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☆ 12 award-winning underwater photos give rare glimpses beneath the world's oceans
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Talia Lakritz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The Ocean Photographer of the Year awards announced the winners of its 2024 contest. Winners were chosen in categories such as Wildlife, Human Connection, and Ocean Conservation. AdvertisementThe Ocean Photographer of the Year awards announced the winners of its 2024 contest on Thursday. Presented by Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain Ocean Commitment, the contest highlights the work of underwater photographers to help raise awareness for ocean conservation work and scientific research protecting these delicate ecosystems. Winning photos were chosen out of 15,000 submissions across eight categories: Young Photographer, Wildlife, Portfolio, Human Connection, Fine Art, Conservation — Impact, Conservation — Hope, and Adventure.

Persons: — Organizations: Ocean Conservation, Service, Oceanographic Magazine, Fine Art, Conservation, Business

☆ The ocean is still largely unexplored. Underwater tech could help illuminate its mysteries.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Sarah Sloat | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

But below the surface, the mini marine sanctuary is also a test bed for underwater technology that may take researchers to literal new depths. In the ocean, Underwater IoT could look like floating sensors, swarms of crewless vehicles, or a tetherless, wireless robot. Interest in ocean IoT is increasing because of its potential scientific, military, commercial, and conservation applications. AdvertisementWaleed Akbar, a research assistant at the MIT Media Lab, said that while developing underwater IoT is challenging, it's necessary. There's also the issue of energy consumption: Generally, preliminary underwater IoT devices have used batteries with limited capacity.

Persons: Wahoo Bay, Rob Wyre, Waleed Akbar, Akbar, There's, Dimitris Pados, Pados, Wahoo, Wahoo Bay . Florida Atlantic University Pados, they'll, Wyre, We've Organizations: Shipwreck, Wahoo, Florida Atlantic University, MIT Media Lab, MIT, Business, US Navy, Center for Connected Autonomy, Artificial Intelligence, Wahoo Bay . Florida Atlantic University Locations: Pompano Beach , Florida, Wahoo, Wahoo Bay ., Pompano Beach, Wyre, Wahoo Bay

☆ They Save Baby Seals From Fishing Line and Plastics. Millions Watch.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Cara Buckley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

A group of men sprints across a windswept beach, holding what look like outsize butterfly nets, and close in on a colony of seals trying to escape into the sea. The pursuers wrestle with their quarry: Seals entangled by fishing gear and other maritime garbage, whose fortunes are about to be reversed. As one man pins down a panicked animal, another cuts away the plastic deeply embedded in its neck. The chase ends with a freed seal triumphantly returning to the ocean. Ocean Conservation Namibia, a nonprofit group based on the central coast of Namibia, estimates it has rescued around 3,000 seals entangled in marine garbage since 2020.

Organizations: Conservation Locations: Conservation Namibia, Namibia

☆ Ghislaine Maxwell had a secret Tumblr account, newly unsealed court records reveal
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-09 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ghislaine Maxwell had a secret Tumblr account, an attorney said in a newly unsealed court hearing. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementConvicted sex trafficker and Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell had a secret Tumblr account. The Terramar Project, an ocean conservation nonprofit run by Maxwell, had a Tumblr account with the username @tmpizzle. The apparent Tumblr account hasn't been mentioned in other court documents reviewed by Business Insider.

Persons: Ghislaine Maxwell, Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein, —, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, Giuffre, Epstein, Meredith Schultz, Schultz, Loretta Preska's, Martin G, Weinberg, She's, hasn't Organizations: Service, Business, US Locations: Giuffre, Florida, Manhattan

☆ Everything you need to know about the 'Squid Game: The Challenge finalists Sam, Mai, and Phill
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Amanda Paule | Ayomikun Adekaiyero | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Finalists Sam Lantz, Mai Whelan, and Phill Cain are competing for the $4.56 million grand prize. The finalist dinner in "Squid Game: The Challenge" episode ten. Mai Whelan (Player 287)Mai Whelan attends the "Squid Game: The Challenge" Celebration at the Trials Live Experience Space on November 30, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. Mai Whelan speaking to Ashley Tolbert in episode nine of "Squid Game: The Challenge." AdvertisementPlayer 337 Bradford and Phill during the marbles game in episode six of "Squid Game: The Challenge."

