Breaking Waves: Ocean News

‘The forgotten forest’: how smashing 5.6m urchins saved a California kelp paradise

admin — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 16:00:34 +0000

Pollution, warm oceans and hungry urchins devastated Pacific kelp. Now, thanks to divers with hammers, one of the world’s most successful rehabilitation projects has helped it rebound

On an overcast Tuesday in July, divers Mitch Johnson and Sean Taylor shimmy into their wetsuits on the back of the R/V Xenarcha, a 28ft boat floating off the coast of Rancho Palos Verdes, south of Los Angeles. Behind them, the clear waters of the Pacific are dotted with a forest of army-green strands, waving like mermaid hair underwater.

US beaches hit with fecal contamination warnings ahead of Labor Day weekend

admin — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 14:50:31 +0000

Beaches from Florida to Maine under advisories, leading to closures at some of the most popular beach destinations

Beaches across the US are facing swimming caution advisories during the Labor Day holiday weekend due to water quality concerns caused by elevated levels of bacteria associated with fecal waste.

I’m a liberal who loves hunting. Allow me to change your mind

admin — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 13:00:31 +0000

When I killed my first mule deer, I felt deep reverence for the animal. It showed me hunting can be more honest and sustainable than eating factory-farmed meat

“Murderer! You’re a murderer!”

That is what my French mother shouts down the phone line – right after I tell her I had grouse for dinner.

Pakistan’s Punjab province hit by 'biggest flood in its history' – video

admin — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 12:33:52 +0000

Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province was dealing with the biggest flood in its history, a senior official said on Sunday, as river water levels rose to all-time highs. More than 1,400 villages were flooded after three large rivers – the Sutlej, Chenab and Ravi – overflowed their banks because of heavy rain and the release of water from overfilled dams in neighbouring India. Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the climate crisis, despite producing less than 0.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions

‘It happened so fast’: the shocking reality of indoor heat deaths in Arizona

admin — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 12:00:30 +0000

Heat deaths could surge in the state as energy poverty linked to Trump’s energy and trade policies burns

It was the hottest day of the year so far when the central air conditioning started blowing hot air in the mobile home where Richard Chamblee lived in Bullhead City, Arizona, with his wife, children, and half a dozen cats and dogs.

Australian ban on fish-shaped plastic soy sauce dispensers a world first

admin — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:00:15 +0000

South Australian law on single-use plastic packaging coming into force on 1 September will ban polyethylene containers known as shoyu-tai in Japan

Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates

Australian Geographic nature photographer of the year 2025 winners – in pictures

admin — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:00:14 +0000

A painterly, macro view of a cauliflower soft coral by Ross Gudgeon has taken out top prize in the Australian Geographic nature photographer of the year competition. ‘This is an exceptional photograph that skews perception and leaves us questioning reality,” the judges said. ‘Giving us a unique perspective on coral. There’s nothing fake here, but still we ponder, is this nature or a painting?’ An exhibition is on now at the South Australian Museum

Tories would maximise North Sea oil and gas extraction, Badenoch to say

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2025 22:38:42 +0000

Conservative leader says it is ‘absurd’ to shift away from fossil fuels and leave ‘vital resources untapped’

The Conservative party will aim to “maximise extraction” of oil and gas in the North Sea if it wins power, Kemi Badenoch has vowed.

The Tory party leader will use a speech in Aberdeen in the coming days to set out her plans to extract as much oil and gas as possible instead of shifting away from fossil fuels.

Former UN climate chief urges Australia to set ‘prosperity’ target of cutting emissions by 75% by 2035

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2025 20:00:12 +0000

Exclusive: Ambitious target would increase the country’s chance of winning rights to host Cop31 in 2026, Christiana Figueres says

Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates

A report tied Iowa’s water pollution to agriculture. Then the money to promote it mysteriously disappeared

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2025 15:00:03 +0000

Roughly $400,000 in the $1m budget was for public awareness – but those funds were recently ‘zeroed out’

When a team of scientists embarked two years ago on a $1m landmark study of Iowa’s persistent water-quality problems, they knew that the findings would be important to share. High cancer rates amid the state’s inability to stem the tide of pollutants flowing into rivers and lakes was a growing public concern.