Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Mining firm withdraws plan for UK’s first deep coalmine in 30 years

admin — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 16:12:35 +0000

Move ends bid for site near Whitehaven, Cumbria after planning permission was quashed by high court

The Whitehaven coalmine’s planning application has been withdrawn, bringing an end to a process that could have created the UK’s first deep coalmine in 30 years in Cumbria.

Extension of huge offshore windfarm in Sussex approved

admin — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 14:41:56 +0000

Plan to add 90 turbines to Rampion will create 4,000 jobs in construction and could power 1m homes

The government has approved plans to build an offshore windfarm capable of powering about 1m British homes before the end of the decade.

The plan to extend the Rampion offshore windfarm by adding 90 turbines off the Sussex coast is expected to add about 1.2 gigawatts of clean power for British households and businesses.

US ports to use Covid-like tests to identify illegally trafficked seafood species

admin — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 12:00:52 +0000

Devices similar to those used during pandemic to be deployed to help stamp out trade in threatened fish

Last year, a colleague of Diego Cardeñosa sent the international shark trade researcher a few pieces of shark fin taken from a bowl of soup in New York City. Using a PCR test similar to those used during the Covid-19 pandemic to test for the virus, Cardeñosa was able to identify the species behind the fin as sandbar shark, an endangered species found in tropical and warm-temperate waters.

New House Republican proposal seeks to exempt many toxic Pfas from review

admin — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 11:00:52 +0000

Two lawmakers introduced a resolution to repeal a 2024 Biden rule that closed a ‘low volume exemption’ loophole

A new Republican plan would exempt many new toxic Pfas or “forever chemicals” from health and safety review, a move criticized by opponents because it would allow the dangerous man-made substances to be used and sold with little effective scrutiny.

Week in wildlife: a fish dinner and Galápagos wonders

admin — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 08:23:15 +0000

The best of this week’s wildlife photographs from around the world

Africa’s last glaciers: an expedition to map ice loss in the Rwenzori mountains – in pictures

admin — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 06:00:45 +0000

The project in Uganda has captured the disastrous effects of the climate crisis on a vital source of water that is central to the lives and sacred beliefs of the local Bakonzo community

• Photographs by Project Pressure

Greece’s Aegean islands reel from ‘lake of mud’ flash floods before Easter rush

admin — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 04:00:46 +0000

Authorities race to complete clean-up operation after devastation from gales and heaviest rainfall in 20 years

People on the Aegean islands, more used in April to the sight and scent of spring’s blossoms, have been left reeling from flash floods spurred by typhoon-strength gales, with authorities calling a state of emergency in some of Greece’s most popular destinations less than three weeks before Easter.

More than 1m cars sold in UK each year too big to fit typical parking space

admin — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 04:00:44 +0000

Campaign network calls on government to prioritise smaller cars and introduce higher charges for SUV owners

More than 1m cars too big to fit in parking spaces are being sold in the UK each year, and numbers are growing, research has found.

A trend for cars bigger than the average urban parking space means new vehicles are outgrowing towns and cities.

Peta urges Gail’s Bakery to drop extra charge for plant milk

admin — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 04:00:43 +0000

Animal rights charity argues surcharge of 40-60p discriminates against dairy-free customers

A leading animal rights charity has launched a campaign calling for Gail’s Bakery to drop its surcharge on plant-based milks, claiming it “unfairly discriminates” against customers with dairy intolerances or those trying to make more ethical choices.

Unanswered questions as EPA confirms debris balls on Sydney beaches likely came from sewage plants

admin — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 02:01:05 +0000

NSW environment watchdog investigation finds debris that washed up on Sydney beaches in 2024 ‘consistent with a land-based sewage source’