Persons: Sam Lantz, Mai Whelan, Phill Cain, —, Joe Scarnici, Netflix Sam Lantz, Sam, Lantz, Doug Lantz, pitbull, Moo, Netflix Mai Whelan, Mai, Ashley Tolbert, Phill Cain's Instagram, Netflix Phill Cain, Phill Organizations: Netflix, Service, ABC, People's Army, US Navy, Bradford, Major League Quadball's New York Titans, US Quadball's, Games, Brazilian national Locations: Los Angeles , California, Fort Lauderdale , Florida, Kuna , Idaho, Fairfax County , Virginia, Vietnam, Saigon, Viet, New Jersey, Brazil, United States, York

☆ Ghostly new figures come to world’s first underwater gallery in Caribbean
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Tamara Hardingham-Gill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The world’s first underwater sculpture park has just gotten a lot bigger. Created by British sculptor and ecologist Jason deCaires Taylor in 2006, the Molinere Bay Underwater Sculpture Park in Grenada is now one of the Caribbean country’s most popular underwater attractions. Underwater attractionThe Molinere Bay Underwater Sculpture Park in Grenada has expanded, with the addition of 31 new sculptures. According to deCaires Taylor, marine life had already made itself at home within the sculptures days after they were installed. I haven’t seen that before.”This also marks the first time deCaires Taylor has introduced color into his underwater sculptures.

Persons: Jason deCaires Taylor, ” deCaires Taylor, It’s, deCaires Taylor, Troy Lewis, Bianca C, ”, Dickon Mitchell, “, he’s, Hurricane Ivan, “ I’d, ” “ It’s, it’s, ” He’s, “ I’m Organizations: CNN, Grenadian Ministry, CNN Travel, Visitors, Museum of, Art, Museum Locations: British, Grenada, Caribbean, Marina, Australia, Napa, Cyprus, Carriacou

☆ Britain's Prince Visits Singapore for Earthshot Environmental Prize
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Chen LinSINGAPORE (Reuters) - Britain's Prince William attended the annual Earthshot Prize ceremony on Tuesday, which awards 1 million pounds ($1.23 million) to each of five green innovators working on projects including a cleaner lithium-ion battery and ocean conservation. "The light of optimism is burning bright in our Earthshot finalists," Prince William said at the ceremony in Singapore. Representing six continents and chosen from over 1,300 nominees, the 15 finalists' projects ranged from a scheme to plant, grow and digitally track trees in Liberia to a less carbon-intensive method of treating industrial wastewater. William, who became heir to the British throne after Queen Elizabeth died in September last year, set up the prize in 2020. This is William's first trip to Singapore since 2012, when he visited with his wife Kate, the Princess of Wales.

Persons: Chen Lin SINGAPORE, Britain's Prince William, Prince William, William, Queen Elizabeth, John F, Kate, Princess, Wales, Chen Lin, Bernadette Baum Locations: Singapore, Hong Kong, Liberia, Kensington

The 2023 Earthshot Prize winners:This year’s winners were chosen from a shortlist of 15 finalists by Prince William and the Earthshot Prize Council, chaired by Christiana Figueres, a former UN climate chief, who played a key role in negotiating the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015. The Prince of Wales speaks with the winners of the 2023 Earthshot Prize following the awards ceremony on Tuesday night. Irwin added that the Earthshot Prize offers “hope,” which “is something we all need to hang on to.”The Singapore skyline was lit up in green to celebrate the Earthshot Prize on Monday. Mohd Rasfan/AFP/Getty ImagesFigueres, who is also an Earthshot Prize trustee, told CNN that it was “such a joy” to work with the Prince of Wales. The prince said he was “thrilled” to be in Singapore for the third Earthshot Prize ceremony and outlined his vision for supporting this year’s shortlist of finalists.

