past dolphin was found in fishing gear, which is the greatest threat to the population that is already limited by the physical barriers of six barrages within the river. 

Non-governmental organizations are trying to pressure the government to enforce policies that regulate the type of fishing gear, material, and mesh size as there has not been any enforcement on the fishing contractors in the area. 

Link to article: https://www.dawn.com/news/1667055

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The people of Cornwall, UK are enjoying the increased number of marine mammal sightings over the past couple of years; however, unfortunately, they are also seeing an increased number of marine mammal strandings. 

New sightings might have to bring about new policies that can change the way people in Cornwall fish and use the ocean in the future. 

Link to article: https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/good-year-whale-dolphin-sightings-6408638

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