Marine

How often do you get to see a baby whale being born? I have worked as marine biologist for more than 15 years, and this was a first for me. A miracle of nature – awesome in the true sense of the word – happening in our beautiful home: the Mediterranean. For over 10 years, […]

When surveying people’s favourite sea creatures, sharks are nearly always at the top of the list. Many more sophisticated ocean animal lovers may also champion the wonders of the massive manta ray. Very few, however, are likely to include the manta’s smaller and more elusive cousins, devil rays, among their top marine treasures. As someone […]

I saw my first thresher shark back in 2013, 30 metres below the surface of the Visayan Sea, as night turned to day above. An hour earlier my now wife and I had boarded an outrigger in the dark with other excited divers on the sleepy island of Malapascua in the central Philippines, and headed […]

It’s not every day we glimpse our future. But if we did, what would we change about our actions today? This year, we have the privilege to take a peek at what the Mediterranean Sea may look like in 15-20 years. But let me take a step back. It’s almost Christmas 2015 and we are […]

The large meeting room at the United Nations room was full to the point of bursting as governments, assisted by NGOs and other groups, gathered to start developing the first new treaty for oceans in over 20 years. As the European Union representative placed the Easter bunny on the table – it was Easter Monday, […]

In November last year, I spent three very nervous weeks glued to a parcel courier website watching the tortuous journey my passport was making around the world. I was due to travel to Bali to attend the annual meeting of the Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission to advocate shark and ray conservation measures, but […]

2015 may be remembered as the year of climate, but the ocean came a close second. After being used, abused and taken for granted, I am relieved to see signs that we are finally taking notice of the ocean. However, from the vantage of a boardroom or house of parliament, too often the ocean is […]

When you think about the changing climate and the impact this has on the marine environment, your first thought might be melting polar ice caps. Yet corals are among the most sensitive ecosystems and may be the most affected by climate change in the near future. In Hawaii, with water temperatures 3 to 4 degrees higher than […]

Much is made of what we don’t know about the ocean. In many ways, it remains impenetrable and mysterious, even in today’s technological era. This is why, perhaps, we continue to be so deeply fascinated and inspired by its might. Through studies produced by WWF and other organizations, as well as expert meetings like the […]

The ocean’s story is our story. It’s personal. As a child, I still remember vividly when the much-anticipated Whitbread (now Volvo) ocean race arrived in Cape Town, where my family lived for a time. I was able to meet some of the leathery-skinned sailors with their exotic accents, and explore their purposeful boats; inspiring dreams […]