Persons: Wales, Prince William, “, ” William, Christiana Figueres, Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, Ernest Gibson, Jack Ma, Prince, Chris Jackson, Nidhi Pant, Emily Owen, ’, Ted Lasso ”, Hannah Waddingham, Sterling K, Brown, Cate Blanchett, Nomzamo, Robert Irwin, OneRepublic, Irwin, ”, Hunter, Steve Irwin, Mohd Rasfan, Prince of Wales, William, we’ve, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Lee Hsien Loong, Catherine, Princess, Prince George Organizations: CNN’s Royal, Singapore CNN, Earthshot, Theatre, MediaCorp, Royal Foundation, WildAid, Technologies, S4S Technologies, CNN, ”, Voices, Getty, Figueres, BBC, PBS, Singapore, Jewel, HSBC Locations: Singapore, India, UN, Paris, Peru, South America, Hong Kong, South African, ”, AFP, Gardens, Kallang

Ahead of a White House welcome for the leaders, Biden announced U.S. diplomatic recognition of two more Pacific islands nations, the Cook Islands and Niue. The White House said this year it would focus on priorities including climate change, economic growth, sustainable development, public health and countering illegal fishing. In Baltimore on Sunday, Pacific island leaders visited a Coast Guard cutter in the harbor and were briefed on combating illegal fishing by the Commandant of the Coast Guard, an official said. The White House in 2022 said the U.S. would invest more than $810 million in expanded programs to aid the Pacific islands. She added that Pacific island countries "welcome the U.S. re-engagement with the region, but don't want geopolitical tussles to result in an escalation of militarization."

Persons: Joe Biden, Walter E, Elizabeth Frantz, Biden, Manasseh Sogavare, Washington, Sogavare, Meg Keen, Sato Kilman, Kilman, Ishmael Kalsakau, David Brunnstrom, Trevor Hunnicutt, Kirsty Needham, Don Durfee, Grant McCool Organizations: Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Washington Convention Center, REUTERS, Rights, Pacific, NFL, White, U.S ., Niue, Sunday, Coast Guard, Sunday's National Football League, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Solomon, Biden, Australia's Lowy Institute, USAID, Vanuatu, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Washington, Cook Islands, Niue, The U.S, Papua New Guinea, U.S, Asia, Cook, Baltimore, Pacific, China, Beijing, Congress, Australia, Vanuatu, Fiji, Kiribati, Hawaii, Palau, Micronesia, Marshall, Sydney

Many of the formal speeches delivered before the green stone in the General Assembly could have been performed straight to camera, with few other people in the room (and in 2020, they were). The General Assembly, she said, actually “overshadows what the U.N. does well." In-person relations are as important, if not more so, for non-governmental organizations with stakes in the outcomes, attendees said. Many at the General Assembly, and those observing it closely from afar, declined to discuss the substance of negotiations that may never ultimately come to fruition. But the General Assembly week “provides a critical mass that allows you to do all the things that you would prefer to do in person,” Rathke said.

Persons: Volodomyr Zelenskyy, weren't, ’, Katie Laatikainen, that's, that’s, ”, Kathryn Mengerink, Scott Hamilton, Joe Biden, —, “ We’re, Stéphane Dujarric, António Guterres, we’re, “, ” Laatikainen, Jeff Rathke, ” Rathke, ” Hamilton, Michael Weissenstein Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, General, Council, Adelphi University, Assembly, General Assembly, Waitt, State Department, United Nations Security, United Nations, “ Technology, - German Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Associated Press Locations: East, Jolla , California, midtown Manhattan, Cuba, China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, Europe, New York, Britain, Mexico

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The tiny Pacific island nation of Niue has come up with a novel plan to protect its vast and pristine territorial waters — it will get sponsors to pay. “Niue is just one island in the middle of the big blue ocean,” Tagelagi said. It's one of the smallest countries in the world, dwarfed by an ocean territory 1,200 times larger than its land mass. Under the plan, the sponsorship money — called Ocean Conservation Commitments — will be administered by a charitable trust. Simon Thrush, a professor of marine science at New Zealand's University of Auckland who was not involved in the plan, said it sounded positive.

Persons: Dalton Tagelagi, Tagelagi, ” Tagelagi, Niueans, we've, —, Lyna Lam, Chris Larsen, Maël, ” Imirizaldu, Simon Thrush, ” Thrush, I'd Organizations: Niue's, Associated Press, Agriculture Organization, Conservation International, Blue Nature Alliance, New Zealand's University of Auckland Locations: WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Niue, New York, U.S

Prince William flew to New York on Monday for a two-day visit during which he attended the second Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit, an event which coincides with both Climate Week NYC and the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, and where the finalists were unveiled. Prince William speaks with kids as he visits Billion Oyster Project in New York City on Monday. Cindy Ord/Getty ImagesUpon touching down at Newark Airport on Monday, the Prince of Wales said it was good to be back in the US. “No one does optimism and ingenuity like the American people, so it’s only right we unveil this year’s Earthshot finalists in New York City,” William said. And vital.”The five Earthshot categories and finalists are:Protect and Restore NatureAccion Andina - Peru: A grassroots project working across South America to protect native forest ecosystems across the Andes.

