» Pollution



Deep sea mining is about to commence

Environment 360 reports, 20th October 2014: “Armed with new high-tech equipment, mining companies are targeting vast areas of the deep ocean for mineral extraction. But with few regulations in place, critics fear such development could threaten seabed ecosystems that scientists say are only now being fully understood. For years, the idea of prospecting for potentially […]

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New oil field discovered in the North Sea

BBC News Scotland reports, 23rd October 2014: “Oil firms BP and GDF Suez have announced the discovery of a new field in the UK Central North Sea. The find, which spans adjacent blocks operated separately by the two companies, has been flow-tested at a maximum rate of 5,350 barrels per day. The discovery has been […]

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Fourteen of Scotland’s beaches polluted

The annual survey by the Scottish Environment Agency SEPA shows that many of their beaches failed the EC tests in May and August this past year, this far worse than last year when all were said to meet the standards required. The two worst polluted were Heads of Ayr in South Ayrshire and Lunan Bay […]

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Funding available for scheme to clean plastic from the oceans

Bloomberg Businessweek reports, 16th September 2014: “Dutch wunderkind Boyan Slat turned 20 this year. He also closed on $2 million in crowdfunding to build clean up contraptions designed to intercept and remove plastic refuse from the ocean. The world’s oceans contain millions of tons of garbage, much of it plastic debris that collects in gyresgyre […]

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New Dredging Beach Hazard

A new and rather novel hazard has arisen on our beaches, discovered when an off duty explosives expert walked by a man exercising his dog by Lower Marine Parade on the beach at Dovercourt (near Harwich) throwing for his retrieval what at first appeared to be a miniature Rugby football. On closer inspection, it was […]

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Pioneer of the study of waste plastic in the oceans says the situation is growing worse

The Independent reports, 27th August, 2014: ” The world’s leading expert on the poisoning of the oceans said he was “utterly shocked” at the increase in plastic floating on the sea in the past five years and warned that it potentially posed a bigger threat to the planet than climate change. Charles J Moore, a […]

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Australian study reveals scale of micro-plastic marine pollution

The Guardian reports, 25th August 2014: “Researchers have found “alarming” level of plastic pollution in Sydney harbour, with fibres from clothing and toiletries causing a widespread impact upon the marine ecosystem. The first information from the ongoing Sydney Harbour Research Program shows that small pieces of plastic measuring under 5mm have been found in each […]

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Concern over the protection of the Great Barrier Reef from “port dredging”

The Guardian reports, 11th July 2014: “The amount of money needed to “offset” the impact of a dredging project on the Great Barrier Reef could be as much as $1bn — which is $998m more than the project developer has suggested. Documents obtained under freedom of information reveal huge uncertainty over the investment needed to […]

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Shipping companies form “Trident Alliance” to ensure compliance with new sulphur-in-fuel regulations

The Trident Alliance press release, 7th July 2014 states: “The Trident Alliance is a coalition of ship owners and operators who share a common interest in robust enforcement of maritime sulphur regulation and are willing to collaborate to help bring it about. The Alliance will partner with other groups who share its interest in robust […]

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“Dark snow” is accelerating ice melt in the Arctic and Greenland

The Guardian reports, 5th July 2014: “The phenomenon of “dark snow” is being recorded from the Himalayas to the Arctic as increasing amounts of dust from bare soil, soot from fires and ultra-fine particles of “black carbon” from industry and diesel engines are being whipped up and deposited sometimes thousands of miles away. The result, […]

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Global Oceans Commission launches petition in support of its Report

A Global Ocean Commission press release, 3rd July 2014, states: “A week ago the Global Ocean Commission released its report and proposals for restoring ocean health. If you have not seen the report you can see it here. “As part of the Global Ocean Commission’s commitment to breathe life into its proposals it has started […]

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OSPAR seeks approval for Marine Litter Plan

In a Press Release dated 19th June 2014 OSPAR has announced: “ The OSPAROSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic made up of representatives of the Governments of the 15 signatory nations. Commission looks set to adopt an innovative Regional Action Plan for Prevention and Management of Marine Litter […]

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Go-ahead for a trial to grow a GM plant that produces omega-3 fish oils

The Guardian reports, 17th April 2014: “Scientists have been given permission to grow genetically modified plants that could help protect against heart disease. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has given the go-ahead for the field trial of a crop of GM camelina plants, the seeds of which are modified to produce […]

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Plan to drill for gas in coal seams under the North Sea

The Journal reports, 31st March 2014: “A billion-pound plan to reach untapped coal reserves under the North Sea will be under way by the end of the year, as the vast scale of the energy source beneath the North Sea is made clear. Scientific data of the true extent of the coal deposits on the […]

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New “ozone-eating” gases identified in Antarctica’s ozone hole

The Guardian reports, 9th March 2014: “Dozens of mysterious ozone-destroying chemicals may be undermining the recovery of the giant ozone hole over Antarctica, researchers have revealed. The chemicals, which are also extremely potent greenhouse gases, may be leaking from industrial plants or being used illegally, contravening the Montreal protocol which began banning the ozone destroyers […]

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Now a beach oil hazard!

The worst marine oil slick to have hit the east coast was brought about 1978 when in thick fog the Greek owned oil tanker ‘Eleni V’, ‘en route from Rotterdam to Grangemouth, was struck and sliced in two by the French bulk ore carrier ‘Roseline’ six miles off Winterton. Much of the spill of 117,280 […]

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How much oil is buried under Norfolk’s beaches?

From The EDP 5th March 2014: A £25,000 investigation is underway to assess the continuing impact and level of threat posed by an historic oil slick that blackened the beaches of Gorleston and Hopton more than 35 years ago. Experts are combing a 4km stretch of beach, focusing on trenches that were exposed by severe […]

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Large fish have disappeared from vast tracts of Australian coast

From The Guardian 21st February 2014: Vast tracts of Australia’s coastline have been denuded of large fish, with marine life under pressure from climate change, over-fishing, pollution and invasive species, a year-long study has found. The reef life survey, undertaken by volunteer divers along the entire Australian coastline, took in reefs up to 400 nautical […]

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Shell cancels plans to drill in the Alaskan Arctic this summer

The Guardian reports, 30th January 2014: “Shell has announced plans to slash its exploration and development spending from $46bn (£27.8bn) to $37bn this year and has ditched plans to drill in the Alaskan Arctic this summer. The cutbacks were unveiled by new chief executive, Ben van Beurden, who said they were part of a range […]

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“Greenland is now at the heart of 21st century geopolitics” says Greenland PM

The Guardian reports, 23rd January 2014: “Climate change, says Aleqa Hammond, Greenland’s Prime Minister, is placing Greenland at the heart of 21st century geopolitics. As the ice retreats, it is moving from being a non-player in global affairs to the centre of a new international resource rush. “Climate change and this resultant new industrialisation brings […]

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