As Nations Pledge to Create Ocean Preserves, How Do Those Promises Add Up?
commitments are fully implemented, they will protect only 4% of the world’s ocean. Adding in all other protected areas and outstanding commitments made in other forums raises that figure to 8.9%.The number is likely to rise as additional countries join in. For example, on May 30, 2022, the South Pacific island nation of Niue pledged to protect 100% of its national waters. They cover 122,000 square miles (317,500 square kilometers) – an area roughly the size of Vietnam.Most recently, the Biden administration proposed on June 8, 2022 to designate Hudson Canyon, which lies southeast of New York
Scientists Struggle to Monitor Tonga Volcano After Massive Underwater Eruption
Scientists are struggling to monitor an active volcano that erupted off the South Pacific island of Tonga at the weekend, after the explosion destroyed its sea-level crater and drowned its mass, obscuring it from satellites.The eruption of Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcano, which sits on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, sent tsunami waves across the Pacific Ocean and was heard some 2,300 kilometerss (1,430 miles) away in New Zealand."The concern at the moment is how little information we have and that's scary," said Janine Krippner, a New Zealand-based volcanologist with
Ten Institutes Join the Nereus Program
Investigator: Mr. Hanson Hosein. Communication strategies for global, cross-boundary ocean issues and social innovation through corporate engagement. Wollongong University (Australia) Principal Investigator: Dr. Quentin Hanich. Ocean governance and management policies for South Pacific island nations. University of Ottawa (Canada) Principal Investigator: Dr. Laurie Chan. Responses of food systems to ecosystems and socio-economic changes and the impact to health risk among coastal communities in Arctic and the world. Stanford University (USA) Principal Investigator:
Researchers Investigate Mineral Deposits in the Deep Ocean
facility operated by the NOC and the Isis ROV, which is part of its national marine equipment pool. The MarineE-tech partnership also includes the British Geological Survey, HR Wallingford, the University of Bath, Marine Ecological Surveys Ltd, the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil), the South Pacific Island Communities, the United Nations’ International Seabed Authority, Gardline Ltd and Soil Machine Dynamics Lt
Science Expedition to Study Deep-sea Deposits
IO-USP and a principal research scientist. Dr. Murton continued, “The study will also explore sustainability issues, especially those deposits in the territories of small nation states with developing economies. We also intend to assist with developing scientific capability in the South Pacific Islands.” The partnership spans industry, academia and policy makers and includes the University of San Paulo (Brazil), the University of Bath, the British Geological Survey, SOPAC and the South Pacific Island Communities, the United Nations’ International Seabed Authority, HR
February 2025