Persons: Prince, Prince William, John F, Cindy Ord, Wales, ” William, “, Kennedy Organizations: London CNN, UN, Assembly, Royal Foundation, Getty, Newark Airport, Air, US, Global, Technologies, Circ Inc Locations: Wales, New York, Singapore, United States, New York City, Peru, South America, Freetown, Tree, Sierra Leone, Council, Belterra, Brazil, Poland, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, South Africa, India

☆ Countries are refinancing debt into ocean conservation through blue bonds: The Nature Conservancy
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCountries are refinancing debt into ocean conservation through blue bonds: The Nature ConservancyJennifer Morris, CEO of The Nature Conservancy, speaks about conservation efforts during Covid-19, and helping lower-income countries to alleviate their debt distress.

Persons: Conservancy Jennifer Morris Organizations: Conservancy Locations: Covid

☆ Fishing startups are making the industry more sustainable by repelling bycatch, recycling nets, and tackling dredging — but they need more cash to stay afloat
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

But overfishing has left some fish stocks depleted, while destructive fishing practices like dredging have harmed ecosystems . Ocean tech has the additional challenge of "dealing with this chemically rich liquid that basically eats everything that goes into it," Watson said of the ocean. Blue Ocean Gear's data-collecting buoy. Blue Ocean GearFishing for fundingBut Falconer is competing with buzzy tech sectors in the pursuit of venture capital. Without cash flowing in, fishing tech could face a brain drain.

Persons: Daniel Watson's, SafetyNet, Daniel Watson Dan, Eric Li, James Dyson, Enki, Watson, Ed Phillips, Phillips, Dado Ruvic, Kortney Opshaug, Opshaug, it's, Ava Ocean, Maren Hjorth Bauer, Ava Ocean's, Hjorth Bauer, Ian Falconer, I'm, Falconer, haven't Organizations: Venture, Service, SafetyNet Technologies, European Union, Future Planet Capital, Aquaculture, REUTERS, NASA, Ocean, Investors, multibillion, Strategic Locations: London, Dubrovnik, Croatia, Bering, Cornwall

When you think of cat food, coral reef restoration may not be the first thing that comes to mind. More coral today, more fish tomorrowIn 2019, the SHEBA brand began its work on Hope Reef, part of a global movement to help restore coral reefs around the world. Unveiled in 2021, Hope Reef — located off the coast of Sulawesi in Indonesia — is one of the world's largest repaired coral reefs. For Kuleana Coral Reefs, responsibility is even in the name. Thanks in part to the SHEBA brand's support, Kuleana Coral Reefs is restoring damaged coral reefs throughout the Hawaiian archipelago so they can persist naturally and without further human intervention.

Persons: Hope, SHEBA, one's Organizations: Google, National Ocean Service, Smithsonian, Global Seafood Alliance, SHEBA, Insider Studios Locations: Hope, Sulawesi, Indonesia, United States

☆ Dubai could become home to the world's largest ocean restoration project
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Nell Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Dubai Reefs bills itself as the world’s largest ocean restoration project; if built it would consist of 77 square miles of artificial reef that will create a home for more than one billion corals and 100 million mangrove trees. Plans for the project were announced this week by URB, a Dubai-based developer of sustainable cities, whose previous designs include an indoor cycling super highway in Dubai and sustainable cities in Egypt and South Africa. URBAlongside the artificial reefs, URB has designed floating residential, hospitality, retail facilities and various eco-lodges, which it says would make the site a tourism destination. At the center the project would be a marine institute, dedicated to ocean research and protecting Dubai’s coastal environment. “Dubai Reefs aims to become a blueprint for marine conservation, ecotourism and ocean living,” said Bagherian.

☆ Scientists used DNA to unlock who wore a 25,000-year-old pendant
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyA deer tooth pendant has revealed details about the woman who wore it between 19,000 and 25,000 years ago. The groundbreaking analysis by a team of European researchers marks the first time scientists have successfully isolated ancient human DNA from a Stone Age artifact. Gregory BretonWith large ears and adorable faces, sand cats went viral seven years ago when their kittens were photographed in the wild for the first time. Although smaller than domestic cats, sand cats live in harsh environments with scorching heat, hunt venomous Saharan horned vipers and rely on blood from prey as a source of water. To unravel the many mysteries of sand cats, researchers tracked 22 of the felines that had been fitted with radio collars for four years.

