International Programme on the State of the Ocean

This account on X is no longer active 🌊 Thank you to everyone who engaged here. Our work bringing together science, communications, policy, and legal disciplines to drive ocean solutions continues on BlueSky. Join the conversation! bsky.app/profile/oceani… #OceanScience #BlueSky

Join scientists in calling for urgent protection of deep-sea ecosystems: stateoftheocean.org/seamountsprocl… @OceanIPSO

“The health of the ocean is spiralling downwards far more rapidly than we had thought. We are seeing greater change, happening faster, and the effects are more imminent than previously anticipated.” – Professor Alex Rogers, scientific director at the @OceanIPSO

🌊 Following #COP29, the ocean must be central to the transformative action to address the climate crisis. Ocean-based climate solutions can get us closer to our emissions-reduction targets for 2050 but are massively underfunded. #NatureIsAlsoBlue project-syndicate.org/commentary/oce…

Field surveys in the South China Sea confirmed the presence of the Deraniyagala’s beaked whale, one of the least-known deep sea cetacean species. This discovery provides critical insights for conservation measures to help #DefendTheDeep. cell.com/iscience/fullt…

🛰️ Technological advances can be instrumental in advancing conservation goals. A recent study showcases how drone technology and #AI can accurately track beluga whales using aerial footage, enhancing non-invasive wildlife monitoring. frontiersin.org/journals/marin…

Rapid sea ice loss and ocean acidification are altering the growth and nutritional value of microscopic algae, essential food source for #krill, fish and other small organisms that sustain Antarctic species. Research by @drrebeccaduncan @UTSunleashed scimex.org/newsfeed/vanis…

🦪 #PlasticPollution in Polynesian pearl farming lagoons fosters microbial shifts. Under high plastic concentrations, this research found 33 bacterial genera showed increased abundance, alerting for the potential to alter marine ecosystems. frontiersin.org/journals/marin…

Unusual white patches on whale sharks' skin reveal they could be highly susceptible to pollutants we discard into the ocean. As whale sharks swim through polluted waters, they can ingest small particles and toxins. Study led by @UWAresearch @Flinders forbes.com/sites/melissac…

Challenging the traditional orbital monsoon hypothesis, this research shows that Atlantic Ocean thermal states drive Central American rainfall over 140,000 years, and finds a strong coupling between monsoon intensity and #AMOC variations. #ClimateChange nature.com/articles/s4146…

🐋 A male humpback #whale set a migration record, traveling 13,000 km between the Pacific and Indian Ocean. This rare inter-ocean movement underscores behavioral plasticity & may indicate adaptive responses to environmental changes or population pressures. theguardian.com/environment/20…

In June 2023, the UK 🇬🇧 experienced an unusually intense #MarineHeatwave. The southern North Sea & English Channel are identified as most vulnerable. These projected increases will threaten marine life, prompting better preparedness & response strategies. frontiersin.org/journals/marin…

Conservation and economic wins can align: large-scale #MPAs increase tuna catch rates near their boundaries, showing 12–18% spillover benefits for purse seine #fisheries. MPAs can support conservation goals and provide economic benefits for fisheries. eurekalert.org/news-releases/…

⚠️ All fish, even the most adaptable, are at risk from rising temperatures! @UNESCO report estimates 10-50% of species will be endangered under the most severe #ClimateChange scenario (4.4°C rise by the end of the century). Read more: downtoearth.org.in/wildlife-biodi…

🇦🇶 The collapse of East #Antarctica's Conger–Glenzer Ice Shelf in 2022 stresses the vulnerability of ice shelves to #ClimateChange. This event raises concerns for global #SeaLevelRise & highlights the need for improved projections via better modelling. sciencenews.org/article/unexpe…

Sharks & rays are rapidly heading toward extinction. 🦈⚠️ A #SharkConservationFund backed study shows 50% population declines since 1970 and a loss of their vital roles in marine ecosystems. Learn more: bit.ly/4g4VZVL With stronger protections, we can turn the tide. 🌊…

🚨 OUT NOW 🚨 The @IPBES #NexusAssessment Summary for Policymakers is now available! Explore the most comprehensive assessment ever of the interconnections between biodiversity, water, food, health & climate. 🌏 Options for a just & sustainable future! ipbes.net/node/85582

This study explores how tiny plastic particles can affect ocean health and its functioning, underscoring the need to urgently address #PlasticPollution. #Microplastic frontiersin.org/journals/marin…

A 🆕 study discovers killer whales' specialized hunting strategies targeting the world's largest fish, whale sharks, highlighting their behavioral flexibility & ecological impact. This showcases their role as apex predators and impact on marine megafauna. newsweek.com/killer-whales-…

IPBES #NexusAssessment Report 📑 launches 17 Dec, & @IPBES #TransformativeChange Assessment Report launches 18 December. Join our hybrid media launches at 1 pm GMT on both of those days; live in Windhoek or online 💻 For the webcast link, stay tuned: ipbes.net