☆ Environmental hero’s mission to save the most over-fished sea in the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Nell Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Wiping out marine life has damaged the livelihoods of local fishers. Local fishing communities are benefiting from the marine protected area as fish stocks bounce back. He trained local fishers as marine rangers who could monitor the waters for illegal fishing and send alerts to the Turkish Coast Guard. “We became a fishmonger,” says Kizilkaya, adding that the AKD continues to sell “tasty, cheap” lionfish caught by local fishers to restaurants. Kizilkaya hopes that the Goldman Environmental Prize will add momentum to his mission.

☆ Countries gather to thrash out U.N. ocean protection treaty
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( David Stanway | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SINGAPORE, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Delegations from hundreds of countries will meet in New York this week in an attempt to hammer out a new legally binding ocean protection treaty that green groups believe will decide whether efforts to safeguard global biodiversity can succeed. Last August, an earlier round of talks on the new United Nations ocean conservation treaty were suspended, with countries unable to reach an agreement on financing. Sharing the proceeds of "marine genetic resources" and the establishment of ocean environmental impact assessment rules for development were also major sticking points. "There seems to be an appetite to actually finalise the treaty now," said Jessica Battle, ocean expert at the Worldwide Fund for Nature. "Genetic resources and the issue of finance will be the end game," said Greenpeace's Li.

☆ A burned-out tech worker quit her job at a gaming company to spend time filming ocean critters. It helped her reset.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Daina Buchner quit her tech job at a gaming company last year over burnout concerns. Daina Buchner touching a whale. Courtesy of Daina Buchner. Courtesy of Daina Buchner. Courtesy of Daina Buchner.

☆ Climate leaders say 3 conversations need to happen at the World Economic Forum this week to lock in a sustainable future
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Freya Graham | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The climate crisis is set to dominate the agenda at this year's World Economic Forum meeting in Davos. Climate experts say they'll be looking out for 3 conversations, including how to pay for the climate crisis. More climate finance dealsSome solutions to the climate crisis already exist, according to Sweta Chakraborty, behavioral scientist and CEO of climate solutions organization We Don't Have Time. A sovereign debt conversion deal enables governments to convert a portion of this debt into sustainability financing. "Developing countries want to join the fight against the climate crisis and need financial support to be successful," she said.

Policymakers hope an ambitious deal can spur nature conservation in the same way that an international pact in Paris in 2015 helped mobilize efforts to limit planet-warming carbon emissions. However, the text mentions only that $20 billion to $30 billion per year comes from developed countries by 2030. "Probably we will have to reach an agreement between $30 billion and $100 billion," Colombia's Muhamad told reporters. The draft deal does not mention setting up a separate facility. Lastly, risks from pesticides and highly hazardous chemicals would be reduced by at least half, but the text does not address slashing their overall use.

"There's now a big push to get nature into sovereign debt markets," said Simon Zadek, executive director at NatureFinance, which advises governments on debt-for-nature swaps and other types of climate-focused finance. At that level, it would be the biggest debt-for-nature swap struck to date. The combined value of swap deals to date is $3.7 billion, according to the data. Securing the buy-in of development banks is usually key for the economics of a deal. The WWF has projects in Central and South America where they are monitoring deforestation by tracking jaguars, said Brenes, who has worked on debt-for-nature swaps for the last 25 years.

Note: Data for 2020 is from June 2020 through May 2021; for 2021, it is from June 2021 through May 2022. Path of Hai Feng 718 over 365 days Encounters with Chinese fishing vessels Note: Data is from June 2021 through May 2022. Transshipment allows fishing vessels to stay at sea year-round Parked side by side, carrier vessels exchange fuel, crew supplies and the catch from fishing vessels. This allows fishing ships to fish for longer periods. Fish hold where fish is transported from Fender to maintain a safe distance between ships FISHING VESSEL CARRIER VESSEL Crane to transport catch from fishing vessel to carrier vessel Fish hold where fish is transported from Fender to maintain a safe distance between ships FISHING VESSEL CARRIER VESSEL Crane to transport catch from fishing vessel to carrier vessel Transshipment between a squid fishing vessel and a cargo carrier in the North Indian Ocean last year